Saratoga’s 2023 meet kicked off Thursday and opening weekend is highlighted by the Grade 1 Diana Stakes, one of the vital essential stakes races for fillies and mares on the grass, amongst three graded races on Saturday’s card.

Final yr’s winner, In Italian, will try to develop into the seventh repeat winner and eighth horse to win two editions of the race in opposition to solely 4 challengers, three of that are stablemates in coach Chad Brown’s barn.

In response to the NYRA web site, the Diana Stakes is called after the Roman mythological goddess of the hunt, who had the facility to speak to and management animals. From 1939 till 1973, the Diana was run on the primary monitor at 1 1/8 miles and has since develop into a serious summer time turf stakes for fillies and mares at that distance.

1. Fev Rover (12-1 morning-line odds): She’s been terrific in 4 begins within the U.S. in opposition to elite competitors with two wins, one second, and one third. Fev Rover enters off a win over 2022 Canadian Horse of the Yr Moira within the Nassau Stakes July 1 on yielding turf at Woodbine. With some rain within the forecast, Fev Rover could possibly be doubly harmful.

JOCKEY: Javier Castellano; TRAINER: Mark Casse

2. In Italian (2-5): In Italian has received 4 of her final 5 begins with the one defeat in that span a runner-up end within the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. She received this race by 1 ½ lengths a yr in the past and figures to be a formidable heavy favourite because the controlling pace within the race with two dominant wins in as many begins in 2023.

JOCKEY: Irad Ortiz Jr.; TRAINER: Chad Brown

3. Marketsegmentation (4-1): This 4-year-old American Pharoah filly totes a three-race successful streak into the Diana. She has emerged as an elite expertise within the turf feminine division and enters off of a front-running three-quarter-length victory within the Grade 1 New York Stakes June 9 at Belmont Park. Stablemate In Italian ought to dictate the tempo and is the quicker horse on paper, however Marketsegmentation appears to be enhancing with each race.

JOCKEY: Jose Ortiz; TRAINER: Chad Brown

4. Fluffy Socks (8-1): She halted a seven-race winless stretch in her most up-to-date begin with a one-length win within the Grade 2 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes Might 6 at Churchill Downs. Fluffy Socks had 4 seconds and one third throughout that span between visits to the winner’s circle, so she areas her wins however is all the time proper within the combine in deep stretch with 14 top-three finishes in 18 lifetime begins.

JOCKEY: Joel Rosario; TRAINER: Chad Brown

5. Whitebeam (5-1): She received three of six begins in Europe in 2022 earlier than becoming a member of Chad Brown’s barn for her 2023 marketing campaign. Whitebeam was second by a neck in her stateside debut and adopted with a 2 ½-length victory within the Grade 3 Gallorette Stakes Offered by Pepsi Zero Sugar at Pimlico Might 20. She seems like a critical menace at what could be an interesting worth.

JOCKEY: Flavien Prat; TRAINER: Chad Brown

THE PICK: In Italian

LIVE LONGSHOT: Fev Rover

TRIFECTA: 2-5-1