Mott, Harvey's Lil Goil go for the brass ring in Alabama

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Harvey’s Lil Goil is a stakes winner on turf and dirt. Some speed figures have her faster on turf, others dirt.

Naturally, trainer Bill Mott has two options this weekend in which to run Harvey’s Lil Goil – Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Alabama on dirt, or Sunday’s $500,000 Saratoga Oaks Invitational, an ungraded race, on turf.

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Mott has opted for the more prestigious Alabama, one of the few remaining lucrative distance races on dirt restricted to 3-year-old fillies this year.

“It’s a Grade 1, she can always go back to the turf,” Mott said Monday.

The fall of the year often brings ample turf opportunities for 3-year-old fillies including, potentially, the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks at Belmont Park, and definitely the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland. After the Alabama, the biggest dirt race restricted to 3-year-old fillies is the Kentucky Oaks on Sept. 4 at Churchill Downs.

Harvey’s Lil Goil, a daughter of American Pharoah, is 2 for 3 on dirt, including a blowout 7 1/2-length victory in the Busanda Stakes on Feb. 2 at Aqueduct. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, there were limited options for Harvey’s Lil Goil. Mott sent her to Oaklawn on May 1 for the Grade 3 Fantasy, and she finished 11th, 21 3/4 lengths behind winner Swiss Skydiver, who will likely go favored in the Alabama.

“I don’t know what that race means,” Mott said. “They mugged her around the first turn. If you hadn’t seen her race at Aqueduct, I suppose you’d put her on turf.”

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On June 27, Mott put Harvey’s Lil Goil on turf for the Grade 3 Regret at Churchill Downs, and she won by a head in a 13-horse field. She earned a career-best 90 Beyer Speed Figure.

Mott said other speed figures have her best race the Busanda on dirt.

Harvey’s Lil Goil is out of the unraced dam Gloria S, whose dam, Arch’s Gal Edith, is a half-sister to 2012 Kentucky Derby winner I’ll Have Another.

On Monday, Harvey’s Lil Goil worked a half-mile in 49.18 seconds over the Oklahoma training track, getting her final quarter in 24.20.

Junior Alvarado will ride Harvey’s Lil Goil. Entries for the Alabama, this year designated as a Win and You’re In race for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 7 at Keeneland, were to close Wednesday. Others expected to run, with riders, are Bonny South (Irad Ortiz Jr.), Crystal Ball (Javier Castellano), Envoutante (Jose Ortiz), First Coral (Ricardo Santana Jr.), Spice Is Nice (John Velazquez), and Swiss Skydiver (Tyler Gaffalione).