Alabama will be stiff test for Size

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Size has come a long way in a short period of time.

Unraced until March of this year, Size, a 3-year-old daughter of First Samurai, has won three of her first four starts, including the Grade 3 Iowa Oaks. Her connections will find out where Size fits in the 3-year-old filly division when she runs in the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga on Saturday.

Bill Mott, who trains Size for Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider, had Size entered in last weekend’s Monmouth Oaks but scratched her. Outside of dual Grade 1 winner Untapable – who is not running in the Alabama – the 3-year-old filly division lacks depth.

“I’d agree,” Mott said. “Looked like there were reasons to give her a try. I wasn’t crazy about going to Monmouth with her. We shipped her here [from Belmont] last week and she’ll have a chance to train here a little bit.”

On Tuesday, Size worked a very good five furlongs in 1:00.36 over Saratoga’s main track. She got her final three furlongs in 36.40 seconds without urging by exercise rider Neil Poznansky.

“Excellent,” was how Mott described the work.

The biggest question for Size – and for all the fillies in the Alabama – is if she’ll be able to handle the 1 1/4 miles of the Alabama.

“If you had my head in a guillotine I’d say I wouldn’t be certain that she’d get a mile and a quarter,” Mott said. “The only thing I know is she seems to be quite game and doesn’t look like she’s got a lot of quit in her.”

Size, who will be ridden by Junior Alvarado, is one of three fillies Mott plans to run in the Alabama. Miss Besilu, a daughter of Medaglia d’Oro who brought $2.6 million as a yearling, and America, a daughter of A.P. Indy, will be his other two starters. Miss Besilu and America finished third and fourth, respectively, behind Stopchargingmaria in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks last out. Stopchargingmaria will likely be favored in the Alabama.

Others who were expected to be entered Wednesday include Fortune Pearl, Got Lucky, Joint Return, and Unbridled Forever.