Will this be the final summer that the New York Racing Association oversees racing at Saratoga Race Course?

There are plenty of differing opinions on that prospect around the horse racing world.

With that being said, there’s one thing that all pundits can agree on - this promises to be one of the most thrilling summers in the 139-year history of the famous racetrack on Union Avenue.

Racing at the Spa begins on Wednesday, July 25 and culminates six weeks later on Labor Day, Sept. 3.

On Monday, the New York Racing Association held its annual Saratoga preview press conference. Less than 24 hours prior, NYRA found out that its biggest attraction - 2006 Horse of the Year Invasor - would not be able to defend his victory here in last summer’s Whitney Handicap due to a career-ending injury.

Though Invasor’s absence is no doubt a major loss for fans, there will be plenty of star power at Saratoga.

Most of the buzz usually revolves around the Travers Stakes and this year will be no different for the Aug. 25 Mid-Summer Derby.

Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, Preakness winner Curlin and hard-luck Triple Crown contender Hard Spun are all being pointed for the Travers.

The most enticing question is whether or not Saratoga superstar trainer Todd Pletcher will saddle filly and Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches against the boys  again.

On June 9, Rags to Riches became the first filly since 1905 to capture the Belmont.

If Pletcher opts not to go the Travers route, Rags to Riches will most definitely be in the starting gate for the Grade I Alabama on Aug. 18.

Aqueduct’s 2006 Cigar Mile winner Discreet Cat, whose six-race winning streak was halted in Dubai back in March, is expected to make a return at Saratoga. 

Flashy Bull, is expected for the Grade I Whitney. The day will also offer the Grade I Go for Wand for fillies and mares at nine furlongs; the Grade I Diana Handicap for fillies and mares at nine furlongs on the turf and the Grade II Alfred G. Vanderbilt for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs.

Pletcher won his fifth straight Saratoga title and sixth over all last year with 24 winners, trailed by Richard Dutrow Jr., Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Steve Asmussen, Hall of Famer Nick Zito, Christophe Clement, New York’s leading trainer in 2006 Gary Contessa, Mike Hushion, Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel and Kiaran McLaughlin.

Jockey Edgar Prado won the 2006 Spa title (46-42) over Garrett Gomez. It was his second straight Spa riding title and third overall. Cornelio Velasquez was third, followed by John Velazquez and Julien Leparoux, whose 28 wins here last year set a single-meet record for an apprentice.

In other racing news: Saratoga County Attorney James A. Murphy III announced Wednesday that William and Keith Barrack plead guilty to interference with a domestic animal in Saratoga County court before the honorable Jerry Scarano.

These pleas stem from an indictment handed up in March involving the use and trafficking of banned substances at the Saratoga Harness Track.

The convictions are a result of an investigation by members of the Special Investigations Unit of the New York State Police and the New York State Racing and Wagering Board, who suspected that certain individuals were involved with facilitating the administration of banned substances into harness horses racing at the track.

Murphy stated that the investigation is on-going.

“We need to ensure the integrity of harness racing for the betting public,” Murphy said.