Trainers Roderick Rodriguez, Chad Brown win Saratoga's opening day features

Off the Tracks helped Rodriguez keep his word Friday with a 31/4-length victory in the Grade III Schuylerville for 2-year-old fillies in front of a record 34,783 fans on opening day at the Spa.

In the day's other feature, trainer Chad Brown of Mechanicville captured the Grade II, $200,000 Lake George for 3-year-old fillies when Mrs McDougal stormed from the outside of the turf course for a half-length triumph.

While Brown is one of the sport's most successful young trainers, the Schuylerville was the first career graded stakes win for Rodriguez, 50, a Florida-based horseman who was saddling his first starter at Saratoga.

[...] I did it, and I did it on my own.

With Luis Saez up, Off the Tracks moved clear in the final furlong and paid $19.60 to win.

Off the Tracks came into the Schuylerville, a six-furlong dirt race, off a 41/4-length victory in her debut at Gulfstream Park on June 13.

Trainer Todd Pletcher was denied his sixth Schuylerville victory when 6-5 favorite Positively Royal faded to last in the eight-horse field under Javier Castellano.

A daughter of Medaglia d'Oro, Mrs McDougal broke from the No. 6 post and traveled four wide on each turn before outrunning second-place Feathered.