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Swiss Skydiver faces fillies again in Alabama

Swiss Skydiver faces fillies again in Alabama 
By the NY Hot List Staff // Thursday, August 13, 2020


One thing the COVID-19 pandemic has not changed is the inherent handicapping riddle of the Alabama Stakes. The famed test for 3-year-old fillies will be contested for the 140th time Saturday, and once again the key handicapping factor will be deciding which of the seven fillies is best equipped to handle the 1 ¼ miles, a distance they will be covering for the first – and probably last – time in their career. With 1 1/8 miles as far as anyone in the field has raced, how they handle the 10th and final furlong will play a huge role in the outcome. Multiple graded stakes winner Swiss Skydiver, who was second against colts in the Blue Grass Stakes, is a deserving favorite, but she will need to conserve some of her sharp early speed if she hopes to reach the finish line first in the demanding mile-and-a-quarter test.

Here’s the Hot List picks for the Alabama Stakes:

The $500,000 Alabama Stakes, Saratoga, Saturday, Race 9.

(6) Harvey’s Lil Goil goes out for trainer Bill Mott who has won the Alabama three times in the past. This daughter of American Pharoah has stakes wins on the turf and dirt which is a trick that Mott pulls off regularly. Her most recent start was a win on the grass in the Regret (G3) at Churchill Downs. She should get a speedy set-up for her stalking move to upset the heavy favorite. (2) Spice is Nice was a $1.05 million yearling purchase who flashed her talent during the winter at Gulfstream Park. Red hot trainer Todd Pletcher brought her back with an allowance victory at Belmont Park after a tough race in Florida in March. A big effort is expected. (1) Envoutante is the other horse from the barn of Kenny McPeek. She has the look of a 3-year-old that is finding her best form after running third in the Ashland (G3). (5) Swiss Skydiver will be a heavy favorite and rightfully so. She dominated three big races in this division and then was second against the boys in the Blue Grass (G2) behind the number two rated Kentucky Derby horse. She is going to face a stout challenge on the front end from Crystal Ball and that combined with the rigors of her last four races may make her vulnerable to the late runners.

Analysis of the other New York Hot List races from the Alabama Day card, including the Special Saturday Pick 3, is available free of charge at this website.