How to Watch the 2026 Alabama Stakes Schedule, Date, Field Odds, and Expert Analysis

 

Horse racing enthusiasts and sports bettors across the globe can tune in to capture every second of the 146th running of the Alabama Stakes live through BUSR. As an industry-leading online racebook, BUSR delivers crystal-clear high-definition video feeds directly to your desktop, smartphone, or tablet. Registered account holders gain instant access to real-time simulcast video streams, late-breaking track updates, and full race replays without requiring expensive cable television packages.

When you open a new wagering account at BUSR, you unlock direct access to Saratoga’s full race card along with high-definition streaming covering major tracks across North America. BUSR combines live racing streams with an intuitive wagering interface, allowing players to watch the action unfolding live in real time while tracking tote board changes on a single screen. New members can claim a $1,000 welcome bonus, first-deposit bonuses, and daily horse racing cash rebates. Ensure your account carries an active balance prior to post time so you can watch every stretch duel without interruption.

 

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Complete 2026 Alabama Stakes Schedule and Date Information

 

The 2026 edition of the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes takes place on Saturday, August 22, 2026. Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York, serves as the historic venue for this $600,000 classic event for three-year-old fillies. Official organizers have placed the Alabama Stakes as Race 11 on Saturday’s 12-race card, with an official post time scheduled for 6:42 PM Eastern Time.

Gates at Saratoga Race Course open early at 11:00 AM Eastern Time, giving track attendees and online viewers plenty of time to review early paddock walks and early afternoon races. First race post time begins at 1:05 PM Eastern Time, building momentum toward the late-afternoon stakes features. Bettors should monitor the live tote board closely as post time approaches to secure favorable Alabama Stakes odds before the gate doors spring open for this ten-furlong marathon.

 

Expected Weather Forecast at Saratoga Race Course

 

Weather conditions play a crucial role in track maintenance and surface speed at Saratoga Race Course during late August. Meteorologists project pleasant summer conditions for Saturday in Saratoga Springs, with afternoon temperatures topping out near 82 degrees Fahrenheit under partly cloudy skies. Humidity levels remain comfortable at approximately 50%, while gentle winds blow from the northwest at 6 to 10 miles per hour.

Track officials expect a fast dirt track for the entire Saturday program, presenting ideal racing conditions for the classic 1 1/4-mile distance. A fast track allows front-runners and pressers to establish consistent fractional timing without battling soft or muddy footing. Handicappers evaluating current Alabama Stakes odds should note that these dry conditions favor fillies with proven speed figures on fast dirt surfaces over long distances.

 

Saratoga Racecard Analysis for the Weekend

 

Saturday’s racing program at Saratoga features a stacked 12-race card loaded with stakes quality from top to bottom. Beyond the marquee Alabama Stakes, racing fans will enjoy the 38th running of the Grade 2 Ballston Spa Stakes on the inner turf course. This high-caliber undercard creates massive multi-race wagering pools, including guaranteed Pick 4, Pick 5, and Pick 6 sequences that terminate in the afternoon’s featured events.

Track trends during the mid-August Saratoga meet highlight a fair main track surface that rewards tactical speed while still allowing ground-saving closers to contend late. Jockeys who establish early positioning inside the first half-mile frequently hold strong advantages coming off the final turn. Integrating these track dynamics into your overall Alabama Stakes betting strategy will help you build smarter horizontal and vertical wagering tickets throughout the afternoon.

 

Official 2026 Alabama Stakes Odds and Field Overview

 

The official field for the 2026 Alabama Stakes brings together six exceptional three-year-old fillies set to navigate the grueling 10-furlong main track distance. Hall of Fame trainers and champion jockeys headline the lineup, creating sharp wagering lines across the board. Oddsmakers at BUSR have set the morning line with a strong odds-on favorite alongside intriguing value opportunities throughout the field.

 

#HorseJockeyTrainerOdds
1Nycon (KY)D DavisD Beckman20/1
2Ati Girl (KY)J R VelazquezW I Mott10/1
3Measure (KY)F PratM E Casse6/1
4My Gun's Loaded (KY)M FrancoC C Brown3/1
5A. P.'s Girl (KY)T GaffalioneP Eurton12/1
6Counting Stars (KY)I Ortiz, Jr.M E Casse1/2
 

 

Smart handicappers closely track shifts in the Alabama Stakes odds as early betting action flows into the wagering pools. While Counting Stars commands heavy attention at 1/2, secondary contenders like My Gun’s Loaded (3/1) and Measure (6/1) offer attractive prices on exactas and trifectas. Evaluating these opening lines on BUSR helps savvy players spot where oddsmakers may have underpriced improving runners.

 

Alabama Stakes Contender Analysis

 

Nycon (Post 1, Morning Line 20/1)

Trainer D Beckman sends out Nycon from the innermost post position under jockey Dylan Davis. Carrying 122 pounds, this Kentucky-bred filly enters as the longest shot on the morning board. Nycon possesses late-closing stamina, but her speed figures sit well below the top contenders in this lineup. Saving ground along the rail remains her best path toward cracking the superfecta payout, though her current Alabama Stakes odds reflect the steep class jump she faces here.

 

Ati Girl (Post 2, Morning Line 10/1)

Hall of Fame trainer William I. Mott saddles Ati Girl, with legendary jockey John R. Velazquez taking the reins. Velazquez knows Saratoga better than almost any rider in history, which adds immediate tactical value to any serious Alabama Stakes betting slip. Ati Girl showed promising stamina in her previous outings and possesses the pedigree to handle 10 furlongs on dirt. Bettors looking for a classy underneath horse in exotic wagers should monitor Ati Girl as an essential addition on BUSR.

 

Measure (Post 3, Morning Line 6/1)

Dual-hall-of-fame trainer Mark E. Casse equips Measure with top jockey Flavien Prat for this classic test. Measure comes off a hard-fought third-place finish behind stablemate Counting Stars in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks on July 25, earning a career-best 94 Equibase Speed Figure. Prat’s patient riding style matches Measure’s late-closing tendencies perfectly. Casse won this exact race in 2025 with Nitrogen, and Measure has every chance to outperform her 6/1 pricing if the front-runners set an overly aggressive early pace.

 

My Gun’s Loaded (Post 4, Morning Line 3/1)

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown targets his third career Alabama Stakes victory with My Gun’s Loaded. Driven by jockey Manuel Franco, this chestnut filly by 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner enters undefeated in two Saratoga starts this season, including an impressive three-length allowance victory on July 24. Step-up class tests always challenge young horses, but her sharp progression makes her the primary challenger to the favorite. Comparing available Alabama Stakes odds across top markets reveals consistent backing for this rising star.

 

A. P.’s Girl (Post 5, Morning Line 12/1)

Trainer Peter Eurton brings West Coast contender A. P.’s Girl to the Spa, enlisting leading rider Tyler Gaffalione for the mount. A. P.’s Girl displays consistent tactical speed, allowing Gaffalione to carve out an advantageous stalking trip just off the early leaders. While her speed figures rank slightly behind the top two wagering choices, her classic pedigree suggests she will appreciate extending out to ten furlongs. She represents a legitimate longshot pick for players building deep trifecta tickets on BUSR.

 

Counting Stars (Post 6, Morning Line 1/2)

Mark Casse saddles the undisputed headline act of the 2026 Alabama Stakes in Counting Stars. Ridden by five-time Eclipse Award winner Irad Ortiz Jr., Counting Stars dominated the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks by 6 3/4 lengths over this track on July 25. She owns the highest speed figures in the field and cruises effortlessly. Drawing the outside post in a six-horse field gives Ortiz complete control over the race shape, justifying her status as the heavy favorite in the Alabama Stakes odds.

 

Historic Past Winners of the Alabama Stakes

 

Inaugurated in 1872, the Alabama Stakes stands as the oldest continuously run stakes event for three-year-old fillies in North America. Named in honor of prominent turfman William Cottrell of Mobile, Alabama, the race has earned legendary status as the premier distance test for female Thoroughbreds. Winning the Alabama Stakes frequently secures Champion Three-Year-Old Filly honors at the annual Eclipse Awards.

Recent history features an elite collection of champion fillies who dominated the Saratoga dirt before achieving international racing glory:

  • 2025: Nitrogen (Jockey: Jose Ortiz | Trainer: Mark E. Casse)
  • 2024: Power Squeeze (Jockey: Javier Castellano | Trainer: Jorge Delgado)
  • 2023: Randomized (Jockey: Joel Rosario | Trainer: Chad Brown)
  • 2022: Nest (Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr. | Trainer: Todd Pletcher)
  • 2021: Malathaat (Jockey: John R. Velazquez | Trainer: Todd Pletcher)
  • 2020: Swiss Skydiver (Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione | Trainer: Kenneth McPeek)

These legendary winners proved they could conquer the demanding 10-furlong distance, setting a gold standard the 2026 field now strives to emulate.

 

Expert Analysis, Betting Strategies, and Top Picks

 

Analyzing the tactical speed in this six-horse lineup reveals a moderate projected pace. Counting Stars possesses natural speed, but jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. can easily track just off A. P.’s Girl or My Gun’s Loaded if either chooses to press early. Because Counting Stars holds such a commanding speed figure advantage, finding value in the win pool requires structured exotic wagering rather than straight win bets on the favorite.

For top horizontal and vertical tickets, pair Counting Stars on top of Measure and My Gun’s Loaded in exactas and trifectas. Measure (6/1) offers excellent value to finish second or third, as her closing running style benefits directly from the grueling 1 1/4-mile distance. BUSR delivers superior market value for your Alabama Stakes betting portfolio, especially when constructing complex exacta and trifecta combinations. If you want to bet on Alabama Stakes action with maximum return, consider a straight Exacta wheel: Counting Stars over Measure, My Gun’s Loaded, and Ati Girl.

Another high-reward strategy is to use multi-race wagers like the Late Pick 4 and Pick 5 on BUSR. Using Counting Stars as a single in the Alabama Stakes leg enables bettors to spread deeper in earlier, more chaotic races on the Saratoga card. Securing competitive Alabama Stakes odds through BUSR ensures you receive the highest possible payout when your vertical exotic combinations hit.

 

How to Sign Up and Bet on Alabama Stakes Online Today at BUSR

 

Placing your wagers on the 2026 Alabama Stakes online is simple, secure, and highly rewarding when you register with BUSR. As a world-class online sportsbook and racebook, BUSR offers an instant sign-up process that allows you to start betting within minutes from your mobile phone, tablet, or desktop computer. Bettors who choose to bet on Alabama Stakes races through BUSR receive exclusive cash rewards, quick payouts, and continuous rebates on all exotic wagers.

Follow these simple steps to set up your account and bet on Alabama Stakes runners today:

  1. Visit the Official BUSR Website: Navigate to BUSR.ag in your browser or open the BUSR mobile racing application.
  2. Complete Account Registration: Click the “Join Now” button and enter basic details including your name, email address, date of birth, and phone number.
  3. Claim Your Exclusive Sign-Up Bonus: Enter the promotional code during sign-up to claim a generous first-deposit bonus up to $1,000.
  4. Fund Your Account: Select your preferred payment method—including Bitcoin, cryptocurrency, Visa, Mastercard, or wire transfer—to fund your account instantly.
  5. Place Your Wagers: Navigate to the Saratoga Race Course menu in the BUSR racebook, select Race 11, choose your bets, and lock in your favorite Alabama Stakes odds before post time at 6:42 PM Eastern.

BUSR stands as the ultimate destination for Alabama Stakes betting with top industry payouts. When you bet on Alabama Stakes contenders with BUSR, you gain access to high-definition video streaming, real-time odds updates, and daily cashback rebates that optimize your total bankroll.

 

Bet on Saratoga Action Today

 

Saratoga Race Course promises high-stakes excitement this Saturday as six exceptional fillies clash in the 146th running of the Alabama Stakes. Whether you back the dominant favorite Counting Stars or hunt big exotic payouts with tough closers like Measure and My Gun’s Loaded, this 10-furlong classic offers unmatched wagering potential. Do not sit on the sidelines for Saratoga’s biggest summer filly race—sign up with BUSR today, claim your $1,000 deposit bonus, and bet on Alabama Stakes action live before the gates spring open.

 

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