SARATOGA SPRINGS – A look at developments over the first week at the Old Spa:

ROUGH RIDERS: Although the Saratoga jockey colony is, as usual, the best in the world, sometimes it looked more like a racetrack rodeo. There were three disqualifications, and all three riders, Jose Santos, Eibar Coa and Cornelio Velasquez, were suspended, although they have appealed and won’t sit out their days until the meet is over.

The roughest race was the fourth stanza on opening day, for 11 2-year-olds, seven of them first-time starters, going 5 ½ furlongs. Heading into the turn, half the field folded in along the rail like an accordion, and the only reason a couple of horses didn’t go down is there was no room to fall.

Taking the worst of it: 6-5 favorite Actaeon, Army Boots, Distressed Debt, Jo Jo’s Time and well-meant firster Shake You Up.

ON THE TURF: Rain kept the races off the grass until Friday; after that, the turf courses turned out to be much firmer than expected. Still, front-runners didn’t hold up at all, and saving ground in the early going was crucial for the closers.

As the meet progresses, if the rain holds off, the courses figure to get harder, and speed should hold up better. Horses to watch coming back off their first turf starts here, either because they set or forced the pace or had bad trips, include Rouvres, Del Mar Show, Celtic Memories, Deeliteful Guy, Perfect Cut, Wonder Again, Riskaverse, Chances Are I Know, Ellie’s Quest and Me And Mr. Z.

TRAINERS: It’s no surprise that Todd Pletcher, with seven wins, and Bobby Frankel, with four, were fast away from the gate.

Other trainers off to good starts who should stay live throughout the meet include Mark Hennig, Nick Zito, Bob Klesaris, Shug McGaughey, Rick Violette and Steve Asmussen.

Trainers you can expect to pick up the pace as the meet matures are Scott Lake, Kiaran McLaughlin, Christophe Clement, Jimmy Toner and Allen Jerkens.

JOCKEYS: Jerry Bailey, John Velazquez and Edgar Prado combined to win 30 of the first 57 races. So it makes sense to give their mounts a close look in every race before moving elsewhere.