The time-honored Alabama Stakes returns to the historic Saratoga Race Course this Saturday, August 16, 2025, offering horse racing fans a spectacular showcase of the nation's elite three-year-old fillies. This prestigious Grade 1 event, a staple of the summer meet, features a $600,000 purse and a classic distance of 1 ¼ miles, making it a critical test of stamina and class.
Whether you’re a seasoned handicapper or a newcomer to the sport, the Alabama Stakes provides an exhilarating opportunity to witness future champions in action. As you prepare to watch and wager on this incredible event, this guide offers all the essential information you need, from how to watch to a deep-dive analysis of each contender. We’ll also cover the full Alabama Stakes odds and past winners to help you build your betting strategy.
The stage is set for a thrilling showdown as a compact but highly competitive field of fillies challenges each other over the classic distance. The 2025 Alabama Stakes betting landscape is dominated by two primary contenders, with a few intriguing longshots poised to create an upset. The narrative of the race centers on a clash of running styles and a test of who can handle the grueling final furlongs.
As the fillies prepare for the race, you can find the most up-to-date Alabama Stakes odds and expert analysis right here to inform your selections. With this knowledge, you can approach the day with confidence and a clear plan to bet on Alabama Stakes, taking advantage of the best opportunities available.
You can catch all the action of the 2025 Alabama Stakes from the comfort of your home. A nationwide broadcast of "Saratoga Saturdays" will feature the race live on FOX, running from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET. This broadcast is part of NYRA's "Saratoga Live" series, which provides comprehensive coverage of the entire Saratoga summer meet. For those looking for more extensive coverage, some off-track betting platforms offer live-streaming to their customers for every race. If you are attending the track in person, admission gates open at 11 a.m. with the first race scheduled for 12:35 p.m. ET.
The weather forecast for Saturday, August 16, calls for partly cloudy skies with a high of 81°F and a low of 62°F. Humidity is expected to be around 68%, creating a muggy, summer afternoon at the track. While there is a low chance of precipitation at only 12%, a fast track is anticipated. The dirt surface at Saratoga is known for its deep, sandy composition, which can be demanding on horses not accustomed to it. This weather should not present any significant challenges to the contenders, allowing for a pure test of their abilities.
The Alabama Stakes headlines a stacked 12-race card on Saturday, August 16th. The action kicks off with a series of promising races, starting with a Maiden Special Weight for two-year-olds and an Allowance race, followed by a series of claiming and allowance optional claiming races.
The undercard also features some exciting stakes action. The $150,000 Skidmore Stakes, for example, is a 5 ½-furlong turf sprint for two-year-olds that will showcase some of the future stars of the turf division. Handicappers will have a full day of opportunities to find value and build their bankroll ahead of the featured race.
The Alabama Stakes, slated as Race 10 on the card, will capture the most attention. Following the main event, the card wraps up with two additional races—a claiming race and an allowance race—that will keep the excitement going until the end of the day.
Analyzing the whole card is essential for any serious horseplayer. Look for trends in how the track is playing, whether it favors speed or closers, and which jockeys and trainers are having success on the day. This information can provide valuable insights for your wagers, helping you to make smarter picks. The betting action will be fast and furious, so be sure you have your strategy in place before post time.
This year's Alabama Stakes brings together a small but select group of fillies, each with a distinct chance to etch their name into racing history. The field features a compelling rivalry, a potential wild card, and some consistent fillies looking to break through. Let's delve into a horse-by-horse analysis to help you make your picks. You can find the latest Alabama Stakes official odds and morning line odds below:
As the Kentucky Oaks champion, Good Cheer enters this race as the likely favorite. She has a stellar record with seven wins from her first eight starts, showcasing a powerful closing kick. Her single defeat came in the Acorn Stakes at Saratoga, a race run on a sloppy track, which she disliked.
Trainer Brad Cox has given her a two-month break to recover and get her ready for this critical test. Her pedigree, by Medaglia d'Oro, suggests she will relish the 1 ¼-mile distance, a fact that gives her a significant advantage. The main question for her is how she handles the Saratoga dirt on a dry track and whether the lack of a strong pace sets up her closing style.
La Cara is the Acorn Stakes heroine who beat Good Cheer in their last meeting. She won that race by controlling the pace and drawing away from the field. She has a strong record on the Saratoga main track, with two wins from three starts. La Cara is a front-running filly who will likely try to seize the lead and dare her rivals to catch her.
Her biggest challenge will be stretching her speed the extra quarter-mile to 1 ¼ miles, a distance she has not yet attempted. Her jockey, Dylan Davis, knows her running style perfectly, and if he can ration her speed, she will be challenging to pass in the stretch.
Nitrogen is the fascinating wild card in the field. She is the second entrant from the Casse barn and a multiple graded stakes winner, primarily on turf. However, she recently won a Grade 1 race that was moved off the turf to a sloppy main track, where she dominated by 17 lengths.
This will be her first real test on a fast dirt track against top-level company at a classic distance. Her pedigree is also by Medaglia d'Oro, hinting that she has the stamina for the 1 ¼ miles. Jose Ortiz, a three-time Alabama winner, gets the call, which is a big confidence booster. Nitrogen's performance could either cement her status as a legitimate dirt contender or prove her impressive dirt races were surface-specific.
The second entrant from the Cox barn, Margie’s Intention, is a consistent filly who always gives an honest effort. She has three wins and three seconds in seven career starts. Her most significant victory came in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, where she rallied from off the pace.
She faces a vital class test in Alabama. Still, she gets the services of two-time Alabama winner Irad Ortiz Jr. While her speed figures are a bit lower than the top contenders, she could be a factor for the exotics, making her an interesting option for trifecta and superfecta wagers.
Kinzie Queen is a longshot who has consistently faced tough competition. She finished third in her last two starts in Grade 2 and Grade 3 company. Her issue in this race is the lack of a dedicated pace to set up her closing style. She is looking for her first stakes win and would need to improve significantly to compete with the likes of Good Cheer and La Cara.
While she is a longshot, she has a history of hitting the board, making her a potential value play in the lower rungs of the exotic bets.
Queen Azteca makes her North American debut in this challenging Grade 1 race. She previously competed in the U.A.E. Derby, where she finished a respectable fifth against the boys.
She is coming off a long trip from Sweden, which could either be a positive or a negative. Two-time Alabama Stakes winner Joel Rosario gets the mount, and if anyone can get a big performance out of a horse, it's him. This is a tough ask, but her international form makes her a fascinating longshot.
The Alabama Stakes has a rich history, with a list of past winners that reads like a who's who of elite fillies. The race has produced champions who have gone on to win prestigious titles and cement their legacies. Recent winners include Power Squeeze (2024), Randomized (2023), Nest (2022), Malathaat (2021), and the legendary Swiss Skydiver (2020).
The history of the Alabama Stakes underscores its importance as a stepping stone to greatness. Horses who win this race often continue to compete at the highest level, and their performances here are a strong indicator of their future success. When you bet on the Alabama Stakes, you are participating in a tradition of excellence, a race that has been shaping the careers of champions for over a century. The list of past winners serves as a valuable resource for handicappers, as it shows the type of horse that typically excels at the 1 ¼-mile distance at Saratoga.
This year's Alabama Stakes offers a compelling handicapping challenge with a dynamic mix of talent and storylines. The race presents a classic showdown between the powerful closer Good Cheer and the formidable front-runner La Cara. With the potential for a new dirt star in Nitrogen and a few intriguing longshots, anything could happen. The Alabama Stakes odds reflect the current form and reputation of these fillies, but remember that the true value is found by digging deeper.
We want to see Good Cheer rebound from her Acorn Stakes disappointment. She has a history of dominant wins, and her pedigree is ideally suited for the distance. While La Cara will be a dangerous front-runner, Good Cheer's stamina and class will prove too much in the long Saratoga stretch. US Racing handicappers make Good Cheer the top pick. For the exotics, including Nitrogen and La Cara, to round out our selections, giving a solid trifecta.
With the Alabama Stakes betting opportunities available, you have a chance to turn your knowledge into winning wagers. Take a moment to review all the information, make your picks, and enjoy the show. Good luck!
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.
