This Week in Racing: Excitement for Saratoga 2018 builds

The most anticipated meeting of American Thoroughbreds is almost upon us. Yes, racing fans, Saratoga opens next week.

An annual rite of summer, the Spa brings together fantastic racing, great fans, and a very special place. Away from the hustle, bustle, and daily grind of New York City, Saratoga plays the role of ideal host to the best of summertime racing. The upstate New York oasis never fails to supply the perfect pitch of ambience combined with sport, and ... all those wonderful equine athletes.

Perhaps the biggest question of Saratoga 2018 is, will he or won't he? Of course, I'm referring to the undefeated Triple Crown winner Justify. Your guess is as good as mine whether we will see the superstar in the most prestigious race for 3-year-olds after the Triple Crown, but either way, the Travers Stakes is always a can't-miss event.

With Justify, it becomes not only a circus, but further proving ground for a horse that has rightfully gained mainstream attention. Without him, it will likely be a coming out party for one of the many Triple Crown chasers such as Hofburg, Good Magic, Gronkowski, Vino Rosso, Bravazo, Tenfold, etc ... You get the idea, with or without him, the August 25 race will be a most interesting affair.

While the Travers is the cornerstone of each summer at the Spa, Saratoga would thrive even without it. Recent racing results have only spiked the anticipation for the plethora of graded stakes offered between opening day, Friday, July 20, until closing day, Monday, September 3.

Whatever combination we get, I cannot wait to see the 3-year-old filly division descend on Saratoga Springs. Monomoy Girl, unbeaten in four important graded stakes this season, is expected for the Coaching Club American Oaks on opening weekend. She is the clear leader of the division, but cannot rest on her laurels; not with Midnight Bisou, Wonder Gadot, and Red Ruby looming.

Since the division leader rolled in the Acorn, each of the other three has succeeded in outdoing the next with huge wins in New York, Toronto, and Delaware. Midnight Bisou, in the Mother Goose, and Wonder Gadot, in the Queen's Plate, threw down the gauntlet the week before, and then on Saturday, Red Ruby delivered as well. The pretty gray daughter of Tiznow has officially entered this loaded upper echelon of 3-year-old fillies of 2018 with a 13-length tour de force in the Delaware Oaks. All four of these excellent young fillies at Saratoga? Yes please!

Speaking of the females, I'm also geeked for the first Saturday of Saratoga, and the Diana. You very well could be looking at a matchup between the best two turf fillies in the land when Chad Brown sends out A Raving Beauty and Sistercharlie. Both were terrific on Belmont Stakes day, as were Bee Jersey and Mind Your Biscuits.

Their memorable battle in the Met Mile just barely in the rear view mirror, both top older males will be at Saratoga this summer, and each will have plenty of options as far as which stakes races to run, but I'm Hopeful (pun intended) that they renew their rivalry in the August 4 Whitney. A win by either there puts them right in the running with the best of the older males.

And what of Diversify? The 2017 Jockey Club Gold Cup hero returned to the scene of the crime to run them off their feet in Saturday's Suburban. He too will be looking to make a run at the Eclipse Award as our best Older Male. It looks like the September 1 Woodward will be next for the speedy New York-bred. As good as he was on Stars and Stripes day at Belmont, I'm not sure that he was the most impressive winner of the afternoon.

That honor very well may fall to Firenze Fire. Back at one-turn for the Dwyer Stakes, the son of Poseidon's Warrior rallied right by Mendelssohn and everyone else in the one-mile affair. The 1:33 and change romp signals him as a horse of serious ability at shorter distances. I cannot wait to see what he does next, which will likely come in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial on Travers day.

Not to be outdone by monster performances on the dirt earlier in the card, Catholic Boy and Analyze It turned in a doozy in the Belmont Derby. For the second straight race it was the Jonathan Thomas-trained Catholic Boy denying seemingly sure victory from his new rival. Not only are they two of the more talented young American grass runners of recent memory, but it is fantastic to see a true rivalry blooming on U.S. turf. It is not clear cut where each will go next, but both will be stabled at Saratoga, and we can only hope that their exciting new rivalry continues sooner than later.

We also cannot forget about all the wonderful juveniles who will debut at Saratoga. The future of racing often begins each summer at the Spa.

Have I piqued your interest yet for Saratoga 2018? And trust me, this is only the tip of the iceberg. Join me in counting down the days until we hear, "And they're off at Saratoga!" This is going to be another great summer.