Alabama Stakes is Salty's chance to shine

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Mark Casse had to have a smile on his face when he examined the field for Saturday’s Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga and did not see the name Abel Tasman among the nine 3-year-old fillies entered Wednesday for the prestigious 1 1/4-mile race.

“I think we can give her a run for the money, but it doesn’t hurt my feelings she’s not there,” Casse said Wednesday morning, hours before the Alabama field was drawn.

Since winning the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks on April 1, Salty has lost three consecutive races to Abel Tasman. Salty finished fifth behind her in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, second to her in the Grade 1 Acorn at Belmont Park, and third to her in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks here on July 23.

In the Kentucky Oaks, Casse chalked up his filly’s performance to a bad trip. In the Acorn, Casse credited Mike Smith with a “brilliant ride” aboard Abel Tasman. In the CCA Oaks, Salty leapt in the air at the break, and while that was compromising, Casse felt Salty still had a chance approaching the quarter pole.

“She ended up being very wide, but it wasn’t so much the wide that cost her,” Casse said. “When we turned for home, we were almost head-and-head for the lead, and they cut the corner and we kept going straight. It was like we didn’t corner very well, and it cost us a few lengths.”

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Salty has been ridden by Joel Rosario in her last five starts. But Rosario has opted to ride Unchained Melody, on whom he won the Grade 2 Mother Goose at Belmont on July 1. Casse said he and Gary Barber, who is part of the filly’s ownership group, selected Tyler Gaffalione to ride Salty.

“Gary and I have had numerous talks about Tyler,” Casse said. “We think he is the future star of riders.”

Though Abel Tasman was not entered in the Alabama, eight others were entered against Salty. Elate, beaten a head by Abel Tasman in the CCA Oaks, heads a group that includes her stablemate Lockdown; Unchained Melody; New Money Honey, a multiple Grade 1 winner on turf; Queen’s Plate winner Holy Helena; Black-Eyed Susan winner Actress; Delaware Oaks winner It Tiz Well; and Mopotism.

All except Holy Helena and New Money Honey will be attempting 1 1/4 miles for the first time. Holy Helena won at the distance over a synthetic surface. New Money Honey won her 1 1/4-mile race on turf and has yet to race on dirt.

“I don’t think that’s going to be a factor,” Casse said. “Everybody’s doing it. If anything, it may allow us to stay a little closer to the pace.”