First Look: Grade 1 Diana at Saratoga leads 7 stakes

Summer racing hits full throttle this week with seven stakes across four days. Saratoga claims five of those races, including Saturday's Grade 1 Diana. Colonial Downs adds a pair of 3-year-old stakes to round out a week that proves quality racing doesn't take a summer vacation.

The Diana (G1) at Saratoga anchors Saturday's action with She Feels Pretty bringing a four-race win streak into the 1 1/8-mile turf test. The daughter of Karakontie hasn't lost since October, including a score in the New York (G1) at the Spa four weeks ago. She'll face Dynamic Pricing, who has reeled off back-to-back graded-stakes wins in the Beaugay (G3) at Aqueduct and the Just a Game (G1) on that same Saratoga card as the New York. The Chad Brown-trained Excellent Truth adds intrigue after finishing second to stablemate Dynamic Pricing in that Just a Game, aiming to turn the tables in this deeper field.

Seven stakes across two tracks offer the perfect bridge between July 4 celebrations and next week's Haskell (G1) at Monmouth.

Thursday

De La Rose, Saratoga, 1 mile, turf, 4-year-olds and up

Edict and Heredia met in the Beaugay (G3) in early May, with Edict finishing second and Heredia third. Edict tracked in second position throughout that contest before being caught late by Dynamic Pricing. The 5-year-old mare wound up a disappointing sixth in the New York at Saratoga last time out after leading early before weakening. Heredia was seventh most of the way in the Beaugay before running on late for third in her first start in North America. The 6-year-old mare has placed no worse than fourth dating back to 2022.

Friday

Coronation Cup (G3), Saratoga, 5 1/2 furlongs, turf, fillies, 3-year-olds

Cloe and Spirited Boss renew their rivalry from the Soaring Softly, where they came home second and third, respectively, behind Saturday Flirt. Cloe has shown steady improvement through her five-race campaign, breaking her maiden at Gulfstream in January before running third in the Señorita (G3) at Santa Anita. The daughter of Tiz the Law came back with that runner-up performance in the Soaring Softly. Spirited Boss enters off that third-place finish but brings a stronger overall record with three wins from six starts, never finishing worse than third. The Street Boss filly came home second in the Honey Ryder at Gulfstream on May 3.

Saturday

Star de Naskra, Colonial Downs, 7 furlongs, 3-year-olds

Barbadian Runner enters off a strong showing in the Delaware Derby, where he finished second to Admiral Dennis. The Henry Walters-trained colt captured the Jersey Derby at Monmouth Park on May 31. His 14-race career includes four victories with consistent efforts in stakes company. The son of Barbados has shown tactical speed and the ability to rate off the pace, earning Beyer Speed Figures in the mid-70s to upper 80s, according to Daily Racing Form, including a career-best 90 in the Delaware Derby.

Miss Disco, Colonial Downs, 7 furlongs, fillies, 3-year-olds

Conquerthosewecan and Grayson's Girl face off again after their 1-2 finish in an allowance race at Laurel on June 21. Conquerthosewecan enters off that narrow win, earning a career-best 76 Beyer Speed Figure, in the process. The 3-year-old daughter of Bernardini has been sharp in her brief four-race career, recording two wins and two seconds. Grayson's Girl comes back looking for revenge after settling for second in that June 21 encounter. The Gift Box filly has shown consistent form with three consecutive efforts producing a win, second and third-place finish, including a maiden score at Laurel going six furlongs in April over a sloppy main track.

Diana (G1), Saratoga, 1 1/8 miles, turf, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

She Feels Pretty enters riding a four-race win streak that includes her most recent win in the New York at Saratoga on June 6. The 4-year-old filly's current run began with a victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) at Keeneland in October 2024, followed by wins in the American Oaks (G1) at Santa Anita and Modesty (G3) at Churchill Downs. Dynamic Pricing captured the Just a Game at Saratoga on June 6, defeating Excellent Truth after winning the Beaugay at Belmont at Aqueduct in her previous start on May 4. Excellent Truth finished second in that Just a Game effort after her runner-up finish in the Jenny Wiley (G1) at Keeneland on April 12.

Bowling Green (G2), Saratoga, 1 3/8 miles, turf, 4-year-olds and up

Far Bridge ran third in the Manhattan (G1) at Saratoga on June 8 last time out, stalking the pace throughout. The 5-year-old colt won the Man o' War (G2) at Belmont at Aqueduct in May, where he drew clear under a hand ride. The son of English Channel captured the Pan American (G3) at Gulfstream in March by a neck over Corruption. His 2024 campaign featured Grade 1 victories in the Turf Classic (G1) at Belmont at Aqueduct and the Sword Dancer (G1) at Saratoga.

Sunday

Quick Call (G3), Saratoga, 5 1/2 furlongs, turf, 3-year-olds

Soontobeking comes off a runner-up performance in the Mike Lee at Saratoga on June 4. The 3-year-old colt has shown consistent form this season with two victories from five starts, including a win in the Gander at Aqueduct in March where he overcame early bumping to score by a neck. He also ran second in the New York Stallion at Aqueduct in April.