For live race results, photos and other updates throughout the day, check out our Twitter feed.

Much, much later: Wow!

It's Afleet Express (inside) by a nose in the Travers!

3:56 p.m.: Sorry for the brief lack of updates, folks. Left the press box to check out the scene around the track, and of course, it's impossible to carry the laptop to the paddock and into the winner's circle! Apologies if it happens again, as we're coming up on two hours til the Travers, and we're everywhere.

We're providing live (and more timely) updates on Twitter, though.

Dynaslew just won the Grade II Ballston Spa for trainer Seth Benzel. A few photos:

(Our own Sam Hollingsworth - green shirt - and others, interviewing Benzel post-race)

(Dynaslew rallies to win)

1:21 p.m.: Monastir just won the fourth race in a blanket finish that had the crowd gasping. Included several heads down on the wire and a dead heat for third. Fans getting their money's worth.

12:15 p.m.: Trainer Robert Reid, jockey Cornelio Velasquez and owners Cash Is King Stable just won the second race with a 2-year-old filly by Afleet Alex. The same connections start Afleet Again, a son of Afleet Alex, in the Travers later. Hmm...

12 p.m.: Some regally-bred babies make their career debuts on a very big stage coming up here. In the third race, we have Gold Trader, whose dam is a half sister to Hall of Famer Inside Information; Film Making, the first foal out of Grade I winner Film Maker; and Nolangrant'skitten, a half-sibling to Belmont third-place finisher Nolan's Cat, from the family of Comeonmom. In the fifth race, we'll see Admiral Perry, out of a half-sister to Coronado's Quest and from the family of Ruffian and Wild Again; and Research Report, whose dam is a half-sister to an English Oaks winner. Remember - on last year's Travers undercard, we saw the career debuts of the likes of Devil May Care.

11:35 a.m.: Some quick thoughts on the Travers. Physically, A Little Warm and Friend Or Foe made the best impression training in these final weeks. A Little Warm, obviously winner of the local prep, just glides over this track. Friend Or Foe is dappled out with his coat in beautiful condition and appears primed to move forward off his litmus test in the Jim Dandy. Many are writing off Super Saver and Ice Box - what does it say about the depth of this 3-year-old crop when the exacta from the Derby would likely pay quite handsomely if it came in in the Travers? But Super Saver has serious talent, and with a clean trip, Ice Box could be quite dangerous at 10 furlongs here. First Dude has been Grade I placed in his last four consecutive starts and could finally fire that big one, while owner/trainer Leon Blusiewicz has never wavered in his confidence in maiden winner Admiral Alex.

For more thoughts on the Travers and the rest of the card, check out today's Pink Sheet Insider.

10:27 a.m.: You could not ask for anything more.

Just over an hour to first post on Travers Day, and the weather is gorgeous. Not a cloud in the sky, currently 75 degrees with a nice breeze, track fast, turf firm. We have 13 races on tap, including five graded stakes - capped off by the extremely evenly-matched field of 11 battling it out in the Travers.

This is the first day of the "Double Day Spectacular" of racing - of course, reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra makes her return to the Spa tomorrow.

Let's get this party started.

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

5:18 p.m.: Five on the day for Johnny V, who just won the ninth with Zapster. He's about to get up on Devil May Care in the Alabama! Heading down to the paddock now. Who do you like?

4:25 p.m.: All in the family - City Sneakers just won the seventh race for Linda Rice. It's the second winner of the day that Rice has trained for her father, Clyde.

3:43 p.m.: Streak over. Edgar Prado, who also won today's first race, takes the sixth with Pin Number.

3:16 p.m.: Make that FOUR in a row for Johnny V, as he and Morning Line draw off to win the fifth race. It was also the second win of the meet for Hall of Famer Nick Zito. Velazquez has the mount on the 2-year-old Igoturback in the sixth.

2:35 p.m.: Three winners in a row for Johnny Velazquez, who just took the fourth with Callide Valley. Velazquez entered today tied with Javier Castellano, who rode three winners yesterday, for the jockey race. So much for that. Remember, Velazquez rides Devil May Care in the Alabama later.

2:09 p.m.: The aptly-named We Need V L Ts wins the third for owner/trainer Linda Rice. Appropriately enough, the runner appeared beaten, then came back by a nostril.

11:50 a.m.: Hello from the press box racing fans! It's a beautiful Saturday afternoon here at the Spa, and the countdown to the Alabama is officially on - just about six hours to go til post time. It's the sort of thing worth counting down to, the sort of thing we get involved in this sport for.

One change to announce for the big race (although it doesn't involve the two favorites); Javier Castellano has picked up the mount on Connie and Michael.

It's already been a busy morning at the Spa, as Super Saver (5F in 1:01.13), A Little Warm (1:01.58), Trappe Shot (5F in 1:01.92), Fly Down (4F in :48.35) and Afleet Express (6F in 1:13.06) all turned in their final works in advance of the Travers.

(Derby winner Super Saver, with Calvin Borel aboard, following their breeze)

(Jim Dandy winner A Little Warm working)

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

3:34 p.m.: Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito finally broke through with his first winner of the meet, sending Whitney homebred Mountain Town out to take the fifth, a maiden claimer. Unfortunately, as luck would have it, the colt was claimed by Rick Dutrow for trainer Paul Pompa.

Mountain Town, out of a half sister to Bird Town and Birdstone, prevailed under a nifty piece of riding from apprentice Freddie Lenclud, who found a seam on the rail inside the final sixteenth.

2:30 p.m.: Kentucky Oaks winner Blind Luck, prepping for Saturday's Alabama, drew a crowd when she schooled in the paddock prior to the third race.

12:35 p.m.: Coming up on the first race here on a sunny Thursday afternoon at the Spa. Track fast, turf firm.

Rajiv Maragh was released from the hospital following the scary spill he took yesterday when his mount, Pico Dinero, took a tumble on the turf course. The horse was uninjured. Maragh appears to have no serious injuries, but is off his mounts today.

Kantharos, owned by Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stables and trained by Steve Asmussen, scored a powerful victory in the 105th running of the Grade II Saratoga Special with Garrett Gomez aboard.

The rain held off long enough on Monday morning for two of the most popular horses on the grounds to get their exercise in.

Reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra turned in her second to last, and most crucial, work in advance of her start in the Personal Ensign on August 29. With rider Shaun Bridgmohan up, the filly worked over the main track shortly before 6 a.m., covering six furlongs in 1:13.24. She strode out effortlessly, and appeared to finish up well, with trainer Steve Asmussen saying he caught her coming home the final quarter in :23 and change. With her first start at 10 furlongs looming, the strength the filly has shown at the end of these works is quite encouraging.

Some hours later, Loudonville Stakes winner Lisa's Booby Trap galloped a little over a mile on the main track, with owner/trainer Tim Snyder aboard. The filly won her first three starts at Finger Lakes, a lower-tier track outside of Rochester, then rocked the Spa with her first stakes victory. One of the best human-interest stories at the track this summer, the filly is named partially for Snyder's late wife. He said he's leaning toward the Victory Ride on the Travers undercard as her next start.

Quite the entourage followed Rachel across the street to the track for her work. It was fun to see that Lisa's Booby Trap has attracted her own following, as a handful of five or six people - including some fans from Florida - followed her through the paddock and tunnel to the main track.

In his keynote address at the induction ceremony on Friday morning, Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens made mention of how many people are involved in the development and career of a racehorse, and how many people want to see a promising youngster succeed when he takes to the track - from the owners, breeders and trainer, to the jockey aboard, to the hotwalkers and grooms, to fans holding a ticket or simply enjoying the horse.

Sunday morning at Saratoga, Stevens was working the 2-year-old Thatcatismine in company for trainer Todd Pletcher - who the retired rider still breezes horses for occasionally. Just after completing his five-furlong work, Thatcatismine collapsed. Pletcher and onlookers believe he died instantly from an internal injury, perhaps a ruptured aorta or a heart attack. Colleague Teresa Genaro says the colt didn't move after collapsing and also believes he died instantly - some small comfort. Stevens walked away under his own power, but believes he may have broken his collarbone.

Thatcatismine had gone to the post once with a colorful story to show for it. The regally-bred son of Horse of the Year Mineshaft, out of the Grade I winning Storm Cat mare Catinca was bet down to among the favorites by the crowd on Whitney Day. However, he leapt in the air as the gates opened, leaving Johnny Velazquez behind while he took off after the field. He pulled up without incident and had been preparing for his second start.

(Thatcatismine, #1, warming up for his first start.)

Although it's an inevitable part of the game that everyone involved needs to find their own way of coming to terms with, it's always, no two ways about it, awful when a horse dies on the track. Especially when it's a 2-year-old who now won't get the chance to live a long life.

However, despite his youth, I am struck by - as Stevens noted in his speech - how many people knew or had been touched by this horse in his short life. Of course there's the team of WinStar Farm, Pletcher, his barn staff, and the riders who had been aboard the colt in his short career. But there are also the fans. Many were willing to stake money on him in his only start, pinning their hopes on him. The talented local photographer Connie Bush had taken quite a liking to the colt and had been following him since prior to the meet's start, as horses began training at Saratoga. There's a member of the popular online horse racing forum Thoroughbred Champions who goes by the username Catinca, who closely follows the family of that beloved mare. Touchingly, she posted photos today of Catinca with Thatcatismine as a foal.

There are a million moments every day, whether it's an uplifting, thrilling rush at the finish of a stakes race or a tragedy like this morning's, that remind us how these horses touch our lives - and the lives of so many others. Be grateful.

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

It was Telling coasting to the repeat victory in the Sword Dancer - once again overlooked, he paid better than $22 to those who believed. Grand Couturier, the 2007-08 Sword Dancer winner, checked in sixth.

5 p.m.: Heisman and Brock both well back as Stay Thirsty - the half to Andromeda's Hero and Superfly - rolls in his debut.

Pletcher said after the race that he'll probably take a serious look at the Hopeful for this colt, since the Futurity is no longer on the calendar. Interesting. You'd think some of these trainers of impressive maiden winners might prefer to wait a bit longer to make their stakes debut - but the calendar is kind of forcing their hand.

3:08 p.m.: Looking ahead at the card a little....

We saw a Phipps homebred earlier in Bimini - whose dam is out of a full sister to Easy Goer - and now we see another in the Pulpit colt Ritual, who goes postward in the seventh, a maiden event. The colt was fourth - behind Buddy's Saint - and third in his first two starts, both sprints, and should appreciate this mile on the turf. His dam is the Grade I winning Easy Goer mare Furlough. Things didn't go so well for Bimini, as he checked in fourth in the third race. But always fun to check out horses from these deep Phipps families.

Three highly anticipated colts make their debuts in the eighth race. Brock goes out for Stonestreet Stables (Jess Jackson) and trainer Steve Asmussen, who have teamed up with the lines of Curlin and Rachel Alexandra. The colt is a son of Distorted Humor and out of the Grade I winner and Grade I producer Tomisue's Delight. Brock, the chestnut seen galloping in the photo below, was a $2.3 million purchase this spring.

The ambitiously-named Heisman is a homebred for WinStar Farm and goes out for trainer Todd Pletcher; who of course teamed up with the farm to take the Derby with Super Saver. Heisman is a full brother to Haskell winner Any Given Saturday.

Pletcher also sends out Mike Repole's Stay Thirsty, by freshman sire Bernardini and out of Marozia, dam of stakes competitors Andromeda's Hero and Superfly.

2:20 p.m.: Bob Baffert was in town to accept for Point Given at yesterday's Hall of Fame induction, and he's making good use out of his brief trip here. Just won the third with Bulldogger.

1:06 p.m.: Carson Hall outgames Stevil down the stretch for the win; Raging Wit a closing third.

12:57 p.m.: Coming up in the first race, an allowance/optional event, is the 5-year-old Stevil. Two years ago, Stevil finished fifth in the Louisiana Derby and fourth in the Blue Grass, then was fifth behind Big Brown in the Preakness Stakes. As of late, he's taken a serious class drop, and is coming off two straight wins in claimers. Also in the field for the first is the Bill Mott trainee Raging Wit, out of the graded winner Pleasant Temper, dam of the stakes-placed Nice Nelly. Raging Wit was on the Triple Crown trail himself this spring, finishing seventh in the San Vicinte. He was third in an allowance behind Arkansas Derby winner Line of David, and comes into this off a good allowance win at Belmont.

12:05 p.m.: Storylines abound in today's feature Sword Dancer here at the Spa. Can trainer Chad Brown, a Mechanicville native, claim his first Grade I victory with morning-line favorite Expansion? Can Telling make it back-to-back victories in this race? Or will Grand Couturier, who is appearing in the Sword Dancer for the fifth straight year, get his third victory in the event? Can Bearpath, who finished just behind Expansion last time out, turn the tables? Or can Interpatation spring another huge upset?

We've got awhile to wait. The intrigue-filled Sword Dancer goes off as the 10th of 11 races on a big Saturday card. Other features include an appearance by Triple Crown alum Stevil, and the debut of highly-anticipated 2-year-olds Brock and Heisman.

It all gets underway in just under an hour. For now, check out today's Pink Sheet Insider:

Miss the Hall of Fame induction yesterday? That's OK. Check out our highlight reel from the ceremony. The entire audience was struggling to hold back their own tears as Larry Mabee got choked up on the podium. But best moment hands down? When a clip of Randy Romero's dramatic winning ride aboard Personal Ensign in the 1988 Distaff was screened, the entire room gasped, then burst into applause.

One of the best days of the year at Saratoga is tomorrow, as the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame will enshrine the Class of 2010 tomorrow.

The induction ceremony, which is free and open to the public, begins at 10:30 a.m. at the newly-renovated Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion on East Avenue. The doors open at 9:30 a.m. Arrive early, as seating is limited - although the ceremony will also be broadcast live in the Hall of Fame Gallery at the museum itself, just a few blocks away (free admission). The ceremony will also be broadcast nationally on the HRTV network, locally on Time Warner Cable's YNN (channel 9), and streamed live online at hrtv.com and racingmuseum.org.

Following the ceremony, several Hall of Fame jockeys and trainers will be available to sign autographs at the track, outside of the silks room starting at 2:30 p.m.

Racing prides itself on its accessibility to the public - you don't have to be a sheik or a business tycoon to follow, love or even be involved with the game. Hall of Fame Day is always fun because it allows the average fan to listen to and meet some of the greats of the game.

Being inducted this year are:

**2002 Horse of the Year Azeri, three times named Eclipse champion older female, was North America's all-time leading female moneywinner until Zenyatta broke the mark last fall. She's being inducted in her first year of eligibility.

**2001 Horse of the Year Point Given, winner of the Preakness, Belmont, Haskell and Travers in his dominant 3-year-old campaign.

**The classy California-bred gelding Best Pal, who won graded stakes from age 2 to 7 while competing against some of the best handicap horses of the 1990s - including no fewer than three Kentucky Derby winners.

**The popular jockey Randy Romero, best known as the regular rider of two of the best female runners of the modern era, Personal Ensign and Go For Wand.

And from the Historic Review Committee process:

**California-based jockey Don Pierce, who rode the likes of Hill Rise, Silky Sullivan and Flying Paster while competing against riders such as Bill Shoemaker and Eddie Arcaro.

**Late trainer Michael "Buster" Millerick, best known for conditioning the brilliant Native Diver.

**19th-century Belmont and Travers winner Harry Bassett.

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

7:32 p.m.: In Te Domine won the Statue of Liberty, giving the sire Freud a sweep of the two races. It was the second consecutive win in the race for trainer Linda Rice and jockey Ramon Dominguez - last year's title winners - who teamed up to win two races on the card. Heading into Friday, Rice is sitting third in the trainer standings, while Dominguez is tied for second in the rider race.

4:03 p.m.: Coming up in the seventh is Miner Bird. The 4-year-old son of Horse of the Year Mineshaft is out of Mountain Bird, a daughter of top broodmare Dear Birdie. That makes Mountain Bird a half-sister to Belmont and Travers winner Birdstone, as well as Oaks and Alabama winner Bird Town.

The eighth is the featured New York Stallion Series Statue of Liberty Division.

2:43 p.m.: And Sette E Mezzo comes from out of the clouds to score the victory, collaring pacesetter Fagedaboudit Sal - whose name Tom Durkin was calling with great gusto - late. Nice comeback effort by the 5-year-old, who the crowd bet down to even money despite the layoff.

2:40 p.m.: Coming up here in the fourth: Sette E Mezzo, who finished third in last year's Bernard Baruch and most recently an also-ran behind Summer Bird and Quality Road in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Interesting to see what he'll do off the layoff for Bill Mott.

1:33 p.m.: Make that three weeks and counting for Jonathan Sheppard. The trainer, who has captured every steeplechase this meet at the Spa, sent out Lead Us Not to capture the day's first race; Parker's Project was second to complete the Sheppard exacta.

12:35 p.m.: Welcome back to the Spa for Thursday's card, which of course kicks off in just under half an hour with the weekly steeplechase.

A few raindrops falling, but nothing major yet. We'll keep you posted.
For more on what to expect today, check out this morning's edition of Pink Sheet Insider.

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

4:26 p.m.: Instead, it's Ramsgate to win the seventh for Mechanicville native Chad Brown. It's his 11th winner of the meet, putting him two behind Todd Pletcher.

4:15 p.m.: A few interesting horses who have taken their turn in the big time about to come up here. In the seventh, just four minutes away, is Greeley's Legacy, who finished fifth in the 2006 Preakness. In the eighth is Eye of the Leopard, the 2009 Queen's Plate winner still looking for his first victory since.

3:48 p.m.: Some awesome acceleration at the top of the lane by Lubash to kick clear and win the Cab Calloway Division of the New York Stallion Series.

12:36 p.m.: Hope everyone is refreshed from the dark day - it was a wild weekend here at the Spa, and I think we all had some catching up to do! We're set to kick off another week of racing - just about 20 minutes til first post for the Wednesday card. For a quick peek at what's on tap today, check out the latest edition of Pink Sheet Insider.

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

6:12 p.m.: Wow.

In a race that lived up to all the billing as a showdown for supremacy in the East, Blame caught Quality Road in the final strides to win a thrilling edition of the Whitney.

Absolutely phenomenal result. And take nothing away from Quality Road - someone else was simply better on the day. My hat is off to both.

More coming later.

4:40 p.m.: Okay, folks. About to head downstairs to the paddock and rail for today's stakes events - the Hattie Mosley, Test and of course, the Whitney. For obvious reasons, I can't bring the laptop with me. Keep watching our Twitter stream for live results from the races, and I'll check back in with color commentary after the fact.

4:31 p.m.: This is an interesting field of 3-year-old fillies coming up in the Hattie Mosley overnight stakes, which immediately precedes our main events. Ailalea is taking a drop in class after facing the likes of Blind Luck and Devil May Care in some of the year's biggest Grade I events for her division. Barracks Road and Snow Top Mountain are entering this off stakes wins or placings. Shug McGaughey sends out Protesting, a half-sister to graded winner Parading. Both are out of On Parade, out of the champion My Flag, making her a granddaughter of the great Personal Ensign.

4:27 p.m.: Congratulations to Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott on his 4,000th career victory! The milestone was achieved with his victory in the seventh race with Mystic, ridden by Kent Desormeaux.

An extremely eventful day at the Spa - and we're not even up to the features yet.

4:03 p.m.: Saturday's only race for 2-year-olds, the sixth, was a classic example of the mayhem that can occur when young horses face the sometimes-frightening experience of going to the post for the first time. During the post parade, Tiz Blessed, trained by Chad Brown, acted up and dropped rider Javier Castellano. The jockey landed on his feet and was quickly back aboard. However, as the field was just rounding the clubhouse turn to begin their warm-ups, Justin Phillip, who had been nervous in the post parade, tossed rider Garrett Gomez. When an outrider came near him, the colt wheeled and took off, galloping back by the stands and all the way around the far turn to the backside, where he briefly escaped through the gap into the backside before eventually being apprehended.

When the gates opened for the 6 1/2 furlong sprint, the promising Thatcatismine made a tremendous leap into the air, leaving Johnny Velazquez sitting in the gate while he took off after the field. The colt was quickly caught by an outrider before he could catch up with the race. All the prerace drama overshadowed a terrific finish by Tiz Blessed who, despite his early antics and despite altering course in the stretch, closed determinedly to nail pacesetter Punster on the wire.

3:24 p.m.: Bank Heist was run down in the lane in the fourth, and longshot Montana Knight just took the fifth. Favorites not faring well today.

2:37 p.m.: Coming up in the fourth race, a maiden for 3-year-olds and up, is Bank Heist, a half brother to two time Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Midnight Lute. The colt was last seen gate schooling with Quality Road and West Virginia Derby entrant Exhi on Monday - and was actually the most nervous of the trio. Loading now, we'll see what he does.

2:30 p.m.: Scary incident just now in the paddock, and about the last thing you want to see. Jermaine Bridgmohan, the younger brother to Shaun, was preparing to get aboard Cincinnati Kid when the colt kicked out, catching Bridgmohan in the ribs - thankfully in the flak jacket. There was a delay getting the rest of the horses to post as Bridgmohan lay to the side of the walking ring being attended by the EMTs for several moments. Although he appeared groggy, he was responsive and talking to the EMTs during this time. He was taken out of the paddock by stretcher - receiving a hearty round of applause from a subdued crowd - and according to Charlie Hayward, who was on hand, he's headed by ambulance to Albany Med as a precaution.

You hate to be reminded how dangerous this sport is - even when not actively running the race. Best wishes to Bridgmohan for a safe trip to Albany, an uneventful evening and a speedy recovery.

1:11 p.m.: Brother Bird makes it back-to-back wins, coming from a stalking spot to take the first race for Todd Pletcher and Johnny V.

12:46 p.m.: Coming up in the first race of the day is Brother Bird, a 3-year-old half brother to last year's Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird - who of course runs in the Whitney later. The colt has never been off the board in five lifetime starts - including a third in his debut at Saratoga a year ago - and moved up to allowance company today after breaking his maiden at Belmont last time out.

12:28 p.m.: Standings race - entering a big weekend, Todd Pletcher holds a 10-9 lead over Mechanicville's Chad Brown in the trainer standings. Pletcher is poised to extend that advantage today, as he starts six horses - including Quality Road - to just one for Brown. In the jockey race, Johnny Velazquez, Pletcher's go-to rider, and Javier Castellano, who has been teaming up with Brown frequently, are deadlocked at 18 wins apiece.

11:48 a.m.: Good morning, and welcome to today's live blog for Saturday, Whitney Day. The stage is set - Quality Road versus Blame to determine who the top handicap horse on the East Coast is, at least at this point in time. Most (including yours truly) are of the opinion that this is Quality Road's race to lose - however, that being said, Blame is an extremely talented horse who loves this course and is flying under the radar. And the rest of the field aren't slouches - when the Derby winner opens at 12-1 on the morning line, you know it's a deep field. The six entrants have combined to win over a dozen graded or group events and have earned over $6.6 million.

It's a beautiful day for a showdown - sunny and breezy, absolutely no humidity, and not a rain cloud in sight.

For more thoughts on the Whitney - and today's other Grade I, the Test - check out today's episode of Pink Sheet Insider, which colleague Jeff Reynolds was kind enough to sit in on.

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

6:17 p.m.: Big news regarding the weekend stakes - and unfortunately, unwelcome news at that. New York-bred Franny Freud, who would have been favored in the Grade I Test on Saturday, has been retired due to a ligament injury to her left front ankle.

"The damage is in a delicate area," trainer John Terranova said when colleague Jeff Reynolds spoke to him just a few moments ago. "There was a high risk in returning her to the races. ... It's obviously career-ending, but she's not in any danger. We're happy she's going to go home safe and sound."

Terranova said the filly, winner of the Grade I Prioress last out, galloped well this morning but he noticed a slight filling in her ankle when she returned to the barn.

6 p.m.: Nothing like bipolar Saratoga weather. Following those earlier posts, the sun emerged, and it was another muggy afternoon. The track was upgraded slightly to muddy, and the turf is yielding - we are on the turf late in the card here. Our other two stakeswinners on the day were Endless Circle in the John Morrissey and Bridgetown in the Latham. Bridgetown, coming off an eight-month layoff, finished second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf last November.

1:46 p.m.: Well, that deteriorated quickly. Track now sloppy. Fourth and sixth races off the turf.

1:17 p.m.: A bunch of thoroughly soaked turf writers traipsing back up to the press box following Divine Fortune's win in the Smithwick. Collared the leader, Slip Away, very late under Danielle Hodsdon for trainer Jonathan Sheppard.

12:16 p.m.: Ah yes. Here comes the rain.

In other news - we just learned that 2009 Whitney winner Bullsbay, also the third place finisher in the Woodward, has been retired to stand at Northview Stallion Station in Maryland.

11:47 a.m.: Welcome to the blog for this Thursday card at the Spa, where the feature is our weekly steeplechase - the AP Smithwick Memorial. The track is listed as fast and the turf firm. That may not last long. It's extremely muggy, with the sky cloudy and threatening; chance of scattered thunderstorms as we get into the afternoon. And away we go...

For live race results, check out our Twitter stream.

5:38 p.m.: Entering today's final race, Chad Brown had won two races. Javier Castellano (he of the five-win day last week) had won four. It was Brown's Silver Medallion and Castellano aboard Forum in a photo in the ninth race. Photo went to Silver Medallion, so Brown takes a 9-8 lead on Pletcher in the trainer standings. Wow, what a finish to the day.

2:38 p.m.: Sorry for the late start to today's blog. Attended the Whitney draw this morning, then was busy processing video from the event. You can watch it here, of course.

In the meantime, Mechanicville native Chad Brown, after being shut out for several days, just won back-to-back races, storming right back to tie Todd Pletcher for the lead in the trainer standings with eight apiece. Wow. We are coming up on the fourth race - Brown has one runner remaining today, Pletcher has three.

Post positions were drawn for this Saturday's Whitney Handicap in the paddock this morning. From the rail out, here's what it looks like:

1. Mine That Bird, Calvin Borel, 12-1

2. Blame, Garrett Gomez, 4-1

3. Quality Road, Johnny Velazquez, 2-5

4. Haynesfield, Ramon Dominguez, 12-1

5. Jardim, Julien Leparoux, 30-1

6. Musket Man, Rajiv Maragh, 6-1

Currently processing video from the post-draw remarks from the connections and will have those to you shortly. But some preliminary observations: Todd Pletcher and Johnny Velazquez both very pleased with the draw for Quality Road. Velazquez just worries about the weather - says Quality Road struggled with the wet tracks last year at the Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup. Al Stall happy with the draw for Blame and says the race should set up well for this horse. Everyone commented on Mine That Bird, with Calvin Borel aboard, drawing the rail. Wayne Lukas says he has last year's Derby winner as ready as he can get him for the race; he's tried to put some more speed in the gelding, and says he'll need to use it Saturday to stay in contention.

This just in, and the sort of news you are always sorry to hear. Winslow Homer, an impressive winner of yesterday's Curlin Stakes, has emerged with a condylar fracture of his left front leg and will, of course, miss the Travers Stakes at the end of the month.

Trainer Tony Dutrow says the prognosis for a return to racing is good.

"We're anticipating he'll come back," he said. "It's a pretty simple procedure."

The son of Unbridled's Song will have surgery performed on the injury by Dr. Larry Bramlage in Lexington, Kentucky.

Winslow Homer won the Holy Bull Stakes earlier this year, but was quickly knocked off the Triple Crown trail by a stress fracture in his right cannon bone. He returned to run third in the Iowa Derby in late June. The colt then romped by nine lengths in yesterday's Curlin, with Dutrow saying he relished the nine furlong distance.

The injury is a bitter end to a big weekend for Dutrow, who had a pair of colts stamp themselves as Travers contenders. A Little Warm scored a handy win in the Jim Dandy on Saturday before Winslow Homer romped to the win on Sunday.

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

9:59 p.m.: Here's a look at Discreetly Mine's dominant win in the Amsterdam earlier today.

3:53 p.m.: The 9-year-old Redefined just scored a solid win in the sixth race. Always fun to see these older campaigners do this. He's trained by Tony Dutrow - who sent out the aforementioned Winslow Homer, as well as Jim Dandy winner A Little Warm, this weekend. Ramon Dominguez was aboard for his third win of the day.

2:16 p.m.: Well, the sort of news you always hate to hear. Winslow Homer, winner of yesterday's Curlin Stakes, is out of the Travers and likely done for the year with a condylar fracture.

11:45 a.m.: Hi folks, and welcome to our live blog for Monday, August 2. Apologies for the lack of a blog yesterday. Thanks to technical difficulties, we were on an early deadline for the Pink Sheet and Saratogian, meaning our energies had to be directed toward finishing our stories for print (remember that? go buy one from the kids right outside the track!).

To make it up to you, here's some video from this morning during training hours. First, Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra turned in her first breeze since winning the Lady's Secret at Monmouth, going five furlongs in 1:02.45 on the Oklahoma track. She did it nearly effortlessly, and trainer Steve Asmussen was pleased with the move.

Here's some bonus footage of Rachel's stablemate Kantharos, an exciting 2-year-old who won the Bashford Manor last out, going five furlongs in 1:00.45 in company.

Just under two hours ago, Quality Road schooled at the gate in preparation for his start in this Saturday's Whitney. As you'll recall (and who could forget), he melted down at the gate at the Breeders' Cup Classic last fall, forcing a late scratch. Following that episode, he went through extensive schooling with gate guru Bob Duncan, and has been fine for all three of his races this year. Todd Pletcher said this morning's session, which went very smoothly, as "a safety net."