Friday tab: La Cara posts final work before Alabama

Two-time Grade 1 winner La Cara breezed a half-mile in 49.77 seconds Friday over the Saratoga main track in her final preparation for next Saturday’s Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama, a 10-furlong route for sophomore fillies.

With regular exercise rider Mary Rose Hitt in the irons, La Cara covered the distance solo just after the conclusion of the 6:30 a.m. EDT renovation break. La Cara is one of two Alabama contenders for dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse. In addition to La Cara, who is a homebred for Tracy Farmer, Casse also will saddle D.J. Stable’s multiple graded stakes-winner Nitrogen.

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“Perfect,” Casse said of the work. “I told Mary I wanted to go about 50 (seconds), and they said 49 and three. The key is that Mary knows her so well, and she got her to go way easy. If you let her go, she would have went in 46.”

La Cara last was seen winning the Acorn (G1) on June 6 at the Spa. She was entered in the local Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) on July 19, but was forced to scratch after a quarantine for suspected strangles was placed on the barn where she was stabled. Friday’s work was her third since the scratch, adding to sharp five-furlong works over the main track in 59.76 seconds and 1:00.60 on July 25 and last Friday, respectively.

La Cara notched her first Grade 1 win in April when taking Keeneland’s Ashland, adding to previous stakes success in the Suncoast at Tampa Bay Downs and Pocahontas (G3) at Churchill Downs as a juvenile.

La Cara was one of 24 graded-stakes winners with published works Friday morning.

Immersive (Nyquist), a three-time Grade 1 winner (2024 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, 2024 Alcibiades, 2024 Spinaway), worked four furlongs in 47.0 seconds at Churchill Downs on Friday morning. It was the fastest of 52 works at the distance. This was her first work since her last race. In her last start she placed second in the Coaching Club American Oaks Invitational (G1) going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Saratoga on July 19 for trainer Brad Cox.

La Cara (Street Sense), a two-time Grade 1 winner (2025 Acorn, 2025 Ashland), worked four furlongs in 49.7 seconds at Saratoga on Friday morning. It was the 28th fastest of 52 works at the distance. Her previous work was seven days ago going five furlongs at Saratoga. In her last start she won the Acorn (G1) going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Saratoga on June 6 for trainer Mark Casse.

Candied (Candy Ride), a Grade 1 winner (2023 Alcibiades), worked four furlongs in 48.8 seconds at Saratoga on Friday morning. It was the 12th fastest of 52 works at the distance. This was her first work since her last race. In her last start she placed third in the Molly Pitcher (G3) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Monmouth Park on July 19 for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Dorth Vader (Girvin), a Grade 1 winner (2025 Ogden Phipps), worked four furlongs in 49.5 seconds at Saratoga on Friday morning. It was the 12th fastest of 36 works at the distance. This was her first work since her last race. In her last start she placed fourth in the Molly Pitcher (G3) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Monmouth Park on July 19 for trainer George Weaver.

Howard Wolowitz (Munnings), a Grade 1 winner (2024 Franklin-Simpson), worked five furlongs in 1:01.1 at Saratoga on Friday morning. It was the fastest of eight works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going five furlongs at Saratoga. In his last start he placed 10th in the 1351 Turf Sprint (G2) going about 6 3/4 furlongs on the turf at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Feb. 22 for trainer Jose D'Angelo.

Leslie's Rose (Into Mischief), a Grade 1 winner (2024 Ashland), worked four furlongs in 50.7 seconds at Saratoga on Friday morning. It was the 46th fastest of 52 works at the distance. This was her first work since her last race. In her last start she won the Shuvee (G2) going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Saratoga on July 18 for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Mullikin (Violence), a Grade 1 winner (2024 Forego), worked four furlongs in 48.2 seconds at Saratoga on Friday morning. It was the second fastest of 36 works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going four furlongs at Saratoga. In his last start he placed second in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G2) going six furlongs on the main track at Saratoga on July 19 for trainer Rodolphe Brisset.

Sacred Wish (Not This Time), a Grade 1 winner (2024 Matriarch), worked four furlongs in 50.2 seconds on turf at Saratoga on Friday morning. It was the 36th fastest of 54 works at the distance. This was her first work since her last race. In her last start she placed second in the Matchmaker (G3) going 1 1/8 miles on the turf at Monmouth Park on July 19 for trainer George Weaver.

Mystic Lake (Mo Town), a two-time Grade 2 winner (2025 Inside Information, 2024 Charles Town Oaks), worked three furlongs in 38.7 seconds at Saratoga on Friday morning. It was the fifth fastest of seven works at the distance. This was her first work since her last race. In her last start she won the Dashing Beauty going six furlongs on the main track at Delaware Park on July 17 for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

Barnes (Into Mischief), a Grade 2 winner (2025 San Vicente), worked seven furlongs in 1:23.8 at Del Mar on Friday morning. It was the faster of two works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going six furlongs at Del Mar. In his last start he placed fifth in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Santa Anita on April 5 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Bentornato (Valiant Minister), a Grade 2 winner (2024 Gallant Bob), worked five furlongs in 1:00.3 at Saratoga on Friday morning. It was the fastest of three works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Saratoga. In his last start he placed second in the Breeders' Cup Sprint going six furlongs on the main track at Del Mar on Nov. 2 for trainer Jose D'Angelo.

Honor Marie (Honor Code), a Grade 2 winner (2023 Kentucky Jockey Club), worked four furlongs in 48.6 seconds at Churchill Downs on Friday morning. It was the 14th fastest of 52 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed seventh in the Suburban (G2) going 1 1/4 miles on the main track at Saratoga on July 4 for trainer Whit Beckman.

Howbeit (Secret Circle), a Grade 2 winner (2022 Santa Anita Sprint Championship), worked four furlongs in 48.4 seconds at Los Alamitos on Friday morning. It was the sixth fastest of 13 works at the distance. His previous work was six days ago going four furlongs at Los Alamitos. In his last start he won a claiming race going 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track at Los Alamitos on July 6 for trainer Peter Miller.

Imagination (Into Mischief), a Grade 2 winner (2024 San Felipe), worked five furlongs in 1:00.8 at Del Mar on Friday morning. It was the ninth fastest of 35 works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going four furlongs at Los Alamitos. In his last start he placed fourth in the San Pasqual (G2) going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Santa Anita on Jan. 25 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Segesta (Ghostzapper), a Grade 2 winner (2024 Wonder Again), worked four furlongs in 49.5 seconds at Saratoga on Friday morning. It was the 12th fastest of 36 works at the distance. This was her first work since her last race. In her last start she won the Matchmaker (G3) going 1 1/8 miles on the turf at Monmouth Park on July 19 for trainer Chad Brown.

Dragoon Guard (Arrogate), a two-time Grade 3 winner (2024 West Virginia Derby, 2024 Indiana Derby), worked five furlongs in 1:01.4 at Churchill Downs on Friday morning. It was the sixth fastest of 16 works at the distance. His previous work was 13 days ago going four furlongs at Churchill Downs. In his last start he placed second in an allowance race going one mile on the main track at Churchill Downs on May 22 for trainer Brad Cox.

Awesome Aaron (Practical Joke), a Grade 3 winner (2025 Pimlico Special), worked four furlongs in 48.1 seconds at Saratoga on Friday morning. It was the second fastest of 52 works at the distance. His previous work was six days ago going five furlongs at Saratoga. In his last start he placed sixth in the Suburban (G2) going 1 1/4 miles on the main track at Saratoga on July 4 for trainer Norm Casse.

Donegal Momentum (Uncle Mo), a Grade 3 winner (2025 Poker), worked five furlongs in 1:01.6 at Belmont Park on Friday morning. It was the only work at the distance. His previous work was nine days ago going four furlongs at Belmont Park. In his last start he placed seventh in the Kelso (G3) going one mile on the turf at Saratoga on July 5 for trainer Tom Morley.

Haulin Ice (Coal Front), a Grade 3 winner (2025 Vagrancy), worked four furlongs in 51.8 seconds at Palm Meadows on Friday morning. It was the 35th fastest of 37 works at the distance. Her previous work was seven days ago going three furlongs at Palm Meadows. In her last start she won the Musical Romance Handicap going 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track at Gulfstream Park on June 22 for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

Raqiya (Blue Point), a Grade 3 winner (2024 Goldikova), worked four furlongs in 50.0 seconds at Saratoga on Friday morning. It was the 37th fastest of 52 works at the distance. Her previous work was eight days ago going four furlongs at Saratoga. In her last start she placed eighth in the Beaugay (G3) going 1 1/16 miles on the turf at Belmont at the Big A on May 4 for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Special Wan (Belardo), a Grade 3 winner (2025 Honey Fox), worked five furlongs in 1:01.8 at Turfway Park on Friday morning. It was the fifth fastest of 17 works at the distance. Her previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Turfway Park. In her last start she placed third in the Just a Game (G1) going one mile on the turf at Saratoga on June 6 for trainer Brendan Walsh.

Tizzy in the Sky (Sky Kingdom), a Grade 3 winner (2024 Go for Wand), worked three furlongs in 38.7 seconds at Saratoga on Friday morning. It was the sixth fastest of seven works at the distance. Her previous work was 189 days ago going four furlongs at Palm Beach Downs. In her last start she won the Ladies going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Aqueduct on Jan. 11 for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Vixen (Vekoma), a Grade 3 winner (2025 Herecomesthebride), worked four furlongs in 49.8 seconds at Churchill Downs on Friday morning. It was the 36th fastest of 52 works at the distance. This was her first work since her last race. In her last start she placed third in the Tepin going one mile on the turf at Churchill Downs on June 28 for trainer Mark Casse.

Waskesiu (American Pharoah), a Grade 3 winner (2024 Florida Oaks), worked four furlongs in 48.8 seconds at Saratoga on Friday morning. It was the seventh fastest of 36 works at the distance. Her previous work was eight days ago going four furlongs at Saratoga. In her last start she won the Florida Oaks (G3) going 1 1/16 miles on the turf at Tampa Bay Downs on March 9 for trainer Bill Mott.