7:04 p.m.: Sitting in the press box as the sun starts to go down, wrapping up a great first day at the Spa. A few quick notes:

--The heat was not as bad as some were anticipating. There were a few horses who clearly weren't happy; we had a few instances of runners wanting no part of exerting themselves and being outdistanced by the field. But plenty of cooling stations (hoses, ice, etc) were set up; vets were on hand monitoring the activity; most trainers chose to saddle in the paddock stalls in the shade rather than under the trees; and post parades were shortened. Happily, there were no catastrophic incidents involving the weather.

--It was fun to watch the NBC crews setting up their equipment and shooting b-roll. Tomorrow's Coaching Club American Oaks broadcast on Versus marks the first time since the 2009 Travers that a Saratoga race will be televised nationally; the network is producing eight (!!) shows from the track this year. Spotted: commentator Tom Hammond and Hall of Fame rider Gary Stevens doing a set/sound check on the clubhouse turn.

--Julien Leparoux pulled off a double on Opening Day.

--Mechanicville native Chad Brown's day was a comedy of errors. Not only was he shut out with several live horses, he also had two runners claimed from him.

Stakes recap: New York Yankee fans rejoice! Georgie's Angel - named for the late team owner - gave last year's leaders, Todd Pletcher and Johnny Velazquez, their first winner of the year in the Grade 3 Schuylerville.

(Georgie's Angel prior to her win)

In the listed James Marvin - which drew a graded-quality field - the gritty Jackson Bend scored his first win in nearly two years.

(Jackson Bend wins the James Marvin)

2:43 p.m.: And it's a good-looking return for Valiant Passion - in her first start for trainer Graham Motion - drawing away late for the score under a hand ride.

2:37 p.m.: Some familiar faces from Saratoga running here today. Stand Proud was the horse Javier Castellano rode to notch his fifth consecutive winner on the July 25, 2010 card. They teamed up again but finished off the board in the third race. Valiant Passion, who broke her maiden here in impressive fashion a year ago, is making her first start of the year in the fourth race - with one minute to post.

2:16 p.m.: We are three races in and so far, knock on wood, no real problems for the horses or riders in the heat.

A quick note - some new stuff has been done to the toteboards in the infield. Larger numbers, brighter colors, no missing bulbs. Much easier to read.

12:27 p.m.: Welcome to the 2011 season at Saratoga Race Course!! We are about a half an hour away from the first race of the season, and it's great to be back here. Not a huge crowd yet, but a lively one. Music in the backyard, sunshine and some great racing on tap - what more could you as for?

The big story in the last 48 hours leading up to Opening Day has, of course, been the weather - and NYRA's decision not to cancel despite the heat. Weather.com currently has Saratoga listed as 96 degrees. Not as humid as yesterday, and there is a nice breeze. From my spot in the press box, I can see where some extra buckets of ice and hoses have been set up near the unsaddling area on the track. We'll be talking to the jockeys and trainers as the day goes on to get reactions on how they're coping.

The features took a hit with scratches. The Grade 3 Schuylerville lost three and is down to six horses, while the James Marvin lost three runners, including Grade 1 winner Jersey Town. So the $75,000 overnight stake has only two Grade 1 winners instead of three. How special is racing at Saratoga?

Stay tuned for updates....and, as Tom Durkin says, enjoy your afternoon at the Spaaaa.