Nest, Secret Oath to renew rivalry in G1 Alabama
At 1h47, on August 20, 2022 • By SARATOGA
Sophomore filly division leaders Nest and Secret Oath will go head-to-head for the third time this year, and second time this meet, in Saturday’s 142nd running of the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama at Saratoga Race Course.
The prestigious 10-furlong event for sophomore fillies has been won by more than a dozen Hall of Fame fillies, including Miss Woodford [1883], Beldame [1904], Top Flight [1932], Tempted [1958], Gamely [1967], Shuvee [1969], Mom’s Command [1985], Go for Wand [1990],Open Mind [1989], Sky Beauty [1993], Heavenly Prize [1994], Silverbulletday [1999], and Royal Delta [2011].The Alabama honors prominent 19th century horse owner William Cottrell, who requested that the race be named after his home state of Alabama.
Both Nest and Secret Oath boast one victory over the other. After Secret Oath bested Nest in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on May 6 at Churchill Downs, the latter turned the tables on her foe in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks on July 23 at Saratoga.
Nest, owned by Repole Stables, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House, earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure, the highest for a 3-year-old filly this year, for her 12 1/4-length romp in the CCA Oaks for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. The astonishing score came following a run against the boys in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on June 11, finishing a game second to stablemate Mo Donegal.
“She ran super in the CCA Oaks and it seems like since she ran in the Kentucky Oaks, she improved physically,” Pletcher said. “She ran a great race and came out of that really well, put on weight and condition. She came back and ran even better in the CCA Oaks so hopefully she can continue trending upward.”
An Alabama victory would make Nest the 20th filly to sweep the CCA Oaks-Alabama double, something Pletcher previously did with Princess of Sylmar [2013] and Stopchargingmaria [2014].
