Saratoga Picks: Grade 1 Alabama Stakes (8/22/2026)
Written by: Chris Adams
Published: Sat Aug 22, 2026, 8:00 am ET
Read Time: 8 minutes
horses
The racing action from Saratoga on Saturday features the Alabama Stakes Presented by Keeneland Sales. @HandicappingT3 has all the Saratoga picks for the entire card!
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Saratoga Full Card Analysis
Saratoga Picks: Grade 1 Alabama Stakes (8/22/2026)
Saratoga Picks – Race 1
Post Time: 12:45 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $100k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 8 runners.
- #6 MODEST MACLEAN (8-5): Top Pick. Should improve off the debut. Ortiz puts this one in with a chance.
- #7 BUBSTER (2-1): Major Player. Should still be running strong in the closing stages. Should take a liking to the race shape.
- #3 JUST TIPSY (10-1): Contender. Should sit a good trip.
- #8 TERM PREMIUM (7-2): Fringe Contender. May be getting a weaker field than last out. Bloodlines fit this race.
Selections: 6 – 7 – 3 – 8
The Plays
Win: #6 at 6-5
Exacta: 6 / 7,3
Saratoga Picks – Race 2
Post Time: 1:19 PM ET; Allowance Optional Claiming $125k; 1 3/8 M Turf; Field of 7 runners.
- #7 ARKHIPOV (3-1): Prime Win Player. Proven competitor at this configuration. Favorable class relief in this spot.
- #3 MUTAAWID (7-2): Contender. Trainer is having a great meet. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
- #5 SARDIS (6-1): Contender. Could wear these ones down late. Barn has been sending out runners.
- #4 ASBURY PARK (2-1): Contender. Could be grinding down the competition late.
Selections: 7 – 3 – 5 – 4
The Plays
Win: #7 at 5-2
Exacta: 7 / 3,5,4
Saratoga Picks – Race 3
Post Time: 1:55 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $115k; 6 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners.
- #1 POWERLINE (8-5): Prime Win Player. Proven competitor at this configuration. Race sets up perfectly.
- #8 ART MUSEUM (4-1): Contender. Trainer is having a great meet. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
- #3 GOT TOUGH (8-1): Fringe Contender. Santana and Larose team up on this one. Previous success in similar race types.
- #4 BARREL ROLL (8-1): Underneath. Trainer's horses have been running.
Selections: 1 – 8 – 3 – 4
The Plays
Win: #1 at 6-5
Exacta: 1 / 8,3
Saratoga Picks – Race 4
Post Time: 2:31 PM ET; Claiming $58k; 5 1/2 F Turf; Field of 13 runners.
- #6 FIVE DOZEN ROSES (9-2): Top Pick. Barn has been solid. Favorable class relief in this spot.
- #2 HEADS IN BEDS (3-1): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet.
- #1 AMERICANEXPRESSION (2-1): Major Player. Previous success in similar race types. Should sit a good trip.
- #4 FIFI LA FUME (15-1): Contender. Potential to get the pace of the race flow. Expect this one to be able to carry the distance.
Selections: 6 – 2 – 1 – 4
The Plays
Win: #6 at 7-2
Exacta: 6 / 2,4
Saratoga Picks – Race 5
Post Time: 3:06 PM ET; Maiden Claiming $62k; 1 1/16 M Turf; Field of 16 runners.
- #6 U VICKY (6-1): Top Pick. Stamina to outlast the competition. Race sets up perfectly.
- #16 LIL TIPSY (2-1): Major Player. Expected to maintain its energy reserves into the final stretch. Trainer is having a great meet.
- #11 DEVILISH GRIN (6-1): Major Player. Likely to maintain its stamina reserves for a strong finish.
- #15 MAJESTIC MOONLIGHT (6-1): Major Player. Fast enough on paper to compete. Race shape gives this one an edge.
Selections: 6 – 16 – 11 – 15
The Plays
Win: #6 at 5-1
Exacta: 6 / 16,11,15
Saratoga Picks – Race 6
Post Time: 3:41 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $115k; 6 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 11 runners.
- #5 FOREVER CARINA (4-1): Top Pick. Proven competitor at this configuration.
- #11 VERY CLEVER (5-1): Major Player. Looks to get a bit easier group here.
- #3 LUCERRA (8-1): Major Player. Previous success in similar race types. May be able to find the right setup.
- #8 MYSTICIOUS (6-1): Contender. Trainer's horses have been running. Can compete from a speed figure standpoint.
Selections: 5 – 11 – 3 – 8
The Plays
Win: #5 at 3-1
Exacta: 5 / 11,3,8
Saratoga Picks – Race 7
Post Time: 4:16 PM ET; Allowance Optional Claiming $130k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 8 runners.
- #5 OVER AND OLLIE (6-1): Top Pick. Should still have something in the tank late. Race sets up perfectly.
- #6 NAKATOMI (7-2): Major Player. Speed figures match this group well. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
- #1 BOLD JOURNEY (10-1): Major Player. Barn has been sending out runners. The 100 speed rating is among the best in the field.
- #7 GUNMETAL (9-2): Major Player. Could be ready to hit a peak performance. May be getting a weaker field than last out.
Selections: 5 – 6 – 1 – 7
The Plays
Win: #5 at 5-1
Exacta: 5 / 6,1,7
Saratoga Picks – Race 8
Post Time: 4:51 PM ET; Allowance $105k; 5 1/2 F Turf; Field of 14 runners.
- #6 FAIRY GODMOTHER (6-1): Longshot Play of the Day. Barn has been solid. Proven competitor at this configuration. Bet today's live longshot on MyBookie.
- #9 MARIA CALLAS (5-1): Major Player. Top connections on the circuit with Franco and Brown. Can run with these.
- #1 SINEAD (20-1): Contender. Potential to have this pace fall just right.
- #11 TUTHILLTOWN (4-1): Contender. Speed figs are a bit slow, but not completely hopeless against the top of the field. Race conditions fit this one well.
Selections: 6 – 9 – 1 – 11
The Plays
Win: #6 at 5-1
Trifecta: 6 / 9,11 / 9,11,1
Saratoga Picks – Race 9
Post Time: 5:29 PM ET; Allowance $120k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 10 runners.
- #2 WILLINTORISKITALL (8-1): Top Pick. Barn has been solid.
- #9 PLAYA DEL MAR (4-1): Major Player. Franco and Rice team up on this one. Productive recent form.
- #3 COCKTAILSNKRINGLE (15-1): Major Player. May be able to find the right setup.
- #8 FACT (6-1): Major Player. Can compete from a speed figure standpoint.
Selections: 2 – 9 – 3 – 8
The Plays
Win: #2 at 5-1
Pick 3 (Races 9-11): #2,9 with #6 with #6
Trifecta: 2 / 9,8 / 9,8,3
Saratoga Picks – Race 10
Post Time: 6:07 PM ET; Ballston Spa Stakes Presented by STIHL $300k; 1 1/16 M Turf; Field of 9 runners.
- #6 SEGESTA (7-5): Best Bet of the Card. Comes in with solid form. Barn has been solid. Bet today's best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
- #5 AND ONE MORE TIME (3-1): Contender. Should take a liking to the race shape. Looks fast enough off previous efforts.
- #4 PLAY WITH FIRE (15-1): Contender. Franco puts this one in with a chance. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race.
- #7 GRAYOSH (8-1): Contender. Solid turn of foot. Gaffalione puts this one in with a chance.
Selections: 6 – 5 – 4 – 7
The Plays
Win: #6 at 1-1
Exacta: 6 / 5,4,7
Saratoga Picks – Race 11
Post Time: 6:42 PM ET; Alabama Stakes Presented by Keeneland Sales $600k; 1 1/4 M Dirt; Field of 6 runners.
- #6 COUNTING STARS (1-2): Top Pick. Ortiz puts this one in with a chance. Fits well with this group.
- #4 MY GUN'S LOADED (3-1): Major Player. Looks fast enough off previous efforts.
- #3 MEASURE (6-1): Contender. May be able to find the right setup. Previous success in similar race types.
- #2 ATI GIRL (10-1): Underneath. May be getting a weaker field than last out. Should still have enough in the reserves if there in the final furlong.
Selections: 6 – 4 – 3 – 2
The Plays
Win: #6 at 1-1
Exacta: 6 / 4,3
Saratoga Picks – Race 12
Post Time: 7:16 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $115k; 1 3/16 M Turf; Field of 9 runners.
- #6 MARY LOIS (7-2): Prime Win Player. Looks good based on the 82 speed rating which is among the top in the group. Solid closing kick.
- #3 HOME WRECKER (10-1): Contender. Good race flow for this runner. Trainer is having a great meet.
- #1 STAND THE RAIN (9-2): Contender. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race. Ortiz puts this one in with a chance.
- #8 OSMOSIS (9-2): Contender. May be getting a weaker field than last out. Could be grinding down the competition late.
Selections: 6 – 3 – 1 – 8
The Plays
Win: #6 at 3-1
Exacta: 6 / 3,1,8
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Sunday Analysis
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Chris first got introduced to horse racing in 2009 at Canterbury Park (Shakopee, MN). Along with handicapping and betting, Chris has worked as a teller at his local track and participated in ownership partnerships. He now enjoys sharing his passion with his wife and two young daughters who love going out to the track each and every summer.
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