If you follow me on social media, you’ve probably heard mention of a mare named Dacita more than once. So let me tell you a bit about my favorite Chilean horse, who will take on nine of the best turf females in Saturday’s $500,000 Grade 1 Diana Stakes at Saratoga. The 5-year-old Chilean mare, trained by Chad Brown, was bred by Haras Paso Nevado and is owned by Sheep Pond Partners and Bradley Thoroughbreds. I caught up with the lovely chestnut on Thursday morning to observe her training session on the main track at Saratoga.

Around 9:20 a.m., Dacita crossed Union Avenue with several others in a troop from Chad Brown’s barn and strolled onto the track, appearing laid-back and relaxed. She jogged the wrong way down the backstretch before turning around and galloping one easy lap.

I liked her cool-as-a-cucumber demeanor, but she’ll really need to pour on the cobs to beat the classy crew that will go post-ward for the Diana. Miss Temple City, for example, makes her first start after running fourth in the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 15, and looks formidable.

Check out these photos from Dacita’s training session, and enjoy the running of the 2016 Grade 1 Diana!