Spice Is Nice breezes for next week's Alabama Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Spice Is Nice, recent winner of a first-level allowance at Belmont Park, worked five furlongs in 1:01.70 over Saratoga’s main track in preparation for next Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Alabama Stakes.

Spice is Nice worked outside of One Eyed Jack, a 4-year-old gelding, and got her final quarter in 24.83 seconds while galloping out six furlongs in 1:15.09 and seven furlongs in 1:28.55.

“It was a good, steady breeze this morning, did it very easily, galloped out strongly,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “We’ve always felt like the further the better for her.”

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The Alabama, run at 1 1/4 miles, is a Win and You’re In race for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 7 at Keeneland. The field is expected to include Swiss Skydiver, a three-time graded stakes winner who most recently finished second against the boys in the Blue Grass. Also expected are Bonny South, the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks winner; Crystal Ball, the Coaching Club American Oaks runner-up; Envoutante, third in the Grade 1 Ashland; Harvey’s Lil Goil, winner of the Grade 3 Regret on turf; and Wild Love, a 11 1/4-length maiden winner at Churchill Downs in June.