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.
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.
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.
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.
| Post | Horse | Odds |
| 1 | Margie’s Intention | 8-1 |
| 2 | Good Cheer | 8-5 |
| 3 | Kinzie Queen | 15-1 |
| 4 | Nitrogen | 9-5 |
| 5 | Queen Azteca | 12-1 |
| 6 | La Cara | 5-2 |
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.
