Cox, Casse hold strongest hands in Alabama

The two previous times the three-year-old fillies Good Cheer and La Cara met on the racetrack, one proved victorious while the other was not competitive. And both races were held on off tracks.

A better read on who is better might emerge in the $600,000 Alabama (G1) at Saratoga on Saturday, an afternoon forecasted to have abundant sunshine, and thus a fast track.

Good Cheer improved her career mark to 7-for-7 when she splashed to victory in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), 13 lengths clear of Ashland (G1) winner La Cara. However, Good Cheer's hold on division laurels took a hit a month later in the Acorn (G1), when La Cara made all to win by three lengths while Good Cheer struggled home fifth.

"She was perfect until the Acorn, and we can't really come up with an excuse – maybe the racetrack, I guess, but you could tell she wasn't traveling well throughout the race, so we'll give her one more shot here going a mile and a quarter," trainer Brad Cox said. "She should like it, and we've given her plenty of time."

La Cara was an intended starter in last month's Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) but was forced to scratch after a quarantine for suspected strangles was placed on the barn she was stabled in.

"I'm concerned about [the layoff] as I like to have my horses in a race pattern and we got out of it," trainer Mark Casse said. "Now, we are not only out of that pattern, but now we're going the farthest she's ever went. If I didn't tell you I was a little concerned about it, then I wouldn't be telling you the truth."

Casse will also be represented in the Alabama by star turf performer Nitrogen. Although upset by a nose in the Belmont Oaks (G1) last out, the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro freaked by 17 lengths in the off-the-turf Wonder Again (G3) two back, albeit against two rivals.

"I would have said that I was concerned that maybe she just liked the slop, but she's trained so well on the dirt the last couple breezes that I really don't have much of a concern," Casse said.

The Cox-trained Margie's Intention won the Black-Eyed Susan (G2) over a sloppy Pimlico strip in May and exits a second-place effort in the Delaware Oaks (G3). Returning rival Kinzie Queen placed behind Margie's Intention in both races.

The small Alabama field is rounded out by the Team Valor-owned Queen Azteca, who captured the UAE Oaks (G3) while wintering in Dubai. She arrives for Saratoga's historic race via an unusual route, having won one of two interim starts in Sweden.

Also on Saturday is the $150,000 Skidmore S., a 5 1/2-furlong turf dash for two-year-olds. Sandal's Song is the likely favorite over fellow George Weaver trainee Tough Critic, both of whom competed at Royal Ascot in June.

Winner on debut in the Royal Palm Juvenile at Gulfstream Park, Sandal's Song was credible third in the Norfolk (G2) at Ascot behind Charles Darwin and next-out stakes winner Wise Approach. Tough Critic, a Keeneland graduate, did not fare as well in England, finishing 11th of 23 in the Windsor Castle S.

The Skidmore field also includes a pair of first-time starters, Schwarzenegger and Gypsy Art, from the barn of Wesley Ward.