For live race results and updates throughout the day, check out our Twitter stream.

7:09 p.m.: Maram gave us all a thrill when she hung gamely in the stretch, threatening to pull a big upset in the Diana and give trainer Chad Brown of Mechanicville his first Grade I. But in the end, it was Proviso taking her third straight win at racing's highest level for Bill Mott.

Some half an hour later, A Little Warm took the Jim Dandy, the local Travers prep, for trainer Tony Dutrow. Bold words in the winner's circle: "If he comes out of it [well]...I wish the Travers was tomorrow."

4:42 p.m.: Don't worry, I haven't died. Just about to head downstairs to the paddock and rail for the Diana, and then the Jim Dandy. For many reasons, I think trying to carry a laptop along would be a bad idea. So keep an eye on Twitter (@thepinksheet) for race results, and come back here for color commentary after!

4:10 p.m.: Settle For Medal runs down Astrology and Volcker to take the maiden in the sixth. As you may have read in Rising Stars this morning, Settle For Medal is a half to the brilliantly speedy filly Mani Bhavan, as well as the nice Dattt Echo, who runs here Wednesday - overnights were just released.

Arcodoro just pulled a 44-1 shocker in the seventh, leading wire to wire! At least one person in this grandstand hit it - some pretty jubilant screaming down below.

1:24 p.m.: Looking ahead at the rest of the card, there are several interesting horses that will be fun to watch. Old Friends at Cabin Creek: The Bobby Frankel Division recently celebrated its grand opening in nearby Greenfield Center. I'm going to enjoy watching a trio of runners with Cabin Creek connections in the fourth. Ducale is a son of Travers winner Will's Way, who recently moved up to the New York division of Old Friends after he was pensioned to the original Kentucky branch some years ago. Jim's Applemartini races for Repole Stable, whose Cool N collective is a Cabin Creek retiree, and Mount Karakorum is owned by, of course, Karakorum Racing, the original owners of retiree Karakorum Patriot. For those who missed the big news out of Old Friends at Cabin Creek today, Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide is visiting the farm for the next week and will be available for fans to meet at several times. You read it on the Saratogian first, folks.

The fifth race features several horses with graded placings in Caberneigh, Rescue Squad, El Crespo and Thabazimbi. Representing the New York-breds in the race is Pocket Cowboys, winner of last year's New York Derby.

In the sixth, featuring 2-year-old maidens, Astrology is a prospect I've had my eye on for awhile. As a son of AP Indy, out of a Quiet American mare, he should be better going two turns - still, am eagerly anticipating his career debut.

Here's Astrology, the bay out in front, galloping with stablemates Brock (chestnut) and Albergatti on Monday morning.

1:06 p.m.: Yesterday, six of the day's nine races were decided by a half length or less. That trend may have continued over to today. In the first race, the William B. Fasig overnight, four horses hit the wire together. Exclusive Scheme, trained by Billy Badgett, upset the race when her stablemate, the favored Chestoria, lacked running room up the rail. Fun start to the day.

10:20 a.m.: Hello racing fans, and welcome to the live blog for a busy Saturday at the Spa. Two big races on tap today. In the Grade I Diana, Eclipse champion Forever Together tries to become the first runner to make it a three-peat in the historic race. However, she hasn't won since last year's Diana - although she hasn't been unplaced, either - and faces a small but select field that includes Proviso, a two-time Grade I winner this year, and Phola and My Princess Jess, who were second and third behind Proviso last time out. A live longshot is Chad Brown's Maram, a Breeders' Cup winner herself who is 2-for-2 at Saratoga. Brown, of course, takes the training lead into today's card. The Grade II Jim Dandy, the local Travers prep, is also on tap today. Although all the big names (Super Saver, Lookin At Lucky) have gone down to Monmouth for tomorrow's Grade I Haskell, we're left with an incredibly deep and well-matched field of sophomores, headed up by Dwyer winner and Belmont runner-up Fly Down. These two stakes, along with the William B. Fasig overnight stakes, headline a busy 11-race card featuring plenty of full fields. Stay tuned for more...

For live race results throughout the day, keep an eye on our Twitter stream.

3:51 p.m.: Persistently, a granddaughter of champion Heavenly Prize, ran down a nice - although short - field of fillies to win the third race, an allowance event. The Phipps homebred has strong pedigree connections to another stable runner later in the day - in the sixth, first-time starter Puzzling is a daughter of Dancinginmydreams, a half-sister to Heavenly Prize.

2:34 p.m.: Favored Unaccountable takes the first race with an absolutely furious late rally for Mechanicville's Chad Brown. The crowd is gasping every time they show this replay. It's Brown's sixth winner of the meet and pushes him one win ahead of Todd Pletcher in these early trainer standings. Brown and Pletcher each have one more runner remaining today, meaning Brown will finish today no worse than tied for the lead.

2:12 p.m.: Hello racing fans, and welcome to the live blog for this first 'twilight' racing card at the Spa. First post is now just under 20 minutes away.

The big news already today is that Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, as expected, will make her next start right here, in the Aug. 29 Personal Ensign. It will be her first try at a mile and a quarter.

For live race results, keep an eye on our Twitter stream.

6:18 p.m.: A look back on those pedigree notes from before. High Stakes Plater won the third for Chad Brown, keeping him tied with Todd Pletcher with five wins apiece early in the meet. Incredible! In the fifth, Deceive finished a good second, and in the sixth, Rotten To The Core was an even fourth.

Beau Choix earned a game victory in the Quick Call Stakes, marking the third winner on the day for Javier Castellano. He's leading the rider standings with nine wins to Johnny V's seven.

3 p.m.: And it's another happy birthday for Hall of Famer Bill Mott, who turns 57 today. Mott's Devil By Design just won the overnight Lucy Scribner Stakes, the 12th time in the last 18 years he's won a race on his birthday. Two of the days in that span were dark days.

1:56 p.m.: Pedigree notes on the day. In the upcoming third race, Chad Brown sends out High Stakes Player, a son of AP Indy and out of Pure Symmetry, daughter of champion Serena's Song. In the fifth race, we'll see the Phipps Stable's Deceive, a half-sister to the classy Gone Astray and a granddaughter of Inside Information. In the sixth is Rotten To The Core, a half-brother to Careless Jewel.

1:36 p.m.: Hello and welcome, somewhat belatedly, to our live blog for Thursday. It's been a busy day already today, with the first steeplechase of the meet carded as the first race of the day. Jonathan Sheppard trainee Sermon of Love made his return to the Spa a winning one, rallying late to take the Jonathan Kiser Novice. The 7-year-old gelding won a marathon race on the flat last summer, then finished second in the Grade I New York Turf Writers' Cup.

For live race results throughout the day, check out our Twitter stream.

6:42 p.m.: Perfect Shirl led the Canadian invasion in the Grade II Lake George, wearing down the pacesetters in the stretch to win her first start in stakes company. Her stablemate, Roger Attfield-trained No Explaining, was third in a blanket finish.

3:55 p.m.: Much Fanfare, trained by Mechanicville native Chad Brown, prevails in a furious finish to take the sixth race. That keeps Brown tied for the training title lead with Todd Pletcher, as each has four victories. Much Fanfare, Brown's only starter today, pushes his record to a stellar 8-4-1-1 for the first five days of the meet. Pletcher has one starter in today's eighth and featured race

12:16 p.m.: Hello, and welcome back to Hoofbeats for our live blog of Wednesday's card at the Spa. Coming off the first dark day of the meet, everyone is refreshed, the sun is shining, the track is fast, the turf is firm, and we're ready to get back out there. Nine races on tap today, headed up by the Grade II Lake George for 3-year-old fillies on the turf.

For live race results throughout the day, keep an eye on our Twitter feed.

2:41 p.m.: Giant Moon takes the day's feature, the Evan Shipman. It's the eighth win in 15 starts career for the 5-year-old, who has had his progress interrupted by physical issues several times during his career. Trainer Rick Schosberg seemed tremendously proud of his charge in the winner's circle.

1:05 p.m.: Welcome back to the Spa for today's live blog of this Monday card. The feature comes up a little early in the day; the Evan Shipman, for New York-breds, is the third race of the day. It's already been an early day, as several major runners put in their final preparations for this weekend's stakes races. Here's a quick rundown, plus video below of a few of the works.

Dirt (main and Oklahoma)

Quality Road 5F :58 4/5

Super Saver 5F 1:00 3/5

Aikenite 4F 48 3/5

Fly Down 4F 47.30

Persistently 3F 37.65

Gayego 4F 48.34

Kantharos 5F 1:01.95

Buckleupbuttercup 4F 47.80

It's Tea Time 4F 50.50

Miner's Reserve 4F 48.80

Theskyhasnolimit 3F 1:27

Turf

Forever Together 5F 59.60

Proviso 5F 1:03.40

My Princess Jess 5F 1:03

Phola 4F 48.35

Chestoria 4F 48.00

Our Golden Dream 4F 48.30

Get Stormy 5F 1:01.30

For live race results throughout the card, keep an eye on our Twitter feed.

7:38 p.m.: Still working on stories for the newspaper (pick it up tomorrow. really), but here's a quick peek at Maybesomaybenot winning the Sanford in frontrunning style. Really a nice story behind the gelding's connections - his owners gave an interest in him to their daughter-in-law, who is quite ill and battling lupus, to try to inspire her. Wild and emotional day all around, and that's why we love Saratoga.

4:30 p.m.: What a wild and newsworthy day at Saratoga. Fastus Cactus, under Edgar Prado (no mount in this one for Castellano!) sets a new track record for 5 1/2 furlongs in the seventh, coming home in 1:02.51. The old mark, 1:03.13, was set by J Be K in 2007.

3:53 p.m.: Holy cow - make that FIVE! Castellano got left at the gate with Stand Proud, but got him up in the shadow of the wire to take the sixth. That's another winner for trainer Brown too.

Coming back, Castellano got a big round of applause from the crowd. He smiled, held up five fingers, then doffed his helmet to the heavens.

3:41 p.m.: Make that four in a row for Castellano - takes the fifth with Fiddler's Chaparito.

The rider came back with a huge grin and flashed four fingers to the photographer while getting his picture taken aboard his latest mount in the winner's circle.

"It's very tough [to do] and I appreciate it," Castellano said while heading back to the jockey's room before the sixth race. "[Saratoga is] very prestigious, a lot of good riders, very competitive."

3:02 p.m.: following that win for Brown, Castellano is on fire. He's won the last three straight races - the second with Yawkey Way, third with Cody Samora, and the fourth with Desert Key.

1:49 p.m.: And Brown comes through with that next winner, as Yawkey Way got a perfect trip under Javier Castellano to break her maiden first time out.

Brown said the daughter of Grand Slam has been a bit of a project due to her flighty nature - but "As soon as we got her head straightened out, she had the talent."

12:48 p.m.: Welcome back to the Spa for the first Sunday of the meet. Refreshingly decent weather today - very little humidity, mostly cloudy, doesn't appear to be rain threatening. Track is good, turf yielding.

Sam the Bugler just blew the call to post for the first race, on the Mellon turf. An interesting card on tap today - we have everything from promising 2-year-olds in the day's feature, the Sanford, to veteran 6 and 7-year-old campaigners.

A belated congratulations to Mechanicville native Chad Brown on saddling his first winner of the meet in yesterday's nightcap. Brown has three horses in today, including the nice 2-year-old Yawkey Way in the second.

Stay tuned...

For live race results throughout the day, keep an eye on our Twitter feed.

6:42 p.m.: Let's hear it for the girls. Devil May Care left no doubt about who is the best sophomore filly on the East Coast, rolling home to a four-length win in the Coaching Club American Oaks under a confident ride from Johnny Velazquez.

Trainer Todd Pletcher says taking on the boys isn't out of the question down the road, but for now, with the lucrative Alabama and other prizes coming up, Devil May Care will stick with her division. It's not like there will be a lack of competition in the Alabama - Kentucky Oaks winner Blind Luck has made that her target as well.

About a half hour later, reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra was a clear winner in the Lady's Secret Stakes at Monmouth. Although her rivals were overmatched on paper and she was expected to win easily, it's good to see an odds-on favorite get the job done with nothing appearing to be amiss. Watching from the press box upstairs at Saratoga, we all got a kick out of hearing fans applauding below us in the stands as they watched the race on simulcast. Rachel will return to her barn at the Oklahoma Training Track shortly and hopefully we'll see her at the end of the meet.

3:53 p.m.: A good day for the home team today. Trainer Teresa Pompay, who grew up in Saratoga, won the fourth race with Compliance Officer. And Joe and Anne McMahon, founders of McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, co-own Lindsay's Point, winner of the fifth race.

2:54 p.m: Even the small races have plenty of star power here. Keep Me Informed, a daughter of AP Indy and the multiple graded winner Awesome Humor (2002 Adirondack and Spinaway), streaked home to break his maiden in the third race today. The winning team was WinStar Farm and trainer Bill Mott - who of course took the Belmont together with Drosselmeyer.

1:44 p.m.: The new toteboard, which drew a lot of criticism yesterday, was reprogrammed overnight by NYRA and is much easier to read today. Some of the minutia (will-pays, etc) still seem too small, but the size of the current odds, minutes to post, and other important details has been enlarged, making it much more user-friendly.

Comment overheard earlier: "Ray Charles could read that now!"

After it was out thanks to the weather yesterday, the video board near the finish line is in full operation today. However, the one up near the top of the stretch is dark. Wonder what's up with that.

Mineswept (Phil Serpe-Alan Garcia) and Never Right Joey (the dangerous team of Todd Pletcher-Johnny Velazquez) are the first two winners today.

12:28 p.m.: If you didn't drown on Opening Day, welcome back to Saratoga for the first Saturday of the meet and our first Grade I of the season - the Coaching Club American Oaks, set to go off about five hours from now.

We had a little scare with the weather a little while ago, as the skies were gray and a pretty steady drizzle started to fall. But that's cleared up and the sun is even trying to peek through. Hopefully the storms that were forecast for later tonight will indeed hold off. The track is listed as muddy; the turf is yielding, and races 1 and 3 have been taken off.

The big issue today will be the humidity; it's already pretty sticky. Due to the heat, racing has been canceled at Delaware and Philadelphia. There are also concerns about the heat at Monmouth Park, where reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra is set to run at about 6 p.m.

Stay tuned, we'll keep you posted....enjoy the day.

For live race results, keep an eye on http://www.twitter.com/thepinksheet

7:27 p.m.: Sorry for the delay between posts, folks. Stepped out of the press box (and thus away from the laptop) to head down to the paddock prior to the day's two stakes races, and to catch both up close. And then it was a flurry of activity to get stories filed on time for the newspaper - remember that?

A lot of us tried to beat odds-on Vineyard Haven in the James Marvin, reasoning that he'd be vulnerable off the long layoff. Boy, were we wrong. The 4-year-old son of Lido Palace came home as he pleased to win the graded-quality overnight stake, geared down late under Alan Garcia.

In the featured Schuylerville, a Grade III for 2-year-old fillies, Le Mi Geaux impressed. Used to being on or near the lead, she was well back late after breaking awkwardly; however, she showed some versatility - albeit while taking advantage of the early fractions - to storm home late for the win. It was the first stakes win on the first day of racing at Saratoga for apprentice Freddie Lenclud - despite standing in mud up to your ankles on the track after the race, you couldn't help but smile watching him come back after.

4 p.m.: Cinder Cone wins the sixth.

http://twitpic.com/27yi9y

3:26 p.m.: Always fun to note the classy pedigrees out in force at the Spa. As noted earlier, Flourish, a half-sister to Sightseek and Tates Creek, finished second in the second. In the upcoming sixth race, we'll see longshot Miner Bird, a 4-year-old by Horse of the Year Mineshaft. The colt's dam, Mountain Bird, is out of the Storm Bird mare Dear Birdie - making her a half-sister to Belmont/Travers winner and sire Birdstone and Grade I winner and champion Bird Town. Mountain Bird herself is stakes-placed.

2:31 p.m.: An interesting and welcome move - starting today, the decisions of NYRA stewards regarding the order of finish in races will be made publicly accessible. Directly following any ruling on an inquiry or objection, the stewards will provide a brief statement on the incident and the reasoning behind their decision. This will be communicated via the NYRA television feed and posted to nyra.com/stewards/sar/index.shtml.

1:55 p.m.: The new toteboard in the center of the infield has drawn a few complaints. Although the white-on-black HD numbers are probably crisp and clear up-close, from a distance down the rail or from the stands upstairs, they're extremely difficult to read because of size, spacing and lighting. However, as one glass-half-full reporter up here in the press box just pointed out: "Now that it's raining so hard it's dark, I can read it just fine."

1:42 p.m.: Well, we're underway, and I'm damp but not drenched, which is about as good as it's going to get today. The rain really picked up in earnest just about at post time for the first race. But - pardon the cliche - it didn't dampen the enthusiasm here. A roar went up from the crowd in the backyard when Sam Grossman - a.k.a. Sam the Bugler - blew the call to the post for the first race, and the fans were all to happy to oblige when announcer Tom Durkin asked for the customary "And they're off at Saratoga!" as the gates snapped open.

Wild finishes in our first two races today - Julien Leparoux rode both of the winners, both upsets, and both in photos. In the first, Dontstealmyland ($48.60) prevailed in a three-horse photo. In the second, Kathern's Kitten ($17.20) rallied from last to just grab the win. It was a tough beat for Flourish, Juddmonte's 3-year-old half-sister to their stellar mares Sightseek and Tates Creek. The filly fought her way to the lead in deep stretch, only to be caught late by Kathern's Kitten. Flourish has three seconds in four lifetime starts.

12:16 p.m.: Welcome to the live blog for Friday, July 23, Opening Day at Saratoga Race Course - the day we have all waited for since last September. Today feels a little like Christmas, and in our case, Christmas lasts for six weeks.

Very grateful to still be nice and dry in the press box. The rain is coming down steadily and although it's harder at some times than others, it doesn't appear that it will completely cease today. We're still on the turf, so the track must be holding out hope.

A couple of key scratches to note - stakeswinner Cool Coal Man, who loves Saratoga, from the James Marvin Stakes; and morning line favorite Final Mesa from the featured Schuylerville, which was expected as there is a sale on her pending.

Just about 40 minutes to the first post of the season. Here we go...enjoy the day, folks.

The fields for the opening day card at Saratoga Race Course were drawn today - with encouraging signs.

A total of 103 horses were entered for the 10-race card, plus 11 also-eligibles and 13 designated main track only. That's up from 80 and 89 horses, respectively, from the cards on the final two days of the Belmont Park spring/summer meet. The average field size is 10.3, up from 8.4 on Belmont's closing weekend. It remains to be seen if the numbers can hold for 40 days, but it's an encouraging sign in a country currently plagued by horse shortages.

The opening day feature is the Grade III Schuylerville Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, but a stellar field also showed up for the ungraded James Marvin, a seven-furlong affair for older horses. The runners have combined for 10 graded stakes wins, including three Grade Is. The field drew familiar names such as Vineyard Haven, Friesan Fire, You and I Forever, Cool coal Man, Le Grand Cru, Atoned and Discreet Treasure.

Macho Again, a Grade I winner and a familiar face at the Saratoga meet for the last three summers, has been retired from racing. The 5-year-old son of Macho Uno is in the process of being sold to stand at a Venezuelan farm.

The distinctive gray was campaigned throughout his career by West Point Thoroughbreds, a group designed to make ownership of high-end racehorses accessible and affordable through partnerships. Macho Again's ownership group included some Saratoga residents who spoke highly to Pink Sheet last summer about their experiences with this tough runner.

Macho Again, trained by Dallas Stewart, made his first career start at Saratoga in August 2007, finishing second, before breaking his maiden that fall at Churchill Downs. The following spring, the colt captured the Derby Trial, defeating a field that included eventual Eclipse Award winner Kodiak Kowboy; eventual Belmont winner Da'Tara; and the previous year's Hopeful winner Majestic Warrior. Off that win, Macho Again went on to the Preakness, where he finished second to that year's dominant 3-year-old, Big Brown.

Following an unplaced effort in the Belmont, it was back to Saratoga, where Macho Again won the Grade II Jim Dandy, with eventual Grade I winner Pyro second and Da'Tara back in the field. The colt did pick up one more stakes placing in 2008, finishing second in the Grade II Super Derby.

Macho Again returned to run last year as a 4-year-old and constantly acquitted himself well against the division's best. He won the Grade II New Orleans Handicap, defeating stakeswinner It's A Bird; eventual Suburban winner Dry Martini; and Richard's Kid, who has gone on to be one of the top older males in California. Two starts later, he scored his Grade I win in the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs. The field included multiple Grade I winner Einstein (who had a troubled trip in the Foster); graded winner and now-millionaire Arson Squad; eventual Grade I winner Bullsbay; and stakeswinner and now-millionaire Researcher.

Although he didn't pick up a win last summer at Saratoga, Macho Again ran strongly in two of the meet's biggest events for older horses. First he finished second to familiar rival Bullsbay in the Whitney. Several weeks later, in the most memorable race of the meet, Macho Again came closer than anyone to defeating eventual Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra during her unbeaten season, coming to within a head of the champion in a thrilling edition of the Woodward Stakes.

Macho Again finished unplaced in his final four starts, most recently the Stephen Foster on June 12. He finishes his career with a record of 24-6-6-0 (including 5-1-3-0 at Saratoga) and earnings of $1,825,767.

Happy retirement to a hard-trying horse who always seemed so thoroughly enjoyed by his connections. They were an enjoyable story to follow for the past several seasons.

In a cost-cutting move that’s also popular with horsemen, NYRA is eliminating its race-day security barn, beginning with opening day at Saratoga next week.

"The horsemen are, to be honest with you, thrilled that they’re moving toward a more scientific protocol and away from the security barn, which oftentimes was very stressful and even dangerous to the horses and the people working with them," said trainer Rick Violette, president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and a NYRA board member.

NYRA has operated the security barn since May 2005. Horses are required to report to the barn six hours prior to post time for their scheduled race, a measure aimed at increasing pre-competition monitoring and reducing the number of illegal drug usages. However, horsemen say the process disrupts their operations and creates additional race-day expenses. Additionally, some horses can become unsettled in the unfamiliar surroundings of a new barn, causing them to waste energy and negatively affecting their performance. A number of out-of-town horsemen won't bring their horses to run in New York for those reasons; among those who has expressed displeasure with the security barn is John Shirreffs, trainer of the unbeaten Zenyatta.

The race-day security barn also costs cash-strapped NYRA $1.2 million to run each year. With the bidding process for video lottery terminals at Aqueduct suspended by a court order that could further delay a process that’s already taken years, NYRA’s financial troubles don’t appear to be going away anytime soon.

In place of the security barn, NYRA will add or toughen several policies and procedures to continue to ensure integrity:

--The "in today" program, which will clearly identify entered horses in their stalls on race day. NYRA security will have an increased backside presence to prevent tampering with these horses.

--The assembly barn, where horses will gather just prior to proceeding to the saddling paddock with the field for their race. NYRA will test for illegal levels of total carbon dioxide, a sign of a performance-enhancing process called "milkshaking," at that time. The elimination of milkshaking was one of the main reasons the security barn was instituted to begin with.

--Out-of-competition drug testing will be expanded for blood doping agents, such as Erythropoietin (EPO) and bronchial dilators.

--The testing program will be administered and supervised by Dr. George Maylin, director of the New York State Racing and Wagering Board’s official drug testing and research program at SUNY Morrisville. --To help enforce its new programs, NYRA will ramp up penalties for violators. First-time offending trainers of horses testing positive for a Class A drug violation face a minimum mandatory one year disbarment from entering horses for being assigned stalls at all NYRA tracks. A second offense results in a disbarment of two years from the circuit and the third offense results in a permanent ban.

--Trainers serving out these penalties will not be permitted to transfer trainership to family members or current employees during these times, preventing a banned trainer from working around these regulations in order to run a horse in New York by using a proxy such as an assistant as the trainer of record.

With the meet just 11 days away, the action is beginning to ramp up during training hours at Saratoga. There's plenty of gorgeous scenery (like this sunrise in the fog) to take in, plenty of interesting people to talk to, and of course, plenty of horses to watch.

Some of the highlights from this morning at the Oklahoma track:

--Reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra turned in a strong work, covering six furlongs in 1:12.45 as she gears up for a start in the Lady's Secret at Monmouth on July 24. Heavy fog was blanketing the track when the 4-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro stepped onto the track with Shaun Bridgmohan in the irons shortly before 6 a.m. Rachel's appearance on the track drew the usual crowd of photographers and fans - all of whom had to contend with the poor visibility (thank heavens for Bridgmohan's red shirt!). The filly was on the muscle as she eagerly broke off for the work. She went her first half in :48 flat, then came home her final quarter in :24.45 for the final clocking. She galloped out seven furlongs in 1:25.80 and looked to come back in good order, without being overly exerted. Rachel will work again at Saratoga next Monday morning before heading to New Jersey for the race.

--Following Rachel Alexandra's work, I spent some time at trainer Steve Asmussen's barn and had the opportunity to get a peek at some of the Stonestreet 2-year-olds. Kantharos, winner of his first two starts by over 21 lengths combined, breezed an easy half in :52 flat. The chestnut colt, who looks a great deal like his sire, Lion Heart, is coming off a win in the Bashford Manor. Brock, a $2.3 million sale purchase by Distorted Humor and out of Grade I winner Tomisue's Delight (herself a sister to Horse of the Year Mineshaft), is also an absolutely striking individual.

--Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito sent out two of his top 3-year-olds for works on the Oklahoma track. Florida Derby winner and Kentucky Derby runner-up Ice Box went four furlongs in :48.80, third fastest of 35 at the distance. His stablemate, Dwyer winner and Belmont runner-up Fly Down, went the distance in :49.25.

--2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird and last year's Hopeful winner Dublin have arrived, along with several of their Wayne Lukas-trained stablemates. The string had been based at Churchill Downs for the spring and early summer; they flew into Albany on Monday morning before vanning to the track. Mine That Bird is expected to start in the Whitney Handicap on August 7.

A number of horses who were major players in their divisions last year are returning to the races this weekend - with an eye toward bigger prizes down the road, perhaps at the Saratoga meet.

I Want Revenge and Regal Ransom, two 4-year-olds who could be players in the handicap division if they flash their old form, both return in this afternoon's Suburban Handicap at Belmont. I Want Revenge won the 2009 Wood Memorial to stamp himself as the favorite for the Kentucky Derby, but heartbreakingly, was scratched the morning of the race with an injury. He's coming off a layoff of nearly 15 months since that Wood win, but trainer Rick Dutrow is high on his chances. Joe Talamo, who partnered the colt to those solid wins in the Gotham and Wood, flies in to ride. Regal Ransom, winner of last year's UAE Derby and Super Derby, is making his first start for Godolphin since finishing eighth behind Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup Classic last Nov. 7. Also in the gate for the small but select field will be Haynesfield, the 2009 New York-bred Horse of the Year who is making his second start of 2010, having won an allowance event last out. If I Want Revenge or Regal Ransom can flash their old form, or if Haynesfield can handle the step up in class, we can expect to see them in some of the major events for older horses at Saratoga this summer.

Last year's Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird makes his first start since finishing ninth in the Breeders' Cup Classic in the Firecracker Handicap at Churchill Downs on Sunday. The one-mile event on the turf, which drew a full field of 14, will be the 4-year-old gelding's first start on the grass. Trainer Wayne Lukas, who took over Mine That Bird's training in May, is using the race as a prep for the Whitney Handicap at Saratoga on August 7. Mine That Bird is still looking for his first win since the Derby. Meanwhile, his younger half-brother is looking for his first win, period. The aptly-named Brother Bird starts on the same weekend, ironically, as one of the favorites in a maiden at Belmont today. Brother Bird was third in his career debut at Saratoga last summer and has finished second in all three of his starts since.

Gozzip Gal is making her first start of 2010 in the Miss Liberty Stakes at Monmouth on Sunday. Well, kind of. The Grade I winner was entered in the New York Stakes at Belmont on June 19, but that race was over for her as soon as the gate opened, as she stumbled badly and dropped rider Ramon Dominguez. The filly is pointing for the Diana Handicap at Saratoga on July 31, but this won't be an easy prep. The race's full field of 14 drew 2008 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Maram. Trained by Mechanicville native Chad Brown, the classy filly is coming off a runner-up effort by a nose in the Eatontown Handicap on May 31.

We'd be remiss if we didn't note that thoroughbred racing - across North America and elsewhere - has lost some of its great, both human and equine, in the last week.

With Approval: A winner of Canada's Triple Crown and that country's 1989 Horse of the Year, With Approval died June 21 in England. He was 24. The gray captured the triple of the Queen's Plate, Prince of Wales and Breeders' Stakes as a 3-year-old and the following year was a multiple stakeswinner in America. He is a member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

Wake At Noon: Canada lost another champion when 2002 Horse of the Year Wake At Noon broke down while training at Woodbine on June 26 and had to be euthanized. The death is under investigation by Woodbine, as horses older than 10 who haven't won a race in a year or more aren't eligible to race or train at the track. Wake At Noon, 13, last raced in 2007, but had been returned to training because of fertility problems as a stallion. Officials aren't sure how he came to be on Woodbine grounds.

Black Tie Affair: The big gray, pensioned at the Old Friends thoroughbred retirement facility in Kentucky since July of last year, was euthanized on July 1 after a battle with laminitis. He was 24. Black Tie Affair was named Horse of the Year in 1991 when he won six consecutive graded stakes, culminating with the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Thunder Puddles: The stallion with the distinction of being the only New York-bred to sire a New York-bred millionaire died on June 29 at Highcliff Farm near Delanson at the ripe old age of 31. Thunder Puddles, a graded stakes winner who was multiple Grade I placed, was the New York champion turf male of 1983. His best known son, Thunder Rumble, won the 1992 Jim Dandy and Travers and returned to Saratoga to win the 1994 Saratoga Cup. Thunder Rumble is pensioned at Old Friends at Cabin Creek: The Bobby Frankel Division in Greenfield Center.

Singspiel: The globe-trotting runner and internationally-successful stallion developed laminitis after a long illness and was euthanized on Friday at Dalham Hall Stud in England. He was 18. Campaigned as a homebred for Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai, Singspiel, the champion turf horse of 1996, earned Grade or Group I wins in England (the Juddmonte International and Vodafone Coronatio Cup), Japan (Japan Cup), Canada (Canadian International) and the United Arab Emirates (Dubai World Cup). He also finished second in the 1996 Breeders' Cup Turf. Singspiel sired Moon Ballad, a Dubai World Cup winner and UAE Horse of the Year; another UAE champion in Eastern Anthem; Eclipse champion Lahudood, winner of the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf; English champions Dar Re Mi and Papineau; and German and Italian champion Lateral.

Johnny Sellers: The Hall of Fame jockey died July 2 at a nursing home in Arkansas. He was 72. Sellers rode 2,797 winners in a career that lasted from 1953 to 1977. He enjoyed his best season in 1961, leading the nation in winners and piloting Carry Back to victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. The pair returned in 1962 to take the Whitney at Saratoga. Sellers took two of New York's other big prizes in 1965, partnering Hail To All to wins in the Belmont and Travers. Sellers was inducted into the Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs in 2007.

Majority owner Jess Jackson announced today that his reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, who arrived in Saratoga on Wednesday, will ship out to make her next start in the ungraded Lady's Secret Stakes at Monmouth Park in New Jersey on July 24.

The Lady's Secret is a listed stake at nine furlongs for fillies and mares three and up. The race was originally carded for August 1, Haskell Invitational Day, with a purse of $150,000. But with the addition of Rachel Alexandra to the field, the race has been moved up just over a week to July 24, and the purse has been bumped to $400,000. If Rachel Alexandra fails to enter, the purse will revert to its original amount. Moving the date up was the right move by Monmouth. The Haskell, which is expected to include Derby winner Super Saver and Preakness winner Lookin at Lucky, will already attract a crowd; moving the date of a race that includes Rachel Alexandra guarantees the new date a huge crowd all its own.

The eyes of the racing nation have been on Monmouth since late May, as the track opened its "Million Dollar Meet," offering an unprecedented $50 million in purses over 50 days of racing. Attracting Rachel Alexandra is the latest coup for a meet that many have feared could compete with Saratoga to attract the top horses and connections this summer. This does nothing to dispel those concerns.

The announcement that Rachel Alexandra's next start will come at Monmouth doesn't rule out that the filly could start at Saratoga later in the meet - a route she took successfully in 2009. Rachel Alexandra was based at Saratoga last summer but shipped out to win the Haskell on August 2, scoring an authoritative victory over eventual Eclipse champion 3-year-old male Summer Bird over the muddy Monmouth strip. She then returned to Saratoga to defeat older males in the historic Woodward Stakes on Sept. 5, capping her 8-for-8 championship campaign. If Rachel Alexandra does start later in the meet, potential targets could include the Personal Ensign against fillies and mare on August 29 or a title defense in the Woodward on Sept. 4.