If you were wondering, the Alabama Stakes at Saratoga Race Course is not named for the Southeastern Conference football team Nick Saban coaches. And, though contested in upstate New York, it has a connection to the Heart of Dixie.
The $600,000 race for 3-year-old fillies dates to 1872, when won by August Belmont's Woodbine. The Alabama derives its name from owner-breeder William Cottrell of Mobile, Alabama, whose Ascension finished 10th in the inaugural Kentucky Derby in 1875 and whose Buchanan won the Churchill Downs classic in 1884. The English native, who came to the United States in the 1840s, was too modest to have a race named in his honor and requested it be named after his home state.
The Alabama is three years older than the Kentucky Oaks, which like the Derby dates to 1875. It has been run each year since 1912 and, at the classic American distance of a mile and a quarter, is longer than the Oaks with both races Grade 1.
Wet Paint leads the 3-year-old filly division despite not winning the May 5 Oaks, hoping here to complete a Saratoga sweep after taking the G1 Coaching Club American Oaks four weeks ago.
Brad Cox won three Oaklawn stakes this spring with Wet Paint, a Godolphin homebred whose sire, Blame, famously handed Zenyatta her only loss in 20 races in the 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs. Flavien Prat rides late-running Wet Paint, who took multiple Grade 3 races (Fantasy and Honeybee) and the Martha Washington in Hot Springs.
"We've been pleased with her since she arrived in Saratoga and she's done nothing wrong all year," said Michael Banahan, Godolphin USA's bloodstock director. "The run in the Coaching Club Oaks was impressive, especially with the pace in the race, which didn't suit her. I thought she was very game that day and showed a big will to win. She looks great and Brad and his team are very happy with her."
Godolphin also owns Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous, trained by Brenden Walsh. The stable thus is poised to lift the division championship from Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, who entered three in the Alabama.
Of Wet Paint, Banahan said, "She's one of the better 3-year-old fillies and has already won a grade 1 at Saratoga. If she can add the Alabama ... that would put her in a great position when it comes to Eclipse voting. It's nice she has a win over the track. It takes a special filly to win both grade 1s at Saratoga and we're hopeful of a big show from her on Saturday."
Pletcher won division titles the last two years off Alabama victories by Malathaat and Nest. The five-time race winner is represented today by Julia Shining (jockey Luis Saez), Chocolate Gelato (Jose Ortiz) and Gambling Girl (Irad Ortiz Jr).
Also in the field is Oaklawn-raced Grade 2 winner Taxed (Rafael Bejarano), who surprised in the Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico Race Course and is trained by Randy Morse. Chad Brown, Saratoga's leading trainer, sends out Fireline (Javier Castellano) and Randomized (Joel Rosario).
The Alabama, race 9 on the card, goes at 4:45 p.m. CT today. The $1.25 million Travers, Saratoga's companion race for 3-year-old males, is Aug. 26.