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2017 Saratoga Opening Day Photo Journal
Saratoga

2017 Saratoga Opening Day Photo Journal

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Forty days of pure horse racing bliss started on Friday, July 21 at Saratoga Race Course.  With a crowd of 32,000 in attendance, opening day brought the fun and excitement that is expected of a great day at Saratoga.  Let’s take a look back at the day with my photo journal:

The main entrance at Saratoga Race Course has all of the lawn jockeys of the top Graded Stakes winners of the previous year represented (Photo: Michael Spector)
The weather cooperated on opening day over a main track that was a bit deep during the first few races (Photo: Michael Spector)
Takaful was one of the most impressive runners on opening day winning the 4th race. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said the Grade 2 Jerkens may be up next. (Photo: Michael Spector)
Jockey Junior Alvarado is back after having two shoulder surgeries since last Saratoga meet and signed this kid’s autograph shortly after this photo was taken (Photo: Michael Spector)
Javier Castellano will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year and was all smiles before the 6th race at Saratoga (Photo: Michael Spector)
Limited View acted up in the paddock before the Grade 3 Schuylerville and needed to be scratched (Photo: Michael Spector)
Stainless for the StarLadies and Todd Pletcher ran a good third moving late in the Schuylerville. Here she is before the race. (Photo: Michael Spector)

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Buy Sell Hold before the Schuylerville maybe thinking about how she will set a blistering early pace for trainer Steve Asmussen. (Photo: Michael Spector)
Best Performance with jockey Jose Ortiz ran second in the Schuylerville for trainer Christophe Clement (Photo: Michael Spector)
Snowfire with Julien Leparoux up for trainer Mark Casse before the Schuylerville (Photo: Michael Spector)
Dream It Is blew them out in the Schuylerville for fun winning by 9 lengths under jockey Luis Contreras (Photo: Michael Spector)
Trainer Barbara Minshall was all smiles with her Dream It is in the winners’ circle after the Schuylerville (Photo: Michael Spector)
The start of the Grade 3 Lake George at Saratoga on Opening Day 2017 (Photo: Michael Spector)
Proctor’s Ledge pulling away from Party Boat late in the Lake George (Photo: Michael Spector)
Javier Castellano in the Grade 3 Lake George winners’ circle on Proctor’s Ledge for trainer Brendan Walsh (Photo: Michael Spector)
It was a beautiful opening day at Saratoga and the grandstand looks great for its 149th meet. 39 more days to go! (Photo: Michael Spector)

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