Stopchargingmaria is seeking a second straight Grade 1 win in Saturday's Alabama (NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography)

Nine sophomores fillies have been entered in Saturday's Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama at Saratoga, but Stopchargingmaria is the likely favorite off a five-length romp in the Coaching Club American Oaks last out.

The Todd Pletcher trainee dropped her season opener at Gulfstream Park in the Davona Dale, and could only manage fourth in the Fantasy at Oaklawn Park two weeks later. It wasn't long, though, before the Tale of the Cat filly showed her true colors when rallying for a neck victory in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico, her first win since a neck score in the Demoiselle in her juvenile finale.

Stopchargingmaria was given a two-month break and returned better than ever in the CCA Oaks last out, powering to an easy five-length score under jockey Javier Castellano. That rider will be in Chicago on Saturday to compete in the International Festival of Racing at Arlington, leaving jockey John Velazquez to pick up the mount aboard the Kentucky-bred miss.

"I think the (CCA Oaks) was her best performance to date," Pletcher asserted. "She seemed be training well leading into that, and we've seen more of the same. We're pleased with the way she ran and with the way she has come out of it. Everything has gone according to schedule."

Like her eight opponents, Stopchargingmaria will be trying 1 1/4 miles for the first time on Saturday.

Joint Return has captured four of her seven races this season, including the Busher over the winter (NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography)

Joint Return has come up short against both Stopchargingmaria and Fortune Pearl this season, but could turn the tables with the addition of blinkers Saturday. The dark bay daughter of Include broke her maiden last November and continued her winning ways into the New Year by taking a Parx allowance on January 1 and the Busher at Aqueduct one month later.

Following a fifth-place effort in the Gulfstream Park Oaks and a win in the Calder Oaks, Joint Return rallied for fourth in the Black-Eyed Susan. The John Servis trainee returned to the winner's circle in Delaware Park's Our Mims and continued her improvement in graded contests by finishing second in the Delaware Oaks last out. Kendrick Carmouche has been in the saddle for all but one of Joint Return's races and retains the mount for the Alabama.

Unbridled Forever, Miss Besilu and America were no match for Stopchargingmaria in the CCA Oaks and will have to jump up in a big way to challenge her here. Of the three, the Dallas Stewart-trained Unbridled Forever probably has the best chance after running third in the Fair Grounds Oaks, Kentucky Oaks and Acorn prior to her CCA Oaks try.

"She came out of the race great and I am pleased with her," Stewart said of Unbridled Forever. "She has gained weight and is doing really well. The added distance should help her."

Minorette conquered the Belmont Oaks Invitational in her third U.S. start (NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography)

The stakes action at Saratoga on Saturday kicks off in the 3RD race when six three-year-old fillies line-up in the Grade 2, $300,000 Lake Placid going nine furlongs on the inner turf. However, if the race remains on the grass only five will head to the gate as My Miss Sophia is listed as a main-track only entrant.

That Unbridled's Song filly would be the top contender if the race is moved to the dirt after posting a 7 1/4-length decision in the Gazelle and a runner-up effort in the Kentucky Oaks.

If the race stays on turf, Brown pupil Minorette will attempt to further enhance her resume following a two-length score in the Belmont Oaks Invitational. Fellow Brown trainee Xcellence, third in both the French One Thousand Guineas and French Oaks, was fourth in that contest in her U.S. debut after being purchased privately by owner Martin Schwartz.

"I saw her training prior to the Belmont Oaks and she looked good," Brown said of Xcellence. "She's a great addition to the barn. She's entering the race in good shape and has been training very well. I think the Lake Placid is a good fit for her."

The regally bred Crown Queen, a half-sister to champion mare Royal Delta who fetched $1.6 million as a Keeneland November yearling, will make her stakes bow in the Lake Placid on Saturday for Mott. Great expectations have always surrounded the daughter of Smart Strike, but she failed to live up to the hype in her two-year-old season, finishing the year with a pair of third-place finishes. The story changed dramatically this year, as Crown Queen broke her maiden in her season opener on June 15 at Belmont before taking a 1 3/16-mile allowance by four lengths at the Spa on July 20.