5:14 p.m.: Versus has started their broadcast, and we are about half an hour from an outstanding edition of the CCA Oaks! I am heading down to the paddock for the race. I will be unable to update this blog during that time - but check out our Twitter feed (@thepinksheet), as I'll be posting live photos there.

4:31 p.m.: Here's NBC gearing up for their broadcast (on Versus) of the CCA Oaks:

4:20 p.m.: So much for pedigree handicapping! In the fifth race, Dynafortwo won. Gold Trader was fifth. Unbridled Ocean dropped his rider during the warmup, jumped the rail on the backstretch and ran off into the stabling area. He was safely apprehended and returned to his barn. In the sixth, Tahoe Lake made a dazzling late move up the rail, just missing pacesetter Capital Market by a whisker - about as close as you can get to a dead heat. Liston was sixth, Quiet Account ninth and Arnell 10th. In the seventh race, R King of the Road set a wicked early pace but still opened up down the lane to win easily. Birdway was third, with Fact and Next Page both unplaced.

Pardon the fact that some of the photos are facing in an incorrect direction - Blogger is acting up on me. If anyone has any tech tips, leave a comment!

(Gold Trader, whose dam, Educated Risk, is a half sibling to Hall of Famer Inside Information)

(Arnell, a half sibling to Eclipse champion Stevie Wonderboy)

(Fact, by AP Indy out of Grade 1 winner Sharp Cat)

(R King of the Road wins the seventh)

3:39 p.m.: Corey Nakatani is off his mounts for the rest of the day citing dizziness; possibly due to the heat.

2:24 p.m.: Some very interesting pedigrees coming up in the next few races...

Fifth race: The Phipps Stables' Gold Trader is out of multiple Grade 1 winner and stakes producer Educated Risk. That mare is a half-sister to Hall of Famer and Eclipse champion Inside Information, as well as stakes-placed stakes-producer Hidden Reserve. Unbridled Ocean is out of the multiple stakes winner Ocean Drive, a half-sister to the classy and consistent Sun King.

Sixth race: Liston, by Storm Cat, is out of Rings a Chime, a Grade 1 winner who produced Grade 1 winner Country Star. Arnell, out of Heat Lightning, is a half sibling to Eclipse champion Stevie Wonderboy. Clear Attempt, by AP Indy, is out of Grade 1 winner Silent Sighs.

Seventh race: Darley Stables' Fact is by AP Indy, out of multiple Grade 1 winner Sharp Cat. Entrymate Next Page is out of Jinni, a stakes-placed daughter of Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Ajina. Birdway, who goes out for Marylou Whitney and Nick Zito, is out of Bird Harbor, a granddaughter of Dear Birdie; that mare produced Belmont and Travers winner Birdstone and Kentucky Oaks and Alabama winner Bird Town.

2:19 p.m.: Bob Baffert and Martin Garcia, hoping to win the CCA Oaks with Plum Pretty later on, got their day off to a good start, winning the third race with Saddleranch.

1:49 p.m.: Sad news. Was just announced in the press box that Rockettes Escapade suffered a condylar fracture of her right hind ankle and was euthanized. Thoughts go out to her connections....

1:41 p.m.: Laurie's Rocket wore down Whinston - who set a blistering early pace - to win the day's second race, a classy maiden special weight event.

Also, a belated note: Mechanicville native Chad Brown, who struggled yesterday, sent out his first winner of the meet, Deanaallen'skitten, in the day's first race.

(Laurie's Rocket coasts by for the win)

1:05 p.m.: Welcome to the first Saturday of the 2011 Saratoga meet! Of course, that means the meet's first Grade 1, the Coaching Club American Oaks. A small but incredibly strong field has lined up for the historic event: Kentucky Oaks winner Plum Pretty; Grade 1 winners It's Tricky and Buster's Ready; and graded winners Joyful Victory and Royal Delta. We previewed the Coaching Club on today's Pink Sheet Insider, and Mike Veitch takes a closer look at It's Tricky in the Pink Sheet today. You can also "fan" us on Facebook to weigh in on our poll with your pick.

NBC Sports is on hand to broadcast on Versus; the banners are hanging near the finish line and their set is stationed on the clubhouse turn. Will be great to see the Spa back in the spotlight. Beautiful sunny day; some rain fell overnight, so cooler than yesterday; and definitely not as much humidity.

Unfortunately, we started the day on a sour note. In the first race, Rockettes Escapade, trained by Bill Mott, went wide on both turns, and appeared to take a funny step on the second turn. Have not seen a clear reply myself yet, so can't speculate any more than that. She was stopped nearly immediately by Johnny Velazquez and walked onto the ambulance under her own power. Will keep you updated as I hear more. Thinking of Rockettes Escapade, and here's hoping everyone else has a safe trip today.