Alabama Stakes 2014 at Saratoga

Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 1 Alabama Stakes is on tap for Saturday, August 16 from Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. A group of three year olds will be after the winner's portion of the generous $600,000 purse when they go 1 1/4 miles on Saratoga's main track.

A field of nine including the top four finishers of the recent Coaching Club American Oaks will take part in the Alabama Stakes - race 10 on Saratoga's Saturday card. Post time is 5:55 PM. Let's take a peek into the past performances of all nine combatants for this lucrative Grade 1 stakes.

2014 Alabama Stakes Race Favorite Entries

Stopchargingmaria - Todd Pletcher trained filly is coming off terrific back-to-back wins - in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico May 16 and in dominating fashion in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks by five lengths last time out on this track July 20. Before the wins was a fourth in the Grade 3 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park April 5 and a career worst performance - a fifth in the Grade 2 Davona Dale Stakes February 22. Prior to that she was very impressive - a nice win in the Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct November 30, an equally impressive win by 10 3/4 lengths in the Grade 3 Tempted Stakes November 3, a third in the Grade 1 Frizette and a second in the Grade 1 Spinaway. Stopchargingmaria has five wins (four graded stakes), a second and a third place finish in nine career starts and will be after a third straight win Sunday against many opponents she's already defeated. John Velazquez will be in the saddle from gate 8 in Stopchargingmaria's first start at 1 1/4 miles.

Unbridled Forever - has two wins, a second and three third place finishes in seven career starts - the wins including a maiden score November 30 and a nice win in the listed Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds in January. She has since posted three consecutive third place finished - behind Untapable in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks March 29, behind Beholder in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks May 2 and in the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park June 7 before a good second last time out behind Stopchargingmaria in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks here July 20. Unbridled Forever has placed in her last six starts and looks good ahead of this weekend. Rosie Napravnik has the mount from the rail Saturday hoping that the extra distance will allow Unbridled Forever to finally get past Stopchargingmaria.

Alabama Stakes 2014 | Remaining Contenders

Fortune Pearl - H Graham Motion trained filly has three wins, two seconds and a third place finish in seven career starts and posted a terrific win last time out in the Grade 2 Delaware Oaks July 5 which followed a good third in her graded stakes debut - the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico in May. Before that was an Allowance Optional Claiming at Pimlico May 2 and a fifth and a second respectively in a pair of Starter Optional Claiming races at Gulfstream. She enters in good form having placed in her last three starts overall (2 wins). Fortune Pearl will have Trevor McCarthy in the reins from post 6.

Miss Besilu - Bill Mott sends out Miss Besilu off an OK third in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks here July 20 behind the two favorites after a nice second in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Belmont Park June 19, a sixth in the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes April 5 and a terrible eleventh in her graded stakes debut - the Grade 3 Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs March 8. She has two wins, two seconds and a third place finish in eight career starts and has certainly been trending upward ahead of this weekend. Lezcano will be aboard from gate 2 as Miss Besilu looks for her first ever graded stakes score.

Alabama Stakes betting online at Saratoga Race Course with OffTrackBetting.com

Joint Return - John Servis trained filly raced in graded stakes company for the first time March 29 and had her worst career effort - a fifth in the Grade 2 Gulfstream but bounced back with a win in the minor Calder Oaks April 12. Last time out was a decent second behind Fortune Pearl in the Grade 2 Delaware Oaks July 5 after she returned to the winner`s circle in the minor Our Mims Stakes June 4 and finished troubled fourth in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes May 16 at Pimlico. She also had a 4 1/2 length win in the minor Busher Stakes at Aqueduct February 1 after a pair of wins at Parx this past winter. Joint Return has won five of nine career starts with a second and a third place finish but will be looking to break through in graded stakes company for the first time Saturday. Kendrick Carmouche has the call from post 4 as she adds blinkers in hopes of finally getting past Stopchargingmaria and Fortune Pearl.

America - legendary Bill Mott trained America broke maiden in her second start - at Belmont Park October 9 and went on to a fifth in the Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct November 30 and another fifth in the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride Stakes on grass March 2. Last time out was an OK fourth in the competitive Coaching Club America Oaks after a third in the Grade 1 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park June 28, a familiar fifth in the Grade 2 Black-Eyes Susan Stakes May 16 and another respectable third in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Oaks March 29. She has placed in just three of eight career starts - not great ahead of this weekend. Irad Ortiz gets the call from gate 3.

Size - Bill Mott trained filly has four career starts and has been impressive in all - three wins and a second place finish. Last time out was a win at 13-1 odds in her graded stakes debut - the Grade 3 Iowa Oaks June 28 after a second in her stakes debut - the minor Jersey Girl Stakes at Belmont Park in May and a two race win streak to start her career. Off a tremendous win, Size is expected to be competitive again when she leaves from outside post with Junior Alvarado in the saddle.

Got Lucky - Todd Pletcher trainee has not been worse than second in seven career starts except for one bad outing - a seventh two back in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks May 2. She had a maiden win in her third career start and four second place finishes including the Grade 2 Gazelle Stakes at Aqueduct April 5, the Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes by a neck November 30 and the Grade 3 Rachel Alexandra Stakes at Fair Grounds February 22. Last time out she returned to the winner's circle with an Allowance score on this track July 23. Got Lucky has been in almost every race she's entered and could be a sneaky entry for the Alabama. Jose Ortiz rides from gate 5.

Catch My Drift - Chad Brown trained filly has just two career starts with two wins - an Allowance Optional Claiming at Monmouth Park last time out July 19 and a maiden score at first asking in June. She steps into Stakes Company for the first time with some definite hype behind her. Joe Bravo will guide Catch My Drift from post 7.

2014 Alabama Stakes Entries & Odds

Race 10 on Saratoga Race Course's Saturday card with a Post Time of 6:20 PM.