One of America’s oldest races, the Alabama for 3-year-old fillies has been run since 1872, nearly 3 years before the first Kentucky Derby. With Coaching Club American Oaks winner Thorpedo Anna bypassing the race in favor of a historic Travers date with the colts in a few weeks, several top-class juvenile fillies from a year ago have their best chance at Grade 1 glory as sophomores. But the test is stiff over 1-1/4 miles, a trip longer than most will ever attempt on dirt.
Let’s meet the contenders for the Alabama (Race 10):
#1-INTRICATE: The only filly ever to beat Thorpedo Anna, last year’s Grade 2 Golden Rod winner has lost 4 straight since that notable victory. She exits a third in the CCA Oaks over this track 4 weeks ago and must make up about 4 lengths on return rival Candied. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione led all Saratoga jockeys last week with 10 victories. He won the 2020 Alabama with Swiss Skydiver.
#2-CHATALAS: California-based filly has been on the road since June, winning the Indiana Oaks in her only start so far this year. Trainer Mark Glatt has able to pull off a similar wire-to-wire victory last year in the Grade 1 Chandelier over her Santa Anita home track. Like Alabama rival Intricate, she’s a daughter of Gun Runner, who won the 2017 Whitney and Woodward in his only 2 Saratoga appearances.
#3-POWER SQUEEZE: Gulfstream and Monmouth-based filly returns to Saratoga after a bounce-back win in the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks. She was a non-threatening third in the Acorn at Saratoga in her prior start during the Belmont Stakes Festival. Jockey Javier Castellano is a 3-time Alabama winner (2006, 2013, 2015). Jorge Delgado trainee has missed the superfecta only once in 9 starts, that coming in this Kentucky Oaks when sixth.
#4-JUST BASKING: Indiana Oaks winner takes the class rise into the graded stakes ranks for the first time under the care of trainer Ian Wilkes. Late-running daughter of Travers winner Arrogate is one of two fillies in the field from that sire (Neon Icon). What she lacks in Grade 1 experience, she makes up for in distance, winning a Churchill maiden special weight at the Alabama distance in April.
#5-AMERICA’S VOW: Local July 28 allowance winner has scored just 2 of 12 starts and will be a longshot on a stout class rise. Twice well-beaten by Alabama rival Power Squeeze in a pair of Florida stakes attempts earlier this year. Trainer Tim Hamm turns to Junior Alvarado as her allowance pilot Luis Saez instead rides Neon Icon on Saturday.
#6-MISS JUSTIFY: Trainer Todd Pletcher is a 4-time Alabama winner, most recently 2021 and 2022 with Malathaat and Nest. This daughter of Triple Crown winner Justify has won 3 of 5 against easier competition and steps up after a local victory in the 1-mile Wilton Stakes. The Alabama will be a quarter-mile (440 yards) farther than she’s ever tried, providing a challenge to current meet star jockey Flavien Prat.
#7-CANDIED: The more fancied of the Todd Pletcher entries in the Alabama as he looks for a fifth win in this race. Should vie for favoritism based on her clear-cut, runner-up to Thorpedo Anna in the Coaching Club American Oaks. She also broke her maiden here at the Spa last summer, so her affinity for the track is not in question. Interestingly, Candied has broken from the rail in 4 straight starts, but there’s a long-enough run to the clubhouse turn that ground loss here would be a rider mistake by Manny Franco more than a probability. Her Alcibiades victory last October at Keeneland (pictured above) is the lone Grade 1 victory in the field on paper.
#8-NEON ICON: Most inexperienced member of the field makes only her fourth career start and second in stakes company. Failed to fire when a flat fifth in the Grade 3 Indiana Oaks, but does have a 1-1/4 miles Churchill Downs allowance win at the Alabama distance. Trainer Rusty Arnold turns back to Luis Saez in the saddle, who has ridden her to both victories prior. Her lightly raced papa Arrogate won the 2016 Travers over this trip at the Spa in only his fifth career start.
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