2017 Alabama Stakes Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com - The G1 Alabama Stakes goes down this Saturday, August 19 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Three year old fillies will be after the winner's share of the $600,000 purse when they take to Saratoga's dirt track and race 1 1/4 miles.

A terrific field of nine will line up in the Alabama Stakes - race 9 on Saratoga's busy Saturday schedule. Post time is 5:22 PM. Here is a brief glance into the past performances of all nine combatants for this intriguing G1 stakes - one that will surely miss the talents of Division Leader - Abel Tasman.

2017 Alabama Stakes Entries at Saratoga Race Course

Unchained Melody 3-1

Brian Lynch trained filly has three wins and a second-place finish in her four career starts. She made her stakes debut last time out and produced a terrific three length win in the G2 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park July 1. Before that was an Allowance Optional Claiming score with a 90 Beyer Speed Figure on that track June 1, a second in an Allowance at Keeneland April 21 and a good win at first asking - at Gulfstream in March. Unchained Melody has been very good so far and hopes to be again Saturday. Joel Rosario tries to make it three straight wins for the morning line favorite from post 5.

Holy Helena 4-1

Impressive James Jerkens trained filly has three wins and a second-place finish in her four career starts. Last time out was a terrific win in Canada's biggest race - the $1 million Queen's Plate July 2 at Woodbine against the boys. That result followed a win in the Woodbine Oaks June 11 and a maiden score at Belmont Park May 12. She was second in her debut. Holy Helena hasn't been touched in the last four months and makes her graded stakes debut in sensational form. John Velazquez will be in the saddle of the second betting choice from gate 2.

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Salty 9-2

Will race for the seventh time for trainer Mark Casse having posted two wins, two seconds and a third-place finish so far. She broke maiden by 2 1/2 lengths March 5 at Gulfstream and has since recorded a nice win by 4 1/4 lengths in the G2 Gulfstream Park Oaks April 1, a fifth in the Kentucky Oaks May 5, a respectable runner-up finish behind Abel Tasman in the G1 Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park June 10 and an OK third behind Able Tasman again in the G1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga July 23. Salty has been good so far but hopes to snap a three-race losing streak from gate 6 Saturday. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount on the morning line third choice.

Lockdown 5-1

Legendary trainer Bill Mott sends out Lockdown who has two wins, three seconds and a third-place finish in her six career starts. She enters off an OK second behind Unchained Melody in the G2 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park July 1, a third in the G1 Kentucky Oaks May 5, a respectable second behind Miss Sky Warrior in the G2 Gazelle Stakes at Aqueduct April 8 and two straight wins on that track - the minor Busanda Stakes January 15 and a MSW in December. Lockdown has been a factor in every race in her career so far but searches for a first graded stakes score from gate 4 Saturday with Manuel Franco in the reins.

New Money Honey 6-1

Multiple Graded Stakes winner - Chad Brown trained filly has placed in five of six career starts - four wins and a second-place finish. Last time out was a terrific win in the G1 Belmont Oaks Invitational July 8 which followed another win by two lengths in wire-to-wire fashion in the G3 Wonder Again Stakes at Belmont Park June 8, an uncharacteristic sixth as favorite in the G3 Appalachian Stakes at Keeneland April 13 and two more good wins - the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies in November and the G3 Miss Grillo Stakes on this track in October. New Money Honey has bested some very good fields in the past and is expected to be competitive again from the rail Saturday. Javier Castellano rides.

Elate 6-1

Has placed in six of seven career starts for trainer Bill Mott - two wins, three seconds and a third-place finish. She arrives off an OK second behind Abel Tasman in the G1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga July 23, a good 5 1/2 length win in the overnight Light Hearted Stakes at Delaware Park June 15, a second in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Churchill Downs May 5 and an unfortunate DNF in the G1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland April 8. Before that was an OK third in the G3 Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn Park in March and a second in the minor Suncoast Stakes in February. Elate, outside of one bad outing has represented herself well every time out and hopes to again Saturday from post 7. Jose Ortiz will be in the irons.

It Tiz Well 12-1

Jerry Hollendorfer trained filly has placed in seven of eight career starts - four wins, a second and two third-place finishes. She arrives off a good win in the G3 Delaware Oaks July 8 after a fourth in the G3 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita June 17, a decent third behind the terrific Abel Tasman in the G1 Santa Anita Oaks April 8 and a solid win in the G3 Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn Park March 11. Before that was a 3 3/4 length Allowance Optional Claiming score here February 3 and a respectable second in her stakes debut - the G2 Santa Ysabel Stakes at Santa Anita January 8. It Tiz Well has been a factor every time out and hopes for a second straight graded stakes score Saturday with Drayden Van Dyke guiding her from post 3.

Actress 15-1

Jason Servis trained filly has a win, two seconds and a third-place finish in her four career starts. She arrives off a third in the G3 Delaware Oaks July 8, a terrific win after trailing by as much as 19 lengths in the G2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico May 19 and consecutive seconds to start her career - the best of which coming in the minor Game Face Stakes at Gulfstream Park April 22. Actress hasn't disappointed so far and will be out to record her second graded stakes score from the outside post 9 Saturday. Irad Ortiz rides.

Mopotism 20-1

Doug O'Neill trained filly has 10 career starts with two wins, four runner-ups and one third place finish to show for it. She broke maiden by 4 1/4 lengths at Santa Anita December 30 and has been up and down in four starts since - a second last time out in the G3 Indiana Oaks July 15 at Indiana Grand followed another second in the G2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita June 17, a disappointing tenth in the G1 Kentucky Oaks May 5 and a fourth in the G1 Santa Anita Oaks April 8. Before that was a nice gate-to-wire win in the minor Island Fashion Stakes at Sunland Park February 26 and a decent second behind the very good Unique Bella in the G2 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita February 5. Mopotism has been in the mix more often than not and will be out to snap a four-race win streak from gate 8 with Florent Geroux guiding her.

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2017 Alabama Stakes Odds & Entries

Race 9 on Saratoga's Saturday card with a Post Time of 5:40 PM.