Grace Hall running in the Alabama Stakes with the hope of becoming champion 3-year-old filly
The Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga is attracting a significant amount of attention as seven skillful runners are preparing to take on the 1 ¼ mile distance on 18th August, 2012, where the event will be renewed
for the 132nd time.
With the Larry Jones trained, Believe You Can, out of the running for this event, things are definitely looking better for the other sophomores who will be aiming to take home the money.
Grace Hall will be fighting to post yet another victory with rider, Javier Castellano, and will break from post position 3.
Chances are that the daughter of Empire Maker will excel on this track, because she claimed her only Grade 1 victory, the Spinaway Stakes in the 2011 Saratoga meeting.
Other than that, the Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables and The Elkstone Group owned runner has impressive credentials, since she claimed the Blue Hen Stakes at Delaware Park, and finished as a runner-up in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and
claimed the Grade 2 Gulfstream Oaks in March, 2012.
Foaled by Ezzoud mare Season's Greetings, the filly recently triumphed in the Grade 2 Delaware Oaks, where she defeated, Via Villaggio over 1 1/16 miles.
Trainer Tony Dutrow told the press that:
"There is a half-dozen fillies out there who have their name on the ballot right now, and with this field in the Alabama, the winner will have a bold statement toward that 3-year-old filly championship."
All the runners will carry even weight of 121 pounds, so no one has leverage over the others. In the past few years, the winner of this race has been titled champion 3-year-old filly. Proud Spell in 2008, Blind Luck won the title in 2010, and Royal
Delta won the title last year.
Not only is the winner looking at victory, but a shot at a prestigious title. Regarding the title of the champion three-year-old, trainer Tony Dutrow told the press:
“The history and the tradition are nothing new, and it's something you expect to continue for many years to come."
The filly seems to have everything working in her favour, but will have to stretch to take on the larger distance.
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