Alabama Stakes Handicapping Picks
Horse racing gamblers are you looking for 2020 Alabama Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping Odds…plus some predictions? Need some advice on who to take? The 2020 Alabama Stakes is set for Saturday at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Here’s a preview of our top contenders.
Alabama Stakes Preview and Prediction
- Race: Alabama Stakes
- Purse: $500,000
- Track: Saratoga Race Course
- Date: August 15
- Post Time: 5:43 PM (ET)
- Live: Alabama Stakes Odds: Click Here
2020 Alabama Stakes Handicapping
The focus at Saratoga this Saturday turns to three-year-old fillies as a group of seven are expected to go to the gate for the running of the (G1) Alabama Stakes.
Much like last week’s Travers for three-year-old colts, the fillies will face a big task of racing 1 1/4 miles for the first time in their young careers. The race is a ‘Win And You’re In’ event for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, the female version of the BC Classic, to be held on November 7 at Keeneland Race Course.
And just to clear up any confusion, yes, the Alabama Stakes is run in New York. The story goes that way back in 1872, the powers-that-be at Saratoga wanted to name a stakes race after prominent horseman William Cotrell. Cotrell was too modest to use his own name for the race, but his hometown was Mobile, Alabama – so the Alabama Stakes it is.
Odds listed here are provided by Bovada’s racebook.
2020 Alabama Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Swiss Skydiver Race Odds: 20-33
While male horses in North American racing tend to get most of the ink, Swiss Skydiver is one filly being touted as a superstar in the making.
Although her two-year-old season was a bit mediocre, she’s made a big move forward at age three, and earlier this year reeled off three consecutive graded-stakes wins. Last out she went up against males in the (G2) Blue Grass Stakes, finishing a solid second behind Art Collector, who is undefeated so far in 2020.
With that result she gained enough points to qualify for the Kentucky Derby, if her connections want to send her up against the boys again.
She’s a Kenny McPeek trainee, regular rider Tyler Gaffalione is again in the saddle.
2020 Alabama Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Spice Is Nice Race Odds: 5-1
Un-raced at age two, Spice Is Nice made her career debut in 2020 a winning one, and then followed that up with a second-place run in the (G2) Davona Dale Stakes at Gulfstream.
She was a disappointing fifth in her next try as second favourite in the (G2) Gulfstream Park Oaks, but gained a confidence-building win last out at the allowance level at Belmont Park. There she hit the first triple-digit Equibase speed figure of her career.
She’s trained by Todd Pletcher, John Velazquez will ride.
2020 Alabama Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Harvey’s Lil Goil Odds: 12-1
If you toss her effort two starts back in the (G3) Fantasy Stakes – where she simply did not show up to run – Harvey’s Lil Goil has won three straight, including last out in the (G3) Regret Stakes.
In that one she dug in late to hold off a strong favourite in deep stretch going 1 1/8 miles. As a daughter of 2015 Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner American Pharoah, there’s plenty of distance ability in her pedigree.
She’s trained by Bill Mott, while Junior Alvarado is tapped to ride.
2020 Alabama Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Bonny South Odds: 16-1
Another with a three-race win streak in her recent past, Bonny South capped that run with an win coming from off the pace in the (G2) Fair Grounds Oaks back in March. This was despite the fact the early split times were fairly slow, something that usually works against closers.
A four-month layoff was probably a factor in her losing some ground late when returning in the (G1) Ashland Stakes at Keeneland one month ago.
The trainer is Brad Cox, while Saratoga leading rider Irad Ortiz Jr. will be in the irons.
Here’s my 2020 Alabama Stakes Free Pick.
If she does nothing more than repeat her most recent efforts, Swiss Skydiver should win this by open lengths. The suspicion is the owners are very tempted to try her in the Derby, and this is a test of how she will handle the Derby distance of 1 1/4 miles.
There’s quite a bit of early speed here, with Swiss Skydiver and a couple others that want to go to the front, and that should set up for the others to come from off the pace in the stretch. I’ll put Harvey’s Lil Goil underneath Swiss Skydiver in the exacta, and use Bonny South on the bottom of a trifecta.
Full Field: Alabama Stakes Betting Odds
- Swiss Skydiver 20-33
- Spice Is Nice 5-1
- Crystal Ball 5-1
- Harvey’s Lil Goil 12-1
- Envoutante 16-1
- Bonny South 16-1
- Fire Coral 15-1
What do you think of our 2020 Alabama Stakes Race Odds & Predictions? Weigh in below with a comment. We welcome your feedback.
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