Latest Update: Official Alabama Stakes 2025 Odds, Horses, Post Postitions, Betting Picks

The historic Grade 1 Alabama Stakes takes center stage at Saratoga Race Course today, August 16, with a purse of $600,000 up for grabs. This 1 1/4-mile test for 3-year-old fillies has drawn a small but elite field of six, setting the stage for a dramatic rematch between the Kentucky Oaks and Acorn Stakes winners. With a lack of confirmed front-end speed, the race could unfold as a tactical battle, favoring those with a powerful finishing kick.

The Favorite: Good Cheer (8-5)

Post Position: 2

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Luis Saez

Last Race: 5th in Acorn Stakes (G1)

Good Cheer enters the Alabama Stakes as the morning-line favorite and a central storyline. The sensational Kentucky Oaks winner had her perfect 7-for-7 streak broken with a fifth-place finish in the Acorn Stakes on a sloppy track.

Her connections have given her a two-month break to regroup, and she comes into this race fresh and ready to prove her earlier defeat was an aberration. With a pedigree built for classic distances, the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro is expected to relish the 1 1/4-mile distance. The key question for bettors is whether she can return to her dominant form and handle the long Saratoga stretch.

The Main Contenders: La Cara (5-2) and Nitrogen (9-5)

La Cara – The Acorn Stakes Heroine

Post Position: 6

Trainer: Mark Casse

Jockey: Dylan Davis

Last Race: Winner, Acorn Stakes (G1)

La Cara, a dual Grade 1 winner, is the most likely pacesetter in the field and a significant threat to win wire-to-wire. The Mark Casse trainee defeated Good Cheer in the Acorn with a commanding, gate-to-wire performance. She has shown a fondness for the Saratoga main track, winning two of her three starts here, including her last victory with a career-best 101 Brisnet Speed rating. If she gets an uncontested lead, she will be challenging to catch. The primary concern is whether she can maintain her speed for an extra quarter-mile.

Nitrogen – The Wild Card

Post Position: 4

Trainer: Mark Casse

Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Last Race: 17-length winner, Wonder Again (G3)

A fascinating entry from the Mark Casse barn, Nitrogen has primarily competed on turf, where she has been a multiple graded stakes winner. However, in her only dirt start, she earned an impressive 97 Brisnet Speed rating by romping to a 17-length victory in the off-the-turf Wonder Again at Saratoga. This will be her first attempt at a classic dirt distance on a fast track, and her pedigree suggests she has the stamina. With a history of winning big races and her trainer's success at shipping horses to major events, she should not be underestimated.

The Alabama Stakes Long Shots: Other Contenders in the Field

  • Margie's Intention (8-1): A consistent graded stakes competitor, she won the Black-Eyed Susan (G2) and finished a solid second in the Delaware Oaks (G3) in her last outing. She is expected to be a late closer and could fill out the exacta or trifecta.
  • Queen Azteca (12-1): An international shipper from Denmark, she is an unknown factor in this race. The daughter of Sharp Azteca finished second in the Swedish Derby and has experience at longer distances, which could be an advantage.
  • Kinzie Queen (15-1): A Grade 3-placed filly, she will need to make a significant improvement to contend with the top fillies in this field.
PostHorseOdds
1Margie’s Intention8-1
2Good Cheer8-5
3Kinzie Queen15-1
4Nitrogen9-5
5Queen Azteca12-1
6La Cara5-2
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