Bettors eagerly look forward every summer to Saratoga, upstate New York’s annual showcase of top-level racing that features at least one major stakes every weekend.
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It’s the $600,000 Alabama Stakes (G1) this Saturday for 3-year-old fillies going a demanding 1 ¼ miles. The arrival of the Alabama is also a bittersweet reminder that the meet is almost done.
There are several major events remaining, including the $1.25 million Travers Stakes (G1) on Aug. 23 and a Labor Day weekend highlighted by the $300,000 Spinaway Stakes (G1) on Aug. 30 followed by the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) on Aug. 31 leading to the $300,000 Hopeful Stakes (G1) on the holiday to close out the stand.
Gosh, where did the time go?
Before we wax too philosophically, let’s roll up our sleeves and take an in-depth look at the Alabama.
The great mystery hovering over the race is: what the heck happened to Good Cheer last time out in the Acorn Stakes (G1) here on June 6.
Prior to the Acorn, Good Cheer was the undisputed queen of the division. She was a perfect 7-for-7, including a rousing win in the Kentucky Oaks (G1).
The winning streak came to a crushing halt in the Acorn as she was never a factor, finishing fifth over the sloppy surface as the overwhelming 3-10 favorite.
Was the wet track her undoing? Or were other factors at play? Like we handicappers, assistant trainer Blake Cox -- standing in for dad Brad -- is still groping for answers.
“She’s doing great,” Cox said of Good Cheer, the slight 8-5 favorite over 9-5 Nitrogen. “She was perfect until the Acorn and we can’t really come up with an excuse – maybe the racetrack, I guess, but you could tell she wasn’t traveling well throughout the race, so we’ll give her one more shot here going a mile and a quarter.
“She should like it, and we’ve given her plenty of time. She’s done well up here, so fingers crossed we get her back in the win column.”
Cox also sends out Margie’s Intention (8-1), winner of the Black-Eyed Susan (G2) at Pimlico followed most recently by a second-place finish in the Delaware Oaks (G3).
“She’s been doing extremely well – her works have been good, her weight is good, and she’s trained great,” Cox said.” We’re hoping she gets a piece of it. She couldn’t be doing any better.”
While Team Cox is wishing and hoping heading into the Alabama, the Mark Casse barn is brimming with confidence. And why not? In La Cara (5-1) and Nitrogen, they have two fillies coming into the race in peak form.
“It's a dream come true,” Casse said of having two top contenders in the race as he seeks his first Alabama win. “I've been watching the Alabama since I was eight, and to have two legitimate chances ... I think it's not set in stone, but this race is going to be a big deciding factor in who's going to be champion 3-year-old filly. Obviously, someone can go on and win the Breeders' Cup and that would trump whatever happens in the Alabama, but we'll have a clear-cut leader once the dust is settled.”
While Good Cheer struggled in the Acorn over the sloppy track, La Cara skipped over the sealed surface for a front-running victory. The Acorn was her second Grade 1 victory to go along with the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland.
This is the rubber match in her rivalry with Good Cheer. While Good Cheer rallied to win the Kentucky Oaks, La Cara set the pace before fading badly to finish ninth.
They squared off again in the Acorn with La Cara coming out on top.
La Cara did miss her next scheduled start in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) on July 19 when her barn was quarantined to prevent the spread of an infectious disease.
“I’m concerned about it as I like to have my horses in a race pattern and we got out of it,” Casse said. “Now, we are not only out of that pattern, but now we’re going the farthest she’s ever went. If I didn’t tell you I was a little concerned about it, then I wouldn’t be telling you the truth.
“On a brighter note, she’s training really good, and she’s very happy. I think she looks better right now than she’s looked all year long from a physical standpoint, so maybe that break did help her a little.”
Nitrogen is a prime player as well. She has spent most of her career running in grass races, including a nose loss last time out in the Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1). For anyone wondering if she can handle the dirt, look no further than Saratoga’s Wonder Again Stakes (G3) which was rained off the grass onto the sloppy main track.
Nitrogen toyed with two rivals, pulling clear to a 17-length victory.
“I would have said that I was concerned that maybe she just liked the slop, but she’s trained so well on the dirt the last couple breezes that I really don’t have much of a concern,” Casse said.
The Belmont Oaks loss ended Nitrogen’s five-race winning streak, all stakes races. Old-school handicappers will love the turf-to-dirt angle along with the fact jockey Jose Ortiz remains aboard for the eighth straight time.
So do we.
For those who bet horse racing ...
The field for the $600,000 Alabama Stakes (G1), from the rail out, with jockey, trainer, odds:
1 Margie’s Intention (Irad Ortiz, Jr., Brad Cox), 8-1
2 Good Cheer (Luis Saez, Brad Cox), 8-5
3 Kinzie Queen (Junior Alvarado, Greg Compton), 15-1
4 Nitrogen (Jose Ortiz, Mark Casse), 9-5
5 Queen Azteca (Joel Rosario, Neils Petersen), 12-1
6 La Cara (Dylan Davis, Mark Casse), 5-1
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
