Handicapping Saratoga: Grade 1 Alabama; Full Card Selections

By Rick Francis —-

As the 2025 Saratoga racing season hits the “homestretch” we are once again blessed with a Grade 1 contest the Alabama Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. The Alabama was first inaugurated in 1872 making it one of America’s oldest races and the final leg of what is known as the American Triple Tiara along with the Acorn and the Coaching Club American Oaks. The forecast calls for sunny skies and a fast track, let’s have a look at the contenders.

Race 10) 1 1/4 Miles Dirt. Purse $600,000. Grade 1 Alabama S. Presented by Keeneland Sales. FOR FILLIES THREE YEARS OLD

2) Good Cheer (Cox/Saez); Kentucky Oaks champion and winner of seven straight before encountering gate issues and a very sloppy track, never contended last out in the Grade 1 Acorn. Today’s conditions are more conducive for her to return to her winning ways but as with most of the starters here, a new distance to be challenged.

4) Nitrogen (Casse/Ortiz, J,); multiple Graded Stakes winner has proven to be a beast on the turf and in her lone dirt start, a rained off the grass in the G3 Wonder Again here last month crushed two opponents by 17 lenghts. Never off the board in nine career starts we’l find out if the main track is her calling.

6) La Cara (Casse/Davis); two-time Grade 1 winner her last being a dominat Acorn score here for Belmont week where she showed a penchant for the off-going. My only concern for this daughter of Street Sense is she hasn’t put together back-to-back wins since her juvenile season. If the proverbial “bounce” doesn’t rear it’s head she’s a win threat.

Picks: 2,4,6

Race 1) STARTER ALLOWANCE. 1 Mile Dirt. Purse $75,000.
4) House United
2) Airborne Elite
10) Zippy Mark
6) Indy Magic

Race 2) MSW 6 Furlongs Dirt. Purse $90,000. FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES TWO YEARS OLD
1) Victory Hall
2) Probable Angle
7) Pinky Brier
6) Belloro

Race 3) CLAIMING. 1 Mile Dirt. Purse $68,000
2) Treaty Obligation
1) Magnolia Midnight
5) Unclecharliesgift
6) Alternate Reality

Race 4) MSW 6 Furlongs Dirt. Purse $100,000. FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES TWO YEARS OLD.
6) Tennessee Belle
4) Nonna Teresa
5) Cognition
8) Saratoga Party

Race 5) ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING. 1 3/8 Miles Inner turf. Purse $110,000.
5) II Siciliano
4) Fuerteventura
7) Investment Mandate
1) Kigali

Race 6) MSW 5 1/2 Furlongs Turf. Purse $100,000. FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES TWO YEARS OLD
7) Sadie Earp
3) Keto Drink
2) Santina
8) Bibi Dahl

Race 7) MSW 6 1/2 Furlongs Dirt. Purse $100,000. FOR MAIDENS, TWO YEARS OLD
2) Renegade
4) Hero Declared
5) It’s Our Time

Race 8) ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING. 1 Mile Dirt. Purse $100,000
3) Get a Job
1) Palace Boss
8) Crimson Light
4) Cicciobella

Race 9) 5 1/2 Furlongs Turf. Purse $150,000. Skidmore S.. FOR TWO YEAR OLDS
8) Spirit of New York
2) Sandal’s Song
5) Gypsy Art
7) Bobrovsky

Race 11) CLAIMING. 1 1/16 Miles Inner turf. Purse $50,000. INNER TURF
10: Kid Kreesa
2) Dakota Country
5) Mo Go
7) Landman Friday

Race 12) ALLOWANCE. 5 1/2 Furlongs Turf. Purse $95,000.
5) Courtly Banker
10) Pay the Juice
1) Spoken Bluntly
2) Not for Hire