Power Squeeze was taken eight wide in the stretch, avoided some bumping on the inside, and nipped favorite Candied by a head in the $600,000 Alabama Stakes (G1) on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.
Ridden by Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, Power Squeeze, at 6-1 in the field of eight 3-year-old fillies, returned $14.80 on a $2 win bet. It was the first Grade 1 win for trainer Jorge Delgado, according to Equibase.
Without top filly Thorpedo Anna, bypassing this top race in favor of taking on the boys next week (Aug. 24) in the Travers Stakes (G1), Power Squeeze, won for the fifth time in seven starts this year.
Her only losses came in races against Thorpedo Anna – third in the Acorn (G1) and sixth in the sixth time in the Kentucky Oaks (G1).
“An absolutely outstanding ride from Javier. He measured the race perfectly. He said to me he felt the pace was going [to be] a little fast, but he wanted to keep her near the pace and close enough to make a run because there’s enough talent in the race,” Delgado said. “Going to the stretch, he told me he couldn’t see much but he could see number seven [Candied] and he thought he was in a good spot. He kept coming and coming and he knows that the filly fights a lot - like in Delaware, but this time on the outside. On the head bob, she knows how to win. She wanted to win. She has so much determination to win.”
Chatalas, ridden by Frankie Dettori, set the pace through the first mile, but as the field hit the stretch, the filly drifted out, impeded Candied and several others, and faded to sixth.
Meanwhile, Power Squeeze stayed away from the trouble, but Manny Franco righted Candied and the two dueled in the stretch in another close finish in a big race at the Spa.
“That is what I like to do. Everything was perfect the way she did it,’’ Castellano said after winning his third Alabama. “Everything worked out great. There was great pace, hot pace, she came from behind, just fought all the way to the end.”
Todd Pletcher, who trains Candied, said: “It was a good effort. Manny said when the two [Chatalas] came out it kind of bumped everyone and knocked him off rhythm a little bit. She regained her momentum late and she had her nose in front before and after the wire just not on the wire. Tough beat. She ran great.”
Just Basking was third, followed by Miss Justify, Intricate, Chatalas, Neon Icon, and America’s Vow.
Winning time for the 1 ¼ miles was 2:04.35 over a fast main track.
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