Alabama Stakes 2013 at Saratoga Race Course

Las Vegas, NV – The Grade 1 Alabama Stakes comes our way from Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York this Saturday, August 17. Three year old fillies will take to the track and race 1 1/8 miles on dirt searching for the winner’s share of the generous $600,000 purse.

A field of six older females has been confirmed for the Alabama – race 10 on Saratoga’s Saturday schedule. Post time is 5:45 PM. Let’s take a look at the credentials of all six entries for the second of two Grade 1 stakes on Saratoga’s Saturday card.

Princess Of Sylmar – Todd Pletcher pupil has won six of her last seven starts (four of five this year) – a second in the Grade 2 Gazelle Stakes to Close Hatches at Aqueduct April 6 being the only blemish in the last 10 months. The wins include the Grade 1 American Oaks last time out July 20 at Saratoga, the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at 38-1 odds over Dreaming of Julia, the minor Busher Stakes at Aqueduct February 2 to follow another win at Aqueduct – the Busanda Stakes by 7 1/2 lengths January 4. She also has a MSW and an Allowance Optional Claiming score. She is absolutely on fire and has two straight Grade 1 wins under her belt ahead of this weekend. She likely need just this win to secure the Eclipse Award and obviously is the one to beat! She breaks from post 4 with Javier Castellano in the saddle.

Fiftyshadesofhay – Bob Baffert trained filly has 10 career starts – four MSW races to start her career yielded a win, a second, a third and a fourth in her debut before stepping up in the minor Blue Norther Stakes on January 1 and finishing a pedestrian eighth. She had a very nice second behind Beholder in the Grade 1 Las Virgenes Stakes March 2, won the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel by 5 3/4 lengths January 26 in her graded stakes debut with an impressive Beyer speed figure of 90 and was third in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks April 6 also behind Beholder. She enters the Alabama on a nice two race win streak – the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico May 17 and last time out in the Grade 3 Iowa Oaks June 29. She has been in the mix in her last five graded stakes starts – no reason to think differently about the Alabama. She is the only other graded stakes winner in the field other than the favorite and looks like Princess of Sylmar’s only real threat. John Velazquez will be in the saddle.

Montana Native – Kenneth McPeek trained filly makes her graded stakes debut Saturday but enters on a two race win streak – the minor Broom Dance Stakes at Saratoga last time out July 24 being her best career result. She has three wins and two third place finishes in 10 career starts and seems to be improving each and every time out. Saturday marks an enormous step up in class however.

Alabama Stakes betting at Saratoga Race Course with OffTrackBetting.com

Tell a Great Story – won the Go for Wand Stakes in her stakes debut here June 15 her second straight win – the other being an Allowance Optional Claiming at Pimlico May 12. Last time out was an OK third in her graded stakes debut – the Grade 2 Delaware Oaks July 13. She has three wins, one second and two third place finished in six career starts, breaks from the rail and will have Jose Lezcano guiding her.

Carnival Court – has just three career starts for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin – no stakes experience. Last time out was an Allowance Optional Claiming score at Belmont Park July 78 after breaking maiden by 12 3/4 lengths May 31 also on that track. She gets Lasix for the first time and will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr.

Galloping Giraffe – Todd Pletcher trained filly races for just the fourth time Saturday and will make her stakes debut. She broke maiden in her second career start by eight lengths – at Belmont Park June 14 and was second in an Allowance last time out on this track July 31. Rajiv Maragh has the mount.

Race 10 on Saratoga Race Course’s Saturday card with a Post Time of 5:45 PM.