Saratoga: Next week's stakes probables, including the Alabama

A total of eight stakes races will be held on the flat at Saratoga next week topped by the Alabama (G1) for 3-year-old fillies and Lake Placid (G2) for 3-year-old fillies on turf, both set for a week from Saturday.

The New York Racing Association racing office provided an early look at the prospective fields for both of those races and more. Below are the projected lineups for the four weekend stakes.

Saturday, Aug. 20

$600,000 Alabama Stakes (G1), 1 1/4 miles, 3-year-old fillies

This is expected to feature the third matchup between Grade 1 winners Nest and Secret Oath. In the 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Oaks in May, Secret Oath beat runner-up Nest by two lengths. Then on July 24 in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga, also contested at 1 1/8 miles, Nest blew away the field by 12 1/4 lengths. Secret Oath was second.

Gerrymander took a major step forward for top trainer Chad Brown last out when winning the Mother Goose (G1) at Belmont Park by three lengths.

$200,000 Lake Placid Stakes (G2), 1 1/16 miles (turf), 3-year-old fillies

Eminent Victor and Koala Princess exit a two-three finish behind winner Dolce Zel in the July 22 Lake George (G3) going a mile at Saratoga on July 22. Eminent Victor was the 5-2 favorite for Brown.

Canisy has two wins and a second in three starts for Christophe Clement, which includes a front-running allowance win at Saratoga going 1 1/8 miles. Sparkle Blue won the Christiana Stakes at Delaware Park most recently when making her first start in more than seven months.

$150,000 Smart N Fancy Stakes, 5 1/2 furlongs (turf), 4-year-olds and up (fillies and mares)

Four of the six listed as probable exit the Caress (G3) at Saratoga on July 23, including Robin Sparkles who scored by a head at 21-1 in front-running fashion.

Caravel was the favorite in the Caress and finished last after having to steady near the half-mile pole. The chart notes Caravel “lost about four lengths in total…went four wide for home and weakened.”

Illegal Smile is among the new shooters for Wesley Ward. The Irish-bred won an allowance at Keeneland in her 4-year-old bow before finishing off the board in the Intercontinental (G3) at Belmont Park.

Sunday, Aug. 21

$150,000 Bolton Landing, 5.5 furlongs (turf), 2-year-old fillies

Sweet Harmony is 2-for-2, with both wins coming at Monmouth Park, which includes the July 24 Colleen Stakes at 12-1. Grand Oak earned her diploma in May at Churchill Downs in a highly rated race and was sent to Royal Ascot less than a month later for a crack at the Queen Mary Stakes (G2). She finished 18th.

No Kay Never won her one and only start against straight maidens on turf at Horseshoe Indianapolis for trainer Wesley Ward.