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

Last year’s winner, In Italian, will attempt to become the seventh repeat winner and eighth horse to win two editions of the race against only four challengers, three of which are stablemates in trainer Chad Brown’s barn.

According to the NYRA website, the Diana Stakes is named after the Roman mythological goddess of the hunt, who had the power to talk to and control animals. From 1939 until 1973, the Diana was run on the main track at 1 1/8 miles and has since become a major summer turf stakes for fillies and mares at that distance.

1. Fev Rover (12-1 morning-line odds): She’s been terrific in four starts in the U.S. against elite competition with two wins, one second, and one third. Fev Rover enters off a win over 2022 Canadian Horse of the Year Moira in the Nassau Stakes July 1 on yielding turf at Woodbine. With some rain in the forecast, Fev Rover could be doubly dangerous.

JOCKEY: Javier Castellano; TRAINER: Mark Casse

2. In Italian (2-5): In Italian has won four of her last five starts with the only defeat in that span a runner-up finish in the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. She won this race by 1 ½ lengths a year ago and figures to be a formidable heavy favorite as the controlling speed in the race with two dominant wins in as many starts in 2023.

JOCKEY: Irad Ortiz Jr.; TRAINER: Chad Brown

3. Marketsegmentation (4-1): This 4-year-old American Pharoah filly totes a three-race winning streak into the Diana. She has emerged as an elite talent in the turf female division and enters off of a front-running three-quarter-length victory in the Grade 1 New York Stakes June 9 at Belmont Park. Stablemate In Italian should dictate the pace and is the faster horse on paper, but Marketsegmentation seems to be improving with every race.

JOCKEY: Jose Ortiz; TRAINER: Chad Brown

4. Fluffy Socks (8-1): She halted a seven-race winless stretch in her most recent start with a one-length win in the Grade 2 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes May 6 at Churchill Downs. Fluffy Socks had four seconds and one third during that span between visits to the winner’s circle, so she spaces her wins but is always right in the mix in deep stretch with 14 top-three finishes in 18 lifetime starts.

JOCKEY: Joel Rosario; TRAINER: Chad Brown

5. Whitebeam (5-1): She won three of six starts in Europe in 2022 before joining Chad Brown’s barn for her 2023 campaign. Whitebeam was second by a neck in her stateside debut and followed with a 2 ½-length victory in the Grade 3 Gallorette Stakes Presented by Pepsi Zero Sugar at Pimlico May 20. She looks like a serious threat at what might be an appealing price.

JOCKEY: Flavien Prat; TRAINER: Chad Brown

THE PICK: In Italian

LIVE LONGSHOT: Fev Rover

TRIFECTA: 2-5-1