Bet on The Alabama Stakes
The Alabama Stakes is one of the oldest and most prestigious races for three-year-old fillies in the United States. It was inaugurated in 1872 and is held at Saratoga Racecourse in Saratoga Springs, NY. Traditionally held in the middle of August, the race is contested at a mile and a quarter on the main track. Some of the greatest fillies in the history of Thoroughbred racing have competed in the Alabama Stakes.
The distance varied through the early editions of the race, ranging from a mile and a sixteenth to a mile and five-sixteenths. It has been held at a mile and a quarter since 1917 and currently offers a purse of $600,000 and Grade 1 status. Since 2010, the Alabama Stakes has been the final leg of the “Triple Tiara” for three-year-old fillies which includes the Acorn Stakes (G1) and Coaching Club American Oaks (G1).
Alabama Stakes Betting Odds
The 2015 edition of the Alabama Stakes was a wide open affair with some value to be had. With no clear-cut divisional standout, Curalina broke from the gate as the 2-1 favorite but, as they turned for home, her distance limitations got the best of her and she could only manage third. It was the front-runner Embellish the Lace that coasted in gate to wire fashion at odds of 6-1 over 4.5-1 shot I’m a Chatterbox. The exacta returned $74.50 and the trifecta was $200.00. Playing through Bovada’s racebook enables horseplayers to take advantage of 3% win or lose rebates on all straight wagers and 5% back on exotics.
* REMINDER! - you must be of legal age in your state or province to legally wager on thoroughbred or harness horse racing. Please bet responsibly!
2016 Alabama Stakes Contenders
The 2016 renewal of the Alabama Stakes has drawn a field of seven sophomore fillies but all eyes will be on the undefeated champion Songbird as she tries to remain perfect. After primarily competing on the West Coast, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner made a much-anticipated trip to Saratoga last time out for the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1).
She did not disappoint and turned in a stirring performance to earn her ninth consecutive victory after toying with a very formidable rival in Carina Mia before drawing off easily. Since then, she has been training well at The Spa and reportedly prefers the track at Saratoga to what she had been running over in California. Regular rider Mike Smith, no stranger to great fillies and mares, will be in the irons. She may very well be unbeatable, but she does have some potential competition in the lightly-raced and talented Go Maggie Go.
Trained by Dale Romans, Go Maggie Go has won three of her five starts and has been freshened since an average effort in the Acorn Stakes (G1). She has clocked a sharp recent bullet workout at Saratoga in preparation for her return to try to dethrone horse racing’s reigning princess, Songbird.
Here is the field for the Alabama Stakes along with morning line odds.
- Dark Nile, 20-1
- Weep No More, 15-1
- Going for Broke, 10-1
- Go Maggie Go, 8-1
- Family Tree, 10-1
- Songbird, 1-5
- Flora Dora, 20-1
