Opening Day at Saratoga!

Are you ready?

This afternoon, one of the most prestigious race meets in the country begins at Saratoga race course in New York. Countless graded stakes races will be run, with several past and future champions likely to race there. And don't forget the incredible maiden special weight races -- Uncle Mo, To Honor and Serve, Astrology, Anthony's Cross, and More Than Real were among the juveniles that debuted at Saratoga last year.

The 2011 meeting kicks off with a ten-race card that features two stakes races, the $100,000 Schuylerville Stakes (gr. III) for two-year-old fillies, and the $75,000 James Marvin Stakes for three-year-olds and upward.

The first race of the day is a $43,000 allowance race at a mile and a sixteenth of the turf for New York-bred three-year-olds and upward. The 7-2 morning line favorite is Gamblin Fever, who has actually only won twice in 37 starts but has been racing rather well as of late. A five-year-old gelding, he possesses a serious late turn of foot, and has run second in two straight allowance races similar to this one at Belmont Park.

The lightly-raced five-year-old Boat, who actually only made his debut in late 2010, is the second choice on the morning line. He too has been running well in allowance company, but finished 5 1/4 lengths behind Gamblin Fever last time out.

The Noz broke his maiden here at Saratoga last year, but has not finished better than third in six starts since then. Last time out, he was third in a seven-furlong turf allowance race. Perhaps he will enjoy the stretch-out in distance, but I believe that he will have to run an improved race to contend here.

Fizzano, a three-year-old gelding, will be ridden by Ramon Dominguez and is the co-third choice along with The Noz. He is coming off of a victory in a maiden special weight going a mile and a sixteenth of turf, where he was allowed to set a dawdling pace before drawing away for a 2 1/4 length victory.

Dual Citizen was eased in his last start, but has previously performed well and has the early speed to go to the lead. If he gets involved in a speed-duel with Fizzano, it could be bad for both of them, but if the pace in slow Dual Citizen could take them gate-to-wire. I'm going to guess that he bled or something similar in his last start and will run an improved race today.

Warrior Up, Rocky World, Mr. Hooker, and Tapitdar complete the field.

My top three picks are:

1 Dual Citizen
2 Gamblin Fever
3 Boat

More analysis on other races will follow!

-Keelerman