Saratoga 2024: Power Squeeze ekes through in Alabama
Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
The Grade 1, $600,000, Alabama Stakes is run at the classic distance of 1 1/4 miles. At the end of the grueling race, two 3-year-old fillies were left to battle to the wire. It was Power Squeeze that prevailed by a head.
Power Squeeze, the 6-1 fourth betting choice, battled head-to-head in the final 1/16-mile with 9-5 favorite Candied. Those two took turns on the lead but in the final steps the head bob went to the Jorge Delgado-trainee. She shipped up to Saratoga from Monmouth Park to become at Grade 1 winner while earning her second stakes victory in a row.
The field of eight broke evenly from the gate and the California invader Chatalas went straight to the lead as she had done in her victory in the Indiana Oaks (G3) in July. She was able to establish a comfortable lead of more than two lengths. She was chased by Miss Justify, Intricate and Neon Icon. Chatalos kept the lead for a mile, setting fractions of 23.31, 47.06, 1:11.42 and 1:37.64 for a mile.
At the back of the field during the early going were Just Basking, Power Squeeze and Candied. Those three would launch closing moves after six furlongs and would eventually become the top three finishers. Candied made the first wide move. Power Squeeze, who was ridden by Javier Castellano, followed right behind Candied. Just Basking was the last to start closing.
“That is what I like to do,” the now four-time Alabama winner Castellano explained. “Everything was perfect the way she did it. Everything worked out great. There was great pace, hot pace, she came from behind, just fought all the way to the end.”
Out front, the classic distance was taking its toll on the horses that were in the top four positions. They tired down the stretch in the final quarter mile while the closers had moved out wide taking control of the top three places in the Alabama.
“It was a mile and a quarter race. Not too many horses face a mile and a quarter in their 3-year-old campaign,” Castellano added. “I believed whoever had the most left near the very end of the race was going to win. I didn't want to hook up with speed or chase the speed. I wanted to take my time and develop the horse through the race to find her kick and finish.”
For her victory Power Squeeze earned $330,000 and increased her career earnings to $900,450. Her winning across-the-board wagers returned $14.80, 6.80 and 4.30. Candied completed a $2 exacta that paid $47.60. At 7-2 Just Basking finished in third a length behind the top two and that produced a $2 trifecta payout of $173.50.
The thrilling finish made quite an impression on the winning trainer.
“It was unbelievable,” Delgado said. “I want to watch the replay a thousand times and enjoy it. I never felt like a winner until the wire.”
Power Squeeze was a $30,000 purchase as a 2-year-old that Delgado picked out because she had the look of a horse that would eventually handle longer distances.
“We always wanted that distance for the filly,” Delgado said. “She’s by Union Rags and they always want to go more distance. Her size and the way she gallops and the stride she has suggested she could go this distance. She did it first time, first win.”