First Look: Alabama highlights 3 stakes this weekend at Saratoga
Fans of long-distance races will have their full attention on Saratoga this weekend. On Saturday, the historic track will run the 1 1/4-mile Grade 1 Alabama Stakes on the main track and the 1 3/16-mile Saratoga Derby on the turf. And on Sunday, 1 3/16-mile Saratoga Oaks will run on the turf.
Each race has a lofty purse of $500,000 and is strictly for 3-year-olds. Here is an early look at how the fields are shaping up, courtesy of the NYRA racing office.
$500,000 Grade 1 Alabama Stakes
Each year, the Alabama Stakes is a rare opportunity to see fillies tested at the classic mile and a quarter distance. This year's Alabama takes on even more significance as it will offer points toward the Kentucky Oaks on a 100-40-20-10 basis.
With the stakes higher than ever, a full field is expected to line up for the storied race, led by multiple Grade 2 winner Swiss Skydiver. The Blue Grass runner-up will appreciate facing fillies again and should be a pretty heavy favorite in this spot.
2020 Alabama (G1)
| Rank | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swiss Skydiver Daredevil | K. McPeek |
| Probable | ||||
| Pleasant Orb Orb | B. Tagg |
| Possible | ||||
| Bonny South Munnings | B. Cox |
| Probable | ||||
| Spice Is Nice Curlin | T. Pletcher |
| Probable | ||||
| Harvey's Lil Goil American Pharoah | W. Mott |
| Possible | ||||
| Envoutante Uncle Mo | K. McPeek |
| Probable | ||||
| Crystal Ball Malibu Moon | B. Baffert |
| Probable | ||||
| Miss Marissa He's Had Enough | J. Ryerson |
| Possible | ||||
| Antoinette Hard Spun | W. Mott |
| Possible | ||||
| Wild Love Candy Ride | S. Asmussen |
| Probable |
$500,000 Saratoga Derby
The Saratoga Derby, which was first established last year, is quickly shaping up to be the top 3-year-old turf race of the year thus far. Likely favorite Decorated Invader has been dominant in three starts this year, but he will be tested by Christophe Clement stablemate Gufo and Mike Maker's multiple stakes winner Field Pass.
Even the runners with lesser credentials — No Word, Domestic Spending and Colonel Liam — are to be respected as they hail from the barns of Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown.
2020 Saratoga Derby (LS)
| Rank | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decorated Invader Declaration of War | C. Clement |
| Probable | ||||
| Field Pass Lemon Drop Kid | M. Maker |
| Probable | ||||
| Gufo Declaration of War | C. Clement |
| Probable | ||||
| Colonel Liam Liam's Map | T. Pletcher |
| Probable | ||||
| No Word Silent Name | T. Pletcher |
| Probable | ||||
| Domestic Spending Kingman | C. Brown |
| Probable | ||||
| Bama Breeze Honor Code | G. Arnold II |
| Probable |
$500,000 Saratoga Oaks
The Saratoga Oaks will be the most wide-open of Saratoga's stakes this weekend and offers intriguing betting opportunities. Recent stakes winners Enola Gay, Speaktomeofsummer and Harvey's Lil Goil (also considering the Alabama) could clash here against John Gosden's talented European shipper Ricetta.
With no clear favorite, this could end up being a blanket finish race where the runner who receives the best trip emerges victorious.
2020 Saratoga Oaks (LS)
| Rank | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enola Gay Uncle Mo | C. McGaughey III |
| Probable | ||||
| Speaktomeofsummer Summer Front | C. Clement |
| Probable | ||||
| Harvey's Lil Goil American Pharoah | W. Mott |
| Possible | ||||
| Key Biscayne Brethren | J. Alvarado |
| Probable | ||||
| Queens Embrace Real Solution | K. O'Connell |
| Probable | ||||
| Stunning Sky Declaration of War | M. Maker |
| Possible | ||||
| Antoinette Hard Spun | W. Mott |
| Possible | ||||
| Ricetta Camelot | J. Gosden |
| Probable |