The inaugural Alabama Stakes was held in 1872.

To this day it continues to be one of the most important races in the 3-year-old filly division. 

Here is a brief look at Saturday’s field:

1. MARGIE’S INTENTION [ML 8-1] Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. Trainer: Brad Cox. Since stretching out to a mile for her second race after an unplaced finish in her career sprint debut, she has developed into a consistent, high-level filly. She has three wins along with three 2nd place finishes in six races since her debut. That said, she still must improve significantly in the Alabama to be a win candidate. She will be facing the best competition of her career with speed figures roughly 10 points slower than the major contenders.

2. GOOD CHEER [ML 8-5] Jockey: Luis Saez. Trainer: Brad Cox.  After winning each of her first seven races by 2 ¼ lengths or more, including the $1.5 million dollar Kentucky Oaks. She lost for the first time June 6th at Saratoga in the Acorn Stakes. How she responds to her first defeat will be a key storyline for the Alabama leading into the 1 ¼-mile race. There is not much speed in the race to set up her late-rallying style, which could be an issue if Acorn winner LA CARA is again allowed to set an uncontested pace.

3. KINZIE QUEEN [ML15-1] Jockey: Junior Alvarado. Trainer: Greg Compton. Rallied to finish 3rd in each of her last two starts while facing quality opposition in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico and the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks on June 14th at Delaware Park. The issue is the competition will be even tougher in the Alabama Stakes. She is trying to Win the first Stakes of her career in the Alabama and in order to do that she’ll need to add 10-15 points to her best speed figure to compete for the top spot here.

4. NITROGEN [ML9-5] Jockey: Jose Ortiz. Trainer: Mark Casse. Canada’s 2024 Champion 2-year-old filly, she established herself as the top 3-year-old turf filly in the United States this spring with four straight turf stakes wins, including graded stakes wins at Tampa Bay Downs, Keeneland and Churchill Downs. Casse gives her a second start on the dirt in the Alabama against a much tougher group of fillies who are battle-tested on the dirt. It’s worth a shot with a filly clearly brimming with natural talent, tactical speed, and the best speed figures in the field.

5. QUEEN AZTECA [ML12-1] Jockey: Joel Rosario. Trainer: Niels Peterson. It’s not often a filly who has been racing in Sweden ships in from Norway to compete in a Grade 1 race at Saratoga, but here she is ready to compete in the Alabama Stakes. QUEEN AZTECA is in good form but is in deep here against an elite group of U.S.-based 3-year-old fillies. She should be doing her best running late in the 1 ¼-mile race.

6. LA CARA [5-2] Jockey: Dylan Davis. Trainer: Mark Casse. After running 9th in the Kentucky Oaks, she came back with a victory in the Acorn Stakes June 6th at Saratoga. The STREET SENSE filly is 2-for-3 on the main track at Saratoga and is a beast when permitted to control the pace on her own terms, which could be the scenario in the Alabama. Like all of the fillies in the field, she will be trying the 1 ¼-mile distance for the first time, but she’s bred to handle the additional ground.

The Alabama Stakes is slated as race ten on a card of twelve with a scheduled Post Time of 5:45.

Best of luck however you play it.