The Alabama Stakes Offered by Keeneland Gross sales has cemented a spot in Thoroughbred racing historical past as some of the vital stakes for 3-year-old fillies in North America. The race was first held in 1872, it has been held on the basic distance of 1 ¼ miles since 1917, and the Alabama has lengthy been a fixture on the Saratoga Race Course calendar.
A number of Grade 1 winner Counting Stars headlines a gaggle of six fillies entered on this 12 months’s version making an attempt to etch their names within the Thoroughbred racing historical past books as an Alabama winner alongside some true giants of the game.
Certainly, the checklist of notable Alabama winners features a exceptional checklist of actually elite feminine distance racehorses: Nitrogen (2025), Nest (2022), Malathaat (2021), Swiss Skydiver (2020), Elate (2017), Songbird (2016), Royal Delta (2011), Blind Luck (2010), Silverbulletday (1999), Banshee Breeze (1998), Heavenly Prize (1994), Sky Magnificence (1993), Go for Wand (1990), Open Thoughts (1989), Mother’s Command (1985), Life’s Magic (1984), It’s within the Air (1979), Our Mims (1977), Desert Vixen (1973), Summer season Visitor (1972), Shuvee (1969), Gamely (1967), What A Deal with (1965), Tempted (1958), Busanda (1950), Vagrancy (1942), High Flight (1932), Maskette (1909), Beldame (1904), and Miss Woodford (1883).
The Alabama will probably be televised nationwide on FOX from 6-7 p.m. ET as a part of NYRA’s “Saratoga Reside” sequence that spans everything of the Saratoga meet.
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Learn on for details about every of the six Alabama Stakes entrants.
1. Nycon
Jockey: Dylan Davis
Coach: Whit Beckman
Proprietor: Icon Racing Secure (Werth)
Profession report: 6 begins – 1 win – 2 seconds – 0 thirds
Profession earnings: $163,518
High Equibase Velocity Determine: 85
Pedigree: Nyquist – Elevate the Flag, by Superior Once more
Colour: Darkish bay or brown
Working type: Stalker/nearer
Evaluation: Nycon completed second earlier this 12 months in a pair stakes races at one mile. She subsequently was examined in opposition to graded stakes competitors whereas stretching out to 1 1/8 miles and the outcomes haven’t been as promising. Nycon was 10 lengths behind winner All the time a Runner when fourth within the $200,000 Gazelle Stakes in April and enters off a sixth-place end at 41-1 odds within the Grade 1 Teaching Membership American Oaks July 25 at Saratoga Race Course, the place she completed 24 lengths behind Alabama entrant Counting Stars. Three-year-olds can take huge steps ahead within the second half of the season, however Nycon most likely would wish to spice up her Equibase Velocity Determine by 15-20 factors to have an opportunity to show the tables on Counting Stars. On the brilliant facet, Nycon hails from the highly effective household of unbeaten champion and 1996 Broodmare of the Yr Private Ensign, her third dam (maternal great-grandmother), and the worth ought to be interesting in the event you imagine she is going to enhance.
Guess Nycon within the Alabama Stakes
2. Ati Woman
Jockey: John Velazquez
Coach: Invoice Mott
Homeowners: Pantofel Secure, Wachtel Secure, and Gary Barber
Profession report: 9 begins – 1 win – 3 seconds – 1 third
Profession earnings: $131,979
High Equibase Velocity Determine: 90
Pedigree: Nyquist – Heavenly Scat, by Scat Daddy
Colour: Bay
Working type: Stalker
Evaluation: Ati Woman enters the Alabama Stakes off a 2 ½-length win in a 1 1/8-mile race on this principal observe at Saratoga Race Course. That victory, nonetheless, got here in a maiden particular weight race in her ninth profession begin, so the Nyquist filly is taking a monumental leap by way of class right into a Grade 1 race. Her career-top 90 Equibase Velocity Determine signifies she would wish to enhance considerably to compete with projected heavy favourite Counting Stars, however Ati Woman doesn’t seem like outclassed by the remainder of this group and her tactical velocity ought to be an asset. Corridor of Fame jockey John Velazquez, a four-time Alabama winner, picks up the mount for Corridor of Fame coach and three-time Alabama winner Invoice Mott.
Guess Ati Woman within the Alabama Stakes
3. Measure
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Coach: Mark Casse
Homeowners: Gary Barber, Bridlewood Farm, and Eclipse Thoroughbred Companions
Profession report: 6 begins – 1 win – 2 seconds – 1 third
Profession earnings: $179,616
High Equibase Velocity Determine: 94
Pedigree: Important High quality – Fateer, by Eskendereya
Colour: Darkish bay or brown
Working type: Nearer
Evaluation: After ending a distant third at 26-1 odds within the Grade 1 Teaching Membership American Oaks July 25 at Saratoga in her stakes debut, Measure has been entered for a rematch with winner Counting Stars within the Alabama. Each fillies are skilled by U.S. and Canadian Corridor of Famer Mark Casse, and Measure clearly has important floor – 6 ¾ lengths to be precise – to make up on her stablemate. She has proven improved kind since delivery to Saratoga Race Course, posting career-best 94 Equibase Velocity Figures in a June allowance race and the CCA Oaks, each at 1 1/8 miles. Measure additionally picks up the providers of two-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Flavien Prat, who has received at a 25% clip for Casse in 2025-’26, and profiles as a robust candidate for an additional top-three end in a Grade 1 race. Casse received this race in 2025 with Nitrogen, and co-owner Eclipse Thoroughbred Companions was a part of the partnership that raced 2022 Alabama winner Nest.
Guess Measure within the Alabama Stakes
Jockey: Manuel Franco
Coach: Chad Brown
Proprietor: Douglas Scharbauer
Profession report: 3 begins – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Profession earnings: $130,500
High Equibase Velocity Determine: 91
Pedigree: Gun Runner – Try, by Congrats
Colour: Chestnut
Working type: Nearer
Evaluation: My Gun’s Loaded was transferred to coach Chad Brown for the 2026 season and received her first two begins for him, each on this principal observe at Saratoga. The chestnut filly received a seven-furlong maiden particular weight race by 4 ¼ lengths June 6 in her season debut and adopted with a one-mile allowance win July 24, drawing clear to win by three lengths below Manny Franco. My Gun’s Loaded earned a career-best 91 Equibase Velocity Determine for her most up-to-date victory, however she faces a troublesome task competing in a Grade 1 race in her stakes debut for two-time Alabama Stakes-winning coach Chad Brown. How she handles the extra quarter-mile is a key issue, however she might excel with the added floor as a daughter of 2017 Horse of the Yr Gun Runner and seems to be a robust candidate for a top-three end.
Guess My Gun’s Loaded within the Alabama Stakes
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Coach: Peter Eurton
Proprietor: C R Ok Secure
Profession report: 10 begins – 2 wins – 1 second – 2 thirds
Profession earnings: $158,289
High Equibase Velocity Determine: 86
Pedigree: Honor A. P. – March X Press, by Shanghai Bobby
Colour: Bay
Working type: Nearer
Evaluation: Following back-to-back wins at Honest Grounds to start her 3-year-old season, A. P.’s Woman has competed in opposition to stakes competitors in her three most up-to-date begins and completed within the high three in every race. The Honor A. P. filly completed second by a half-length within the Weber Metropolis Miss Stakes April 18 at Laurel Park earlier than incomes a career-top 86 Equibase Velocity Determine for working third within the Grade 2 George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes Could 15. A. P.’s Woman enters the Alabama after ending third within the Monomoy Woman Stakes June 13 at Churchill Downs. Like a number of others entered within the Alabama, A. P.’s Woman has probability to fill out the exacta or trifecta at an interesting worth however would very seemingly want to enhance her Equibase Velocity Determine by 15-20 factors to defeat Counting Stars. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione received the Alabama in 2020 on Swiss Skydiver.
Guess A. P.’s Woman within the Alabama Stakes
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Coach: Mark Casse
Homeowners: West Level Thoroughbreds
Profession report: 10 begins – 6 wins – 1 second – 1 third
Profession earnings: $1,660,606
High Equibase Velocity Determine: 104
Pedigree: Honor A. P. – Paynterbynumbers, by Paynter
Colour: Bay
Working type: Press the tempo
Evaluation: Going through solely six opponents within the Grade 1 Teaching Membership American Oaks July 25 at Saratoga, Counting Stars went straight to the entrance below Irad Ortiz Jr. and led from begin to end in a 4 ¼-length romp the place she earned a career- and field-best 104 Equibase Velocity Determine. The Honor A. P. filly was entered in opposition to solely 5 challengers within the Alabama with no devoted pacesetters, so Counting Stars might discover herself in in the identical state of affairs Saturday with a significant class benefit on the sector. Counting Stars is a five-time stakes winner and has received three of her final 4 begins, one in a Grade 2 race and the final two in Grade 1s. No different filly within the discipline has even a single stakes win to her credit score. Anticipate Counting Stars to be the heavy favourite below two-time Alabama Stakes-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and something lower than a win can be a shock. Coach Mark Casse has a golden alternative to win the race for a second straight 12 months after taking final 12 months’s version with Nitrogen.
Guess Counting Stars within the Alabama Stakes
