Race of the summer? Saratoga's Alabama drawing top fillies

When co-owner Jeff Bloom shifted Midnight Bisou to the East Coast, he did so knowing it stages the top summer features for 3-year-old fillies. Could connections be thinking Alabama Stakes?

Entering the weekend, champion 2-year-old Caledonia Road was already targeting the Grade 1, $600,000 race on Aug. 18 at Saratoga. Then Wonder Gadot won the Queen's Plate, the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown.

It's on to the second leg for her, and “if all goes well," trainer Mark Casse said, the July 24 Prince of Wales "could set her up well for the Alabama."

As with the Queen's Plate, the Alabama runs at 1 1/4 miles.

She loves the distance," Casse said. "I think if she'll stay happy and healthy she's going to be tough. She'll give anybody in North America a run for their money in the Alabama. She just goes and goes. She's Wonder Woman."

Midnight Bisou, the beaten Kentucky Oaks favorite, made her first start back for new trainer Steve Asmussen in Saturday's Mother Goose (G2). She demolished three rivals, winning by six lengths in a hand ride.

And we'd be remiss not to mention the Oaks winner. Monomoy Girl will also stable this summer at Saratoga looking for some big spots.

Sunday morning, bloodstock agent Bradley Weisbord said Monomoy Girl is scheduled to run in the July 22 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) before Parx's Cotillion (G1).

Sol Kumin's Madaket Stables (Midnight Bisou) and Monomoy Stables (Monomoy Girl) own a stake in both top fillies. Weisbord said the fillies' respective schedules have "nothing" to do with the common ownership.