Alabama

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Eight sophomore fillies will travel the demanding distance of 1 1/4 miles at
Saratoga on Saturday in the $600,000 Alabama S. (G1). This unique race is a true
test of class and stamina, as running 10 furlongs over this oval is a grueling
task.

We’ve always liked FUNNY MOON (Malibu Moon), and we’re expecting a
career-best from the Christophe Clement trainee on this day. A rallying winner
of the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) last out, the developing Kentucky-bred
has decent tactical speed, is bred to handle this trip and gets leading rider
Alan Garcia to boot. It should not be overlooked that Funny Moon was making her
two-turn debut in the Coaching Club, and big improvement is expected with a
logical trip. We think that the lass has star potential.

CASANOVA MOVE (Langfuhr), a close fourth in the Coaching Club in her debut for
Todd Pletcher, is bred top and bottom to endure this distance as well as any
runner in the field, so we’ll tab the dark bay for an exacta filler at a good
price. The one-time winner seemingly always settles for a minor award and she
might be a bit slow for most fields, but this 1 1/4-mile distance often lessens the gap
between animals and she should prosper from it. The presence of Jose Lezcano,
instead of last-out pilot John Velazquez, should enhance the price.

Delaware Oaks (G2) romper CARELESS JEWEL (Tapit) looked like a machine in her
dirt debut last out, posting a 110 BRIS Speed number while dusting a decent
group by 7 1/4 lengths. The budding star has won three straight in facile fashion
and we have no reason to believe that she won’t be a big factor yet again for
Josie Carroll. The gray filly has excellent early speed, a key in this race, and
if they let her lope along early she might be very hard to reel in beneath
Robert Landry.

Canadian invader MILWAUKEE APPEAL (Milwaukee Brew) has been a top performer
in her two campaigns to date and has to be viewed as a win threat in this field.
Third in the Queen’s Plate S. and a close second in the Prince of Wales S. (her
dirt debut) in her last pair, the filly is adept at handling a route of ground
and has more bottom to her than anything in the field. We are very concerned,
however, about the fact that the three-time stakes heroine is drawn wide in here
and could be giving ground to her foes with every stride. The switch to jockey
Velazquez should be a good one.

WYNNING RIDE (Candy Ride [Arg]) led very late before getting caught in the
Coaching Club last out for Bob Baffert in her first try on the main oval. The
chestnut filly is clearly better at route racing and seems to enjoy the dirt.
While we don’t like her chances at winning, we see no reason why she
can’t duplicate her third-place effort in this affair beneath Kent Desormeaux. DON’T FORGET GIL (Kafwain) endured traffic issues when second in the Coaching
Club, and the hard-trying Mark Henning trainee is an exotics threat in this
engagement. The Empire State-bred should be in the mix early, and if she can
save ground under Rajiv Maragh, the filly should finish well.

BE FAIR (Exchange Rate) rolled home in the off-the-turf Lake George S. (G3) last
out for D. Wayne Lukas, and has proven an affinity for this oval with that win,
but we have our reservations about backing her at this trip against this
caliber of opponent. The talented Florida-bred will have to beat us in this
field. SWEET AND FLAWLESS (Unbridled’s Song) was a closing second at big odds in the
Arlington Oaks (G3) last out and will ship in from the Midwest for conditioner
Eric Reed. The dark bay filly has some ability and is in a nice improving
pattern, but she’s a cut below on the class meter and would be a surprise to be
in the top three at the finish.