The traditional opening day at Saratoga Race Course on July 10 marked the official start of the 40-day summer meet, following a brief three-day break after a special July 4th Racing Festival held due to Belmont Park’s renovation. Despite already hosting 103 races over nine days this year, the excitement remained high as jockey Flavien Prat, who set records last year, won the first race aboard Maximum Security’s filly Ah Ca Ira. Saratoga also honored legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas with the Wayne’s Winners program, inviting children into the winner’s circle. Prat quickly took the lead in the jockey standings, with strong competition from Jose Ortiz, who won two races including the first division of the De La Rose Stakes.

The De La Rose Stakes was split into two close turf races, with Ortiz winning the first division on Deep Satin and Dylan Davis taking the second division aboard Ozara. Both races highlighted a speed-favoring turf course, though conditions were improving. The meet’s first 2-year-old race was won by Cy Fair, trained by George Weaver, who praised the filly’s talent and Saratoga’s role in showcasing future stars. Weaver started the meet strong with two winners from his first two starters, leading the trainer leaderboard after day one.