The Alabama Stakes...... just as big as The Travers!

Considered by some racing historians as the most revered and tradition rich stake race for fillies, the Alabama Stakes run today is just as popular to the male counterpart next weekend; The Travers Stakes. The second oldest continually run race for females (The Ladies Handicap is the oldest - 1868) the Alabama was first contested in 1872, when August Belmont 's Woodbine, won the first running. A staple on the Saratoga stakes schedule, during World War II is was relocated to Belmont Park . The race was originally named after William Cottrell of Mobile , Alabama . Cottrell was to modest to have a race named after him, so it was re-named after the state he was from; Alabama . I tried to find out more information on Mr. Cottrell, but none was found, expect he was a big thoroughbred horse racing fan.

The Alabama had many famous fillies win this race throughout it's long history. Many of these winners also have had races named after them; Gamely, Tempted, Busanda, Vagrancy, Top Flight, Maskette and Beldame. This three year old race for fillies has become the third and final leg of the American Triple Tiara, with the Acorn Stakes and Coaching Club American Oaks the first two legs. The mile and a quarter distance has been the mainstay distance for this event for most of it's 144 runnings.

The 1987 edition of the Alabama Stakes was the first grade I event that I witness in person at Saratoga, 25 years ago. That year, Up the Apalachee was the upset winner. She paid $15.80 and defeated the D.Wayne Lukas entry of Without Feather & Fiesta Gal who went off at 2-5. Also in the field that year was Kentucky Oaks winner; Buryyourbelief who was owned by local connections, Dana Bray Jr. Trainer Shug McGaughey has won this race four times (Classy Cathy, Versailles Treaty, Heavenly Prize & Pine Island ) and I was in attendance for Pine Island 's impressive victory and last Alabama Stake I saw in person. Hall of Fame trainer; H. Allen Jerkens won back-to-back editions in 1992 & 1993 with Sky Beauty and November Snow and again in 2004 with Society Selection. Jockey's Mike Smith and Jerry Bailey won three straight Alabama Stakes, with a grand total of five wins for Bailey and four for Smith in it's history.

But, the most memorable Alabama Stakes that I witness was in 1999, when the great filly; Silverbulletday won by nine lengths on a drizzly Saturday afternoon. It was quite a sight to see her demolish the field and go on that year to win top honors as the best three year old filly with a Eclipse Award. It was also one of the best days I had handicapping with six winners out of ten races. This year's Alabama Stakes attracts a field of seven three year old fillies: the Black Eyed Susan winner; In Lingerie; who recently finished third in the Coaching Club American Oaks, Uptown Bertie; the Iowa Oaks winner at Prairie Meadows, Zo Impressive; winner of the Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park, Questioning; who won the Coaching Club American Oaks here on opening weekend & Grace Hall; won the Delaware Oaks in her last start and was third in the Kentucky Oaks. But my top selection is from a trainer who was already mention as a top conditioner in this race. Sea Island; trained by Shug McGaughey recently won a optional claimer here going a mile and a eighth at 15-1. Today, in her toughest race to date, she stretches out a eight of a mile more and comes into the race with a bullet work at the Saratoga training track. My second selection is the "horse to beat" and class of the field; Grace Hall. Her 105 Beyer speed figure is the best in this field.