The 2025 Alabama Stakes field is set, and it promises to be one of the most compelling renewals in recent memory. A compact but intense field of six top-class fillies will go to post for the prestigious Grade 1, $600,000 event at Saratoga Race Course, a 1 1/4-mile test of stamina and class for the nation's best sophomore fillies.
With an elite group of entrants that includes a Kentucky Oaks winner and an Acorn Stakes champion, the Alabama Stakes is a critical race in determining the pecking order of the division and a vital final stop on the road to the Breeders' Cup Distaff.
The betting public is buzzing, and the anticipation for Saturday’s showdown is palpable. You'll find plenty of strategies for Alabama Stakes betting with us, and we have a full breakdown of the possible field and the potential Alabama Stakes odds.
This year's edition of the Alabama Stakes offers a fascinating puzzle for handicappers and bettors alike. We have a pair of top-tier fillies entering from two different, yet equally impressive, Grade 1 victories, a pair of lightly-raced, but immensely talented contenders from the powerful barn of a Hall of Fame trainer, and a pair of battle-tested fillies looking to make their mark on the biggest stage.
Finding value in the Alabama Stakes odds will require a careful analysis of each horse’s past performances, running styles, and connections. The 1 1/4-mile distance at Saratoga is a demanding test, and only the most prepared and talented fillies will be able to handle the challenge. We've got you covered with a comprehensive guide to the entries, including their trainers, jockeys, and the US Racing Handicappers' analysis of their chances. Get ready to place your bet on the Alabama Stakes.
The presence of multiple Grade 1 winners makes for a fascinating contest. You'll find that our platform provides you with all the necessary tools and information to make an informed decision on your wagers.
Before you finalize your selections and lock in your picks, let's take a deep dive into each of the six contenders. The history of this race is filled with champions, and this year's winner will undoubtedly etch her name in the annals of thoroughbred racing alongside legendary fillies like Go For Wand, Silverbulletday, and Nest. We'll examine the pedigrees, running styles, and recent form of each horse, giving you the best possible insight to formulate your Alabama Stakes betting strategy.
Good Cheer, the sensational winner of the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, enters the Alabama as a leading contender and the likely morning-line favorite. After winning her first seven career starts dominantly, the Medaglia d'Oro filly suffered her first career defeat in the Grade 1 DK Horse Acorn Stakes at Saratoga in June.
The race was contested over a sloppy and sealed track, a surface she disliked, and she finished a well-beaten fifth. Trainer Brad Cox, a dual Eclipse Award winner, has given her a two-month freshening since that effort, and reports from the barn suggest she is thriving at Saratoga and ready to return to her winning ways. Her regular rider, Luis Saez, who has won this race once before, retains the mount.
This Godolphin homebred is bred to relish the 1 1/4-mile distance, with her sire Medaglia d'Oro also producing past Alabama winners Songbird and Elate. The key question for Good Cheer is how she handles the long Saratoga stretch after her first career loss. Her ability to bounce back and show the form that made her a superstar will be a major factor in the outcome of the race.
La Cara, the impressive winner of the Acorn Stakes, arrives at the Alabama with a significant home-track advantage and a lot of momentum. The Mark Casse trainee dominated the Acorn field, leading from gate to wire and splashing home a three-length winner. A dual Grade 1 winner, she also captured the Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs last year.
The Street Sense filly has a fantastic record on the Saratoga main track, winning two of her three starts there, and she appears to be a filly who loves to control the pace. Her jockey, Dylan Davis, has been aboard for all of her starts this season and knows her running style perfectly.
With a lack of other dedicated frontrunners in the field, she could very well get an uncontested lead, which would make her a perilous threat. Her ability to stretch her speed an extra quarter-mile to 1 1/4 miles will be the biggest test. If she gets her way on the front end, she will be tough to catch in the stretch.
Nitrogen, the second entrant from the Mark Casse barn, represents a fascinating wild card in the Alabama. The Medaglia d'Oro filly is a multiple graded stakes winner who recently scored a stunning 17-length victory in the Grade 1 Wonder Again Stakes. This race was moved off the turf to a sloppy main track at Saratoga. While she has shown her talent on dirt, she has primarily been a turf runner. Her only other start on the main track was a sharp performance on a sloppy track. This will be her first attempt at a classic dirt distance on a fast surface against Grade 1 company.
Jose Ortiz, who has won in Alabama three times, gets the call, which is a major positive. Her pedigree suggests she has the stamina for the 1 1/4 miles, and her connections would not enter her in this race if they didn't think she could compete. Nitrogen's performance in Alabama will either cement her status as a legitimate contender on the main track or show that her impressive dirt efforts were surface-specific.
Margie's Intention, a consistent and hard-knocking filly, comes into the Alabama off a strong second-place finish in the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks. She previously captured the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes on Preakness weekend for trainer Brad Cox and owners WinStar Farm. This will be the Honor A.P. filly’s first attempt at the Grade 1 level, but her consistent performances suggest she is more than capable of competing with the best.
She has finished in the exacta in six of her seven career starts and has a closing running style that could benefit from a fast pace. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., who has a pair of Alabama victories to his name with Nest and Questing, takes the mount, which is a significant endorsement of her chances. Margie's Intention's biggest challenge is stepping up in class, but her consistent form and a talented jockey make her a very appealing option for an exotic wager.
Queen Azteca brings a unique and intriguing international element to the Alabama Stakes. This filly has been racing in Sweden and ships in from Norway for this Grade 1 event at Saratoga. Owned by Team Valor International, a syndicate known for their success with international shippers, she will make her American debut in Alabama before being transferred to U.S.-based trainer Rodolphe Brisset. The Sharp Azteca filly has won three of her five starts this season, and her most significant victory came in the UAE Oaks. Joel Rosario, a two-time winner of the Alabama, will be in the saddle.
While her European form is challenging to quantify against the top American fillies, her connections have a history of success in these types of races. She is a valid wild card and an unknown quantity, which could either lead to a big payoff or a disappointing result. Queen Azteca could surprise a lot of people if she takes to the American racing style and the demanding Saratoga track.
Kinzie Queen, a filly with a ton of experience for her age, enters the Alabama as a seasoned veteran. She has run a staggering 13 times in her career, which is a rare number for a Grade 1 starter in this era. The Greg Compton trainee has been very competitive in stakes company, including a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks, just a length behind Margie's Intention.
She is a deep closer who will be doing her best running in the final stages of the race. While she might not possess the raw talent of some of the other contenders, she has proven her durability and is not afraid to run against tough competition. Jockey Junior Alvarado gets the call. The sheer number of starts on her resume indicates a filly who is tough and resilient, and in a 1 1/4-mile race like the Alabama, that kind of grit can make all the difference.
The 2025 Alabama Stakes is shaping up to be a spectacular contest, a true battle of champions and rising stars. We have a compelling blend of proven talent and intriguing unknowns, making for a fascinating betting race.
The question of whether the Kentucky Oaks champion can rebound, the Acorn winner can stretch her speed, or if a new face will emerge as the divisional leader will be answered on Saturday.
Don't miss your chance to be a part of the action. The possibilities are endless, and the rewards could be immense. You've got all the information you need; now let’s wait for the final draw and the official Alabama Stakes Odds.
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.
