The ALABAMA STAKES ....... the memories!

Today is the 134th running of the Alabama Stakes for three year old fillies, considered by some as the biggest three year old filly race on the NYRA circuit. So rich history, it's had such winners as; Beldame, Maskette, Top Flight, Vagrancy, Busanda, Tempted, Gamely and Shuvee all which have had stake races named after them. More recently Hall of Fame runners like; Mom's Command and Go For Wand have won this mile and a quarter test around the Saratoga oval. The first graded stakes race I saw in person was the 1987 edition of the Alabama Stakes which Up the Apalachee defeating a slew of D.Wayne Lukas runners. Twelve years later, one of the greatest efforts by a three year old filly was showcased in the 1999 edition of the Alabama. Silverbulletday destroyed the field by nine lengths in her return from a ill-fated effort versus the boys in the Belmont Stakes that year only a few weeks before.

This year the "big" filly entered was supposed to be Untapable, winner of this year's Kentucky Oaks. She too faced the boys, but not in the Belmont Stakes. It was the Haskell at Monmouth and her result was much like Silverbulletday's with a losing outcome. Unfortunately though, Untapable won't be competing today. But we have a nice field of nine fillies. Todd Pletcher has two runners, the probable favorite Stopchargingmaria is the only grade I winner in the field after winning the Coaching Club American Oaks here over the track and Get Lucky who also has a victory over the track. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott has entered three runners (America, Miss Besilu and Size). Four other nice three year olds round out the field with seasoned stakes runners and lightly raced ones. With the leader of the three year old filly class, Untapable not entered today, it's a wide open event worth taking a shot with a priced horse.

That priced horse has a trainer who is no stranger to the winner's circle in this event. In 2000, four years before he trained Smarty Jones to a near Triple Crown bid, John Servis from his Philadelphia Park base brought a three year old filly to the Alabama named; Jostle. Just like Stopchargingmaria, She won the Black Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico and Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont before winning the Alabama. It could be said that Jostle was the first horse that put John Servis on the map. Today, he sends a daughter of Include attempting the mile in a quarter distance by the name of Joint Return. This closer was second best in the Delaware Oaks behind Fortune Pearl (in this race also) and fourth behind Stopchargingmaria in the Black Eyed Susan Stakes. Today she gets blinkers on and in the odds department is at 15-1 morning line with the two horses that beat her at 2-1 and 8-1. Just maybe John Servis can capture a little of that magic from fourteen years ago and at price with Joint Return winning this year's edition of the Alabama Stakes.

We also have stakes action at Arlington Park today with their Arlington Million Day that includes six graded stakes on the grass. Here are my selections for the All Stakes pick 4 in races 7 through 10. The American St. Leger Stakes (7th) at a mile and eleven sixteenths : Danino (#2) - Eye of the Storm (#9) - Havana Beat (#7). The Secretariat Stakes (8th) for three year olds : Adelaide (#6) - Belisarius (#3) - Divine Oath (#7). The Beverly D. (9th) for older filly and mares : Stephanie's Kitten (#5) - Alterite (#9) - Sparkling Beam (#10). The Arlington Million : Smoking Sun (#2) - Real Solution (#6) - Finnegans Wake ((#4).