And they're off, in the Jim Dandy!

The gate.

LITTLE BIRDSTONE! Ahhh. I love Tom Durkin. Yeah, he beat Smarty Jones in the Belmont Stakes...yeah, he won the Travers too.

Afleet Alex won the Hopeful (and the Sanford) as a 2 yo at the Spa.

The fountain...the silks are painted the colors of the Grade I winners of the meet last year ('04)

Riders up!

The Paddock at the Spa

Outriders. Even seeing the same outriders at Belmont and Aqueduct all year isn't the same as saying hello at Saratoga!

SARATOGA IS OPEN! Its like...coming home again. It brings tears to my eyes.

Mike's guns...Sorry Mike, couldn't help myself!