Good Cheer, La Cara Meet Again in G1 Alabama

Good Cheer wins the Kentucky Oaks (G1) May 2 at Churchill Downs (Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire)

By Amber Joyce

A compact yet talented field of six sophomore fillies will line up in Saturday’s historic $600,000 Alabama (G1), to be contested at the classic 1 ¼-mile distance over the main track at Saratoga. Trainers Brad Cox and Mark Casse will each send out a pair of runners, topped by Godolphin’s Kentucky Oaks (G1) victress Good Cheer and Tracy Farmer’s Acorn (G1) winner La Cara.

The Rundown

#1 Margie’s Intention (8/1) is rightfully “the other” Brad Cox trainee in the Alabama but does bear solid credentials, having proven her class with a 1 ¾-length score in the Black-Eyed Susan (G2) May 16 at Pimlico. A Louisiana-bred by Honor A. P., she kicked off her career with five starts versus state-bred foes at Fair Grounds for trainer Brendan Walsh, including two wins in maiden and allowance company and two second-place efforts against stakes rivals. Fresh off a last-to-second effort in the 1 1/16-mile Delaware Oaks (G3) three lengths behind well-regarded Fondly, Margie’s Intention must prove that she belongs with the very best of her division. She regains the services of top jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., who was aboard for her placing in the Crescent City Oaks back in March. WinStar Farm and Tom Mueller share ownership.

#2 Good Cheer (8/5) seeks a rebound after running a dull fifth in the June 6 Acorn behind returning rival La Cara, tarnishing a flawless 7-for-7 resume which included four consecutive graded stakes scores, culminating in an authoritative Kentucky Oaks score. A return to her previous form will put the Godolphin homebred very much in contention in the Alabama, the question marks being can she return to her previous form after her Acorn disappointment and can she handle a mile-and-a-quarter, the longest distance she’s ever covered. A month-long break from the worktab and a two-month layoff from the races could aid her chances, and if her pedigree (by Medaglia d’Oro, out of Grade 1-winning Street Sense mare Wedding Toast) and strong finish in the Oaks are any indicator, the additional quarter mile should be no issue. Luis Saez has been aboard for all but one of her outings and returns to the saddle once again.

#3 Kinzie Queen (15/1) broke her maiden on debut for a $50,000 tag in November at Churchill Downs, where she was claimed from the Steve Asmussen barn and moved to the care of Greg Compton. Since entering Compton’s care–who co-owns the filly alongside John Holleman–Kinzie Queen holds a record of 9:1-2-4 which includes two third-place efforts right behind Margie’s Intention in the Black-Eyed Susan and Delaware Oaks. The McKinzie filly will face her biggest test yet and appears to be a good cut below most of this field. Junior Alvarado will ride. 

#4 Nitrogen (9/5) was Canada’s Champion two-year-old filly of 2024 despite being winless in three starts, but those included third-place showings in the Natalma (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1). Nitrogen holds two similarities to Good Cheer – both are sired by Medaglia d’Oro and both snapped a win streak in their last start. Nitrogen suffered her first defeat since breaking her maiden in the Ginger Brew in January, getting nailed at the wire as the favorite in the Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1) July 5 at Saratoga. Her five-race win streak culminated in the off-the-turf Wonder Again (G3), where she devastated her competition by 17 lengths when trying dirt for the first time. Nitrogen will look to prove that her turf brilliance truly can translate to dirt and that her Wonder Again romp–on a sloppy track beating only two other rivals–was no fluke. Mark Casse trains for D. J. Stable LLC. Jose Ortiz retains the mount.

#5 Queen Azteca (12/1) was acquired by Team Valor International in July with sights set on a top-level campaign stateside after finishing second in the Swedish Derby versus the boys. While the Sharp Azteca filly faces the challenge of running against America’s best sophomore fillies and adjusting to a new circuit, she does hold an advantage in that she is the only Alabama runner to have won farther than the carded mile-and-a-quarter. She conquered the 1 3/16-mile UAE Oaks (G3) in Dubai in February and won a 1 ⅜-mile prep in June for the mile-and-a-half Swedish Derby. In the Derby itself, Queen Azteca raced wide off-the-pace and briefly stole the lead turning for home before being run down by eventual winner Celtic Lullaby. After the Alabama, Rodolphe Brisset will take over conditioning duties from Champion Scandinavian trainer Niels Petersen. Joel Rosario will be in the saddle for the first time. 

#6 La Cara (5/2) avenged a ninth-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks and got the best of Good Cheer in the Acorn (G1), gliding to an easy three-length victory in 1 ⅛-mile affair. La Cara, by 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, is the only filly in her division with more than one Grade 1 win under her belt. The Mark Casse trainee previously utilized her brilliant speed to win the Ashland (G1) April 7 at Keeneland, which secured her start in the Kentucky Oaks. Plans to prepare for the Alabama with a run in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) July 19 fell through when her barn was placed under a precautionary quarantine the morning of the race, forcing her to scratch. It wasn’t all bad, however, as Scottish Lassie–who La Cara defeated soundly in the Acorn–returned to flatter her with a 15 ½-length romp over Champion two-year-old filly Immersive. La Cara looks deadly if she can carry her speed 10 furlongs. Dylan Davis rode the Tracy Farmer homebred for both Grade 1 wins and pilots her again. 

Final Thoughts

La Cara boasts two Grade 1 wins and is the clear speed in a race with no other frontrunners. She’ll be deadly if she can carry that speed 10 furlongs, and with a win at nine furlongs last time out plus a pedigree with classic distance written all over it, why can’t she? Missing her prep for this race and being away from the races for two months is a slight concern but her worktab has been solid. Also potentially worth noting is the fact that she hasn’t won back-to-back races since her maiden and Pocahontas (G3) scores as a juvenile.

When she’s at the top of her game–which was every start until the Acorn–Good Cheer is the real deal. 10 furlongs shouldn’t be an issue based on her pedigree and past performances. She had a month-long break from training and a further two months away from the races after the Acorn, which could be exactly what she needs to return to her usual self. 

If she can be as brilliant on dirt as she is on turf, versus a larger and more competitive field, and hopefully on a fast track, Nitrogen could turn the tables on her competitors here. She has done no wrong in her career and holds the highest speed figures of anyone in this field. 

Queen Azteca is a very interesting wild card who shouldn’t be a surprise to hit the board. Her experience and good form at distances beyond 10 furlongs is a great advantage here. 

Margie’s Intention has rounded into her best form at the right time but needs to step up. 

This race looks too tough for Kinzie Queen, who appears deserving of the 15/1 ML. 

Top pick – #4 Nitrogen

Contenders – #6 La Cara, #2 Good Cheer

Longshot – #5 Queen Azteca