Alabama Preview

As many people have been quick to point out, the showdown between Blind Luck and Devil May Care is not the same as a showdown between Rachel and Zenyatta, but the latter may never happen and the former is about to happen. So, let's appreciate the blessing that this is and not miss what we never had and may never have.

Here is my assessment of each horse. As I've said before racing is unpredictable and I'm a terrible handicapper; so bear that in mind before you go to the windows.

Acting Happy: Seems like a lot of cheap speed to me. I would pass on this filly.

Devil May Care: There are so many horses who just aren't themselves at the Derby but go on to be excellent racehorses that it would take forever to name them all. However, the one that this filly reminds me of is Serena's Song. Serena didn't run well at all, and she wound up finishing 16th place. However, she went on to have an incredible career and is regarded as one of the greatest racehorses of the modern era. This Todd Pletcher filly is a lot like her in that in a perfect world she would never go a mile and a quarter, but she has the talent to stretch out and get away with it. If there isn't a speed duel- and I don't see why there would be one- she can easily win this this race and cement her position at the top of the division.

Tizahit: I feel like I'm falling into a trap here. Every fiber in my body wants to tell you that this horse is overmatched and that betting on her is literally the equivalent of making a non-tax deductible donation to Saratoga. However, her connections just won a major stakes race in Canada with a 65-1 horse. Proceed with caution here.

Blind Luck: She usually finds herself digging tooth and nail to beat some fairly talented filly and somehow she almost always manages to pull it off. It's just unfortunate for her that she isn't facing some fairly talented filly- she's facing Devil May Care. However she manages to make this affair pretty interesting because unlike the other fillies, she probably wants to go ten furlongs. She will give it her all. I'm just not entirely convinced that it will be enough.

Connie and Michael: Watch out for this one! She proved that she can run with that impressive second to Devil May Care in the Mother Goose. We know that she has the tactical speed necessary for a ten furlong event, and her injury caused her to miss the C.C. American Oaks, giving her some much needed time off. I really think she will run the race of her life and surprise everyone. As far as whether or not running her heart out will put her in the winners circle is concerned, we'll just have to wait and see.

Havre de Grace: She ran an impressive race against Blind Luck but she's never been to Saratoga before and she won't be as close to the lead as she was in the Delaware Oaks. She is definitely worth keying in an exacta, and maybe Dutrow can work his magic, but she is not as good as her 4-1 morning line odds suggest that she is. Of course, racing is unpredictable and Saratoga is the "Graveyard of Favorites" so make of that what you will.