First post is scheduled for its traditional time of 1:00pm. The 10th race, a Claiming race, is scheduled for 6:17pm.
The opening day card includes its traditional feature race, The Schuylerville (GIII) for 2 year old fillies, which carded 10 fillies to go six furlongs on the main track.
The rail horse, Catherinethegreat was installed as the 5/2 morning line favorite by the track oddsmaker. A third time starter, she has placed 1st and 2nd in her past two tries, both in Maiden Special Weights at Gulfstream Park. Jose Ortiz rides the Florida bred for trainer Mark Casse.
John Velazquez and Todd Pletcher do their usual pairing together for the second choice, Nonna Madeline. The Kentucky bred will start next to Catherinethegreat in post 2, and was a convincing 3 1/2 length winner for jockey Joe Bravo in her one start, a Maiden Special Weight at Monmouth Park.
Lady Apple, the #9 horse, has stakes experience having run in the Astoria Stakes at Belmont Park her last time out. This twice-raced maiden had a narrow lead on a stalking trip entering the stretch, but was bested by Athens Queen by a neck at the wire. Irad Ortiz will be on board for Steve Amussen.
Congrats Gal, Fightress, Lonely Road, Tapping Pearl, Sergenti Empress, Eyeinthesky and Blame the Frog complete the field of 10.
Opening day will also feature the Lake George Stakes (GIII) for 3 year old fillies going 1-1/16 miles on the turf course. Seven horses are expected to start, with Nootka Sound entered in the event the race gets switched to the main track.
Daddy is a Legend is the morning line favorite, but has had issues reaching the winner circle since winning the Jimmy Durante Stakes (GIII) at Del Mar last November. In her three races since, Daddy is a Legend only made the board once, a third place finish in the Edgewood Stakes (GIII) at Churchill Downs. Manuel Franco will ride this filly for trainer George Weaver.
Chad Brown trains the second choice, Altea. Finishing behind Daddy is a Legend in the Edgewood Stakes, Altea broker her maiden over in France, where she raced until this year. Her first race on U.S. soil came in the Florida Oaks (GIII) at Tampa Bay Downs, where she was just a head behind the top two finishers Andina Del Sur and Goodthingstaketime. Irad Ortiz will ride the French bred.
Speaking of Andina Del Sur, the 8/1 choice on the board hasn't seen the winner's circle since that Florida Oaks win. She tried Grade I company, but a beat by over 16 lengths in the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland convinced the connections to go back into Grade III company, where she finished 6th in the Wonder Again Stakes (GIII) at Belmont Park, a race where most of these horses are emerging from.
Goodthingstakestime did not emerge out of that race, instead opted to try the Appalachain Stakes (GII) at Keeneland and the Penn Oaks at Penn National, where the Irish Bred finished with a pair of third place showings. Jose Ortiz rides.
Rail horse Punked, Longshot Going Out and outsider Heavenly Love complete the 7 horses who will race on the turf.
