2016 Alabama Stakes Preview, Entries & Odds

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Dave Bond | OTB Writer

OffTrackBetting.com - Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York will be the scene of the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes on Saturday, August 20. Three year old fillies will assemble on Saratoga's dirt track and race 1 1/4 miles for the winner's share of the $600,000 purse.

A field of seven have been confirmed for the Alabama Stakes - race 10 on Saratoga's busy Saturday card. Post time is 6:18 PM. Let's take a peek into the past performances of all seven combatants for this Grade 1 stakes - six of which will be chasing the terrific Songbird.

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2016 Alabama Stakes Race Preview at Saratoga Race Course

Songbird 1-5 - Jerry Hollendorfer trained undefeated superstar filly and reigning Eclipse Award winner for two year old fillies won all four of her starts in 2015, the last three in Grade 1 events. Her debut was by 6 1/2 lengths in July which was followed by wins by an impressive 5 1/4 lengths as even money favorite in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante September 5, the Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes by 4 1/2 lengths at Santa Anita September 26, and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies by an impressive 5 3/4 lengths. She has five starts in 2016 and five more impressive wins - by over five lengths in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks last time out here July 24, by 6 1/2 lengths in the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks June 18, by 3 1/4 lengths in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks April 9, the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes by 3 3/4 lengths March 5 and by 6 1/2 lengths in the Grade 2 Las Virgenes Stakes February 6 - all at Santa Anita. She hasn't been touched yet - six gate-to-wire wins in nine starts - by a combined 47 3/4 lengths - as impressive as any horse in any division. She will look to keep the impressive roll going in her longest race to date Saturday - from the rail with Mike Smith aboard the obvious favorite from gate 6.

Go Maggie Go 8-1 - Dale Romans trained filly makes her sixth career having posted three wins so far. Her first race produced and impressive2 1/4 length win at Gulfstream March 13 and her second was a nice upset score by 2 1/4 lengths in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks April 2. Last time out was a disappointing fourth in the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park June 11 after another impressive win - by 2 1/2 lengths in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico May 20 and a troubled fourth behind Cathryn Sophia in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks May 6. Go Maggie Go has been a tad up and down and hopes to bounce back off her fourth last time out. Luis Saez rides the two-time graded stakes victor from gate 4 Saturday as the second betting choice.

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Family Tree 10-1 - has placed in eight of nine career starts for trainer Wayne Catalano - four wins, two seconds and two third place finishes. She enters on a terrific two race win streak - the Grade 2 Indiana Oaks last time out July 16 and the Grade 3 Iowa Oaks June 30 after a second in an Allowance at Churchill Downs May 28, an Allowance Optional Claiming score on that track May 6, a second in the minor Pretty Plum Stakes at Sunland Park in March and consecutive thirds in minor stakes action to end her 2015 campaign. Her only graded stakes result was a fifth in the Grade 3 Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland in October. Family Tree has been trending upward ahead of this week and is expected to be competitive again Saturday. Florent Geroux has the mount on the co-third choice from post 5.

Going for Broke 10-1 - Chad Brown trained filly has three wins and a second place finish in four career starts and rides a three race win streak into her stakes debut Saturday. Last time out was an Allowance Optional Claiming score on this track July 27 after wins in an Allowance June 12 and a MSW in May - both at Belmont Park. Going for Broke looks ready for her major step up in competition and will have Irad Ortiz in the reins of the other co-third betting choice from post 3.

Weep No More 15-1 - George Arnold trained filly has three wins in six career starts and enters off a last of five in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks on this track July 24. Before that was a career-worst effort - a seventh in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs in May and a terrific three race win streak - the best of which came in upset fashion over the very good Carina Mia, Rachel's Valentina and Cathryn Sophia in the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland April 9. Her other wins were in the minor Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay February 13 and a MSW January 22. Weep No More looked good early in her career but has failed to place in her last two starts overall. Jockey Corey Lanerie will try to right the ship Saturday from gate 2.

Dark Nile 20-1 - has four wins and a third place finish in five career starts for trainer Arnaud Delacour. She enters on a nice four race win streak - all around two turns - the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks last time out July 9, the minor Our Mims Stakes at Delaware Park June 8, an Allowance by 4 3/4 lengths at Penn National May 12 and a maiden score at Tampa Bay in February. Dark Nile has been terrific in her last four races and will try for a fifth straight win Saturday. Joe Bravo has the mount on the rapidly improving entry from the rail at an intriguing 15-1 odds.

Flora Dora 20-1 - finished second in the Grade 3 Tempted Stakes at Aqueduct November 4 but has placed in just three of seven starts since. She's been OK lately however - a third behind Songbird last time out in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks last time out on this track July 24 followed a second in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Belmont Park July 1. Before that was a ninth in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico May 20, a fifth in the Grade 2 Gazelle Stakes at Aqueduct April 9, a fourth in the minor Busher Stakes on that track in February, a good win in the minor Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct January 31 and a fourth in the Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes November 28. Flora Dora has shown form in the past but has looked just average lately. She looks for a major breakthrough and to snap a six race losing streak Saturday from the outside post 7 with Emmanuel Esquivel aboard. She has posted two bullet works since adding blinkers.


2016 Alabama Stakes Entries & Odds

Race 10 on Saratoga's Saturday card with a Post Time of 6:18 PM.

Entry Horse ML Odds Jockey Trainer
1 Dark Nile 20-1 Joe Bravo Arnaud Delacour
2 Weep No More 15-1 Corey Lanerie George Arnold, II
3 Going for Broke 10-1 Irad Ortiz, Jr. Chad Brown
4 Go Maggie Go 8-1 Luis Saez Dale Romans
5 Family Tree 10-1 Florent Geroux Wayne Catalano
6 Songbird 1-5 Mike Smith Jerry Hollendorfer
7 Flora Dora 20-1 Emmanuel Esquivel Marialice Coffey