Saratoga: Tell a Great Story to scratch from Alabama

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Tell a Great Story will be scratched out of Saturday’s Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga after breaking out in hives Friday morning, according to a press release on the website of Sagamore Farm, which owns the 3-year-old filly.

“Tell a Great Story broke out in hives this morning at Saratoga, where she has been since Monday and had been doing well,” the statement read. “Since she was to race [Saturday], we could not medicate her, and instead tried several measures, including changing out her bedding, in the hopes the hives would dissipate. Unfortunately, the hives have gotten worse, so we will treat her and she will be scratched from the Alabama Stakes at Saratoga this weekend.

“This is very disappointing for the entire Sagamore Racing team after putting in so much hard work over the past few months to get us to this point. We were very excited about the opportunity to have our homebred filly in such a prestigious race.”

Tell a Great Story, trained by Ignacio Correas IV, won the Go for Wand Stakes at Delaware Park in June before finishing third with a wide trip in the Grade 2 Delaware Oaks on July 13.

The scratch of Tell a Great Story leaves a field of five for the Alabama, topped by Princess of Sylmar, the Kentucky Oaks and Coaching Club American Oaks winner.