The Alabama – (Gl)

Purse $600.00 – For Fillies Three Years Old – 1 1/4 Miles – Dirt
Saratoga – August 22, 2026

The 23rd running of The Alabama brings together nine talented fillies, all looking to add a prestigious victory to their three-year-old résumés. The entire field will face the 1 1/4-mile distance on the dirt for the first time in what should be an intriguing test of stamina. Mb Stables has established himself as the leading owner in The Alabama over the past two decades with five victories, including three straight from 2022 through 2024. Wasted Away and jockey John Velazquez established a new stakes record back in 2024, stopping the clock in 2:00.83. She became the only horse since the race’s inception to break the 2:01 barrier before going on to win the Breeders’ Cup Distaff later that year. The stage is set for another exciting renewal, not to mention these runners are competing for a healthy $600.00 purse. Will an established star prevail or will a new contender emerge? Let’s take a deeper look into this field and see what each three-year-old filly brings into the Grade One Alabama!

1. Wicked Angelina – (The Sidley Stud, P. Lopez) This daughter of Techfluence Heat made headlines last year by winning the Grade One Del Mar Debutante in impressive fashion. She then tried two turns for the first time in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and closed from off the pace to get fifth. Wicked Angelina followed up that race with four consecutive runner-up finishes before turning in a strong third-place performance in the Kentucky Oaks. Connections changed things up in her latest start by entering this West Virginia-bred against older mares on the grass in the Beverly D. Making her turf debut, Wicked Angelina finished third in the four-horse field. A contender.

2. Face Plant – (TwinTowersRacing, A. Beschizza) Almost became a two-time Grade One winner last year as a two-year-old, missing by a length in The Spinaway and a head in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies. Face Plant hasn’t had the best beginning to 2026 with four starts and has only hit the board once. She ran an even second back in March against N1X company going two turns at Fair Grounds. Connections then tried to cut her back in distance, entering in the Eight Belles on Kentucky Oaks day. This filly settled in tenth place throughout the race and never passed a horse down the stretch. It’s clear that a step up is needed, but TwinTowersRacing must be confident Face Plant will get the distance.

3. Dont Take The Girl – (Big Jd Racing, Jam. Rodriguez) Started off her career on the free-track circuit, running around two turns on the main track. Dont Take The Girl eventually broke her maiden in her third start at Belterra Park by four lengths. It was actually against three-year-olds and upward, making it even more impressive. Big Jd Racing then came in and claimed this daughter of Malibu Moon for $5.00 in her first time running against winners back in June. She won that race with ease, making every pole a winning one by two lengths. Connections removed her shadow roll and added blinkers for her next start at Saratoga in an N1X. It was a big step up, but Dont Take The Girl scored by a nose. Step up is needed.

4. Fire Missle – (Mb Stables, M. Franco) Mb has done extremely well with this horse, racking up almost $250 in purse money after buying her at auction for $3.00. Fire Missle broke her maiden in the first start for her new barn by two lengths at Churchill Downs. Connections then tried getting this Ontario-bred on the Kentucky Oaks trail, but failed to get enough points to make the starting gate. She got back to the winner’s circle in early May after making every pole a winning one in an N1X. Fire Missle took on state-bred company two races back up at Woodbine going seven furlongs and won again. She comes out of the WO Oaks Stakes, running second at 1 ⅛-miles on the dirt.

5. West Coast Girls – (Diablo Diablo, R. Bejarano) Another deep closer who will be hoping for a quick early pace. West Coast Girls had a successful two-year-old campaign, winning the Untapable at Fair Grounds in just her third career start. She then ran back-to-back seconds against very formidable company closing from off the pace. One of those races included the Virginia Derby where she was the post-time favorite against the boys and lost by a head. However, her last couple of outings have been a bit disappointing. The daughter of Indian Summer comes out of the Grade One Acorn going 1 ⅛-miles. West Coast Girls was well within striking distance and failed to make an impression late.

6. Pineapple Puff – (Nakamura Stables, E J. Zayas) One of the more experienced fillies entered this year and is coming in here off back-to-back Grade One wins. Pineapple Puff has put together a bankroll of over $1,300 in thirteen career starts. She gathered up enough points to make the starting gate for the Kentucky Oaks and almost went wire-to-wire as a 46-1 longshot. This homebred for Nakamura Stables then shipped up to Saratoga for The Acorn, drawing an outside post. She went out to the lead again and never looked back to score by two lengths. Last time out, Pineapple Puff was favored in the CCA Oaks—showing a new dimension coming from off the pace to win by a head. My top pick.

7. Woman On The Moon – (Arindel, T. Gaffalione) Connections have transformed this filly from running on the lead to now a deep closer. Woman On The Moon had a breakthrough win back in April, winning The Gazelle by a head. She drew the rail in a twelve-horse field and closed seven lengths under jockey Jose Lezcano. That victory stamped her ticket to the Kentucky Oaks, however she failed to fire after drawing the widest in that full field of fourteen. Connections continued to run this daughter of Solar System at the top level and entered in the Grade One Acorn. She settled six lengths off the speed, but could only close into second behind the ultra-impressive Pineapple Puff. One to watch.

8. Deadmans Party – (Axeman, D. Moran) This filly has done most of her running around one turn and is seeking her first stakes win as a three-year-old. Deadmans Party has two victories in 2026, all coming against allowance company. She’s taken a liking to the seven-furlong distance and almost beat Fire Missle at Woodbine in the Fury Stakes. Last time out, this homebred for Axeman stretched out to two turns after seven months of sprinting. She drew the rail in a field of seven and closed from sixth to get second. Deadmans Party with jockey David Moran aboard are going to be hoping for a fast pace up front to close into down the stretch. I wouldn’t be surprised if this filly gets a piece of things in the final stages.

9. The Valley Remnant – (Winning Link Stables, K. Carmouche) Bought at auction for $25.01 in March after winning an N1X at Belterra Park. Connections entered this California-bred two weeks later in another allowance and just missed at the wire to get third. The Valley Remnant was entered in the Queen City Oaks a few starts later in her first attempt on taking at stakes fillies. She drew the rail in a field of nine and closed nicely down the stretch, but was only able to get fourth place by a length. This daughter of Residue comes out of the IND Oaks last month at 35-1 odds. She displayed her normal running style—falling short by two lengths at the wire. The Valley Remnant would need to step up to beat these.

– AJM

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES