3-Year-Old Fillies / Alabama
 

If the stars want to align, the Alabama could legitimately be the race of the meet at Saratoga.

Royal Delta
Buster's Ready
Inglorious
St. John's River
It's Tricky
Zazu (does she come East if she wants Eclipse consideration?)
Plum Pretty

...obviously a lot of stars have to align, but the fillies are least around making headlines, unlike their laid-up counterparts.

It would be nice to see that happen. Or, as Meatloaf didn't sing, 4.33 out of 7 ain't bad.

The real cool thing about old time racing - is that in a lot of instances, such match-ups of all the top talent would happen - and even sometimes happen under pretty harsh handicap conditions when older horses are involved.

You don't find many old time horses aged 4 and up with nice pretty looking forms because of it. Different story for 2yo and 3yo's.

What's the deal with St. Johns River? I see she's been working, anyone know when they are planning on running her again?

Delaware Oaks, July 9th

http://www.drf.com/news/louisiana-do...-ship-delaware

I don't think you can leave off Joyful Victory out of there just yet, either. Her reputation rightfully has deflated, but a 4th and a 2nd in Grade 1 races should be enough to warrant a start in the Alabama. Her steady running style may be conducive to the 10f, too.

I'm also holding out for a rare Test-Alabama attempt from Turbulent Descent, who's connections are being a little too cute with the "sprint only" campaign. She owns a pair of Grade 1 victories around two turns and has a pedigree geared to routing. She may ultimately be a late-running sprinter, but these are unsteady, incosistent 3yos. She might have an advantage in terms of maturity over the rest and I doubt would be humiliated in the Alabama if she showed up.

Plum Pretty has a fever, I don't think she's coming.

Zazu is headed to the Alabama...

http://www.drf.com/news/hollywood-oa...headed-alabama

I like the "Blind Luck-like schedule" quote, followed quickly by the "not sufficient time" to make the Delaware Oaks quote.

Guess it won't be so Blind Luck-like after all.

Hopefully Sadler doesn't make flight arrangements with the people who handled Twirling Candy's trip to the Met Mile.

As for the Baffert garbage at the end of that article, the Alabama might fit, but I'm guessing Monmouth and Hoosier Parks will be more enticing.

She deserves a shot, sure, but I just don't think she's much horse... relative to the others anyway. She was way over-bet on Saturday.

She seems interesting at 10f to me, especially since she'll be abandoned in the wagering most likely. I wonder if, before that, Larry Jones will wheel her right back in the Delaware Oaks to keep her close at home and to get some class relief avoiding the CCA Oaks.

This crop of 3yo fillies has taken turns beating each other thus far. The best of them, Turbulent Descent (distance, surface) and Royal Delta (soundness, consistency) have huge question marks.

The 10f distance might be a huge dividing line amongst the group.