Alabama
Saratoga: Pletcher brings 2 stakes winners to Alabama
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will have two chances to secure a fifth victory in the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama as he sends out Grade 1 winner Candied and promising stakes-winner Miss Justify in Saturday’s 1 1/4-mile test for sophomore fillies at Saratoga.
The two talented fillies posted a steady work in company Aug. 2, covering a half-mile in 50.66 seconds over the Spa main track.
“They seemed to make good companions. I’m happy with the way they did it,” said Pletcher, whose past Alabama wins came with Princess of Sylmar in 2013, Stopchargingmaria in 2014, Malathaat in 2021 and Nest in 2022.
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Candied arrives from a runner-up finish to divisional leader Thorpedo Anna in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks on July 20 at Saratoga. The daughter of Candy Ride was patiently ridden by Manny Franco, stalking in third of four behind an even tempo set by Grade 1-winning stablemate Leslie’s Rose. She made up ground willingly when asked to angle two to four wide in the final turn but could not catch the powerful Thorpedo Anna and was defeated 4 1/2 lengths.
Pletcher said he was pleased with the bay’s effort behind a standout like Thorpedo Anna, who is targeting the Travers (G1) against males Aug. 24.
“She’s been super consistent, just second-best last time,” said Pletcher. “I think she’ll handle the mile and a quarter. With Thorpedo Anna going to the Travers, I think this race is much more wide open.”
Candied brings top Grade 1 form to the field of eight after taking the Alcibiades in October at Keeneland. She closed out her juvenile campaign with a solid third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in November and returned in April to finish fourth in the Ashland (G1) at Keeneland. The filly came up just shy on the road to the Kentucky Oaks and did not draw into the prestigious Grade 1 test after landing on the also-eligible list.
After a two-month respite, she made a grand return against elders in Monmouth Park’s Listed Lady’s Secret, crushing the 1 1/16-mile route by 4 1/2 lengths over Honor D Lady, who exited that race to win the Delaware Handicap (G2) on July 7. Candied was awarded a career- and field-best 99 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form for the victory.
Candied has banked $784,675 in earnings through a 6: 3-1-1 record.
Miss Justify makes a step up in both class and trip after back-to-back wins going one mile. The Justify bay was last seen winning the local restricted Wilton going one mile from Saratoga’s Wilson chute July 12. The Wilton was successfully used as a springboard for last year’s Alabama winner Randomized.
In the Wilton, Miss Justify was six lengths off the pace through the first quarter-mile and inched into contention throughout each point of call to be just one length back of the prominent Striker Has Dial at the top of the lane. She found more with each stride under Flavien Prat to rally up the rail and take control inside the final sixteenth and win by one length, earning a lifetime-best 87 Beyer.
Pletcher said Miss Justify, who also notched a 2 1/2-length win in her first effort beyond sprint distances in June at Churchill Downs, continues to improve with each start.
“We are hoping she will handle the added distance,” Pletcher said. “She has handled the mile well the last two times. Coming off two wins, she’s deserving of the opportunity.”
?Miss Justify made her first two starts in Maryland for conditioner Susan Cooney, including a third-place effort when making her stakes debut in the six-furlong Smart Halo in November. She moved to Pletcher’s care this year and finished fourth going seven furlongs in a March optional claimer at Gulfstream Park ahead of her two recent wins.
Graded stakes-winner Intricate remains the only horse to have defeated Thorpedo Anna after taking the Golden Rod (G2) in November at Churchill, but she could not duplicate that feat in the CCA Oaks and settled for third after tracking in last of four throughout and passing the tiring pacesetter Leslie’s Rose late in the lane.
“I think she can improve,” trainer Brendan Walsh said. “She struggled a little bit with the track early in the (CCA) Oaks. That filly has had her issues, but she seems to train better and better every week. Having had a run over the track and a couple of works on it, I think she’s coming into it a lot better. I wouldn’t discount her chances. She shouldn’t have a problem with the distance either.”
The Gun Runner chestnut seeks her first win since the Golden Rod, where she soundly bested Thorpedo Anna by 5 1/4 lengths with a smart off-the-pace trip engineered by regular rider Tyler Gaffalione.
“She ran really well,” Walsh said of the effort. “The race set up really good for her and she was very impressive that day.”
Three months after the Golden Rod, she headed south to Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans to run second in the Rachel Alexandra (G2) in February and a distant fifth in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) in March before being shelved until June because of excess mucus in her throat.
“She’s a nice filly. She just had her issues down in New Orleans during the winter. It took us a long time to get her right after that,” Walsh explained. “She’s finally coming right now. If she can make a return to her 2-year-old form, I can’t see why she couldn’t have a good second half of the year.”
Intricate flashed her talents again in her June return at Churchill, finishing a close second to Our Pretty Woman in the Monomoy Girl ahead of the CCA Oaks.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Intricate Gun Runner |
6.55 |
Brendan P. Walsh Tyler Gaffalione |
3rd, 2024 Coaching Club American Oaks G1 2024 Alabama G1 |
Entered | |
|
Last Race Next Race |
3rd, 2024 Coaching Club American Oaks G1 2024 Alabama G1 |
|||||
| 2 |
|
Chatalas Gun Runner |
6.47 |
Mark Glatt Frankie Dettori |
1st, 2024 Indiana Oaks G3 2024 Alabama G1 |
Entered |
|
Last Race Next Race |
1st, 2024 Indiana Oaks G3 2024 Alabama G1 |
|||||
| 3 |
|
Power Squeeze Union Rags |
7.03 |
Jorge Delgado Javier J. Castellano |
1st, 2024 Delaware Oaks G3 2024 Alabama G1 |
Entered |
|
Last Race Next Race |
1st, 2024 Delaware Oaks G3 2024 Alabama G1 |
|||||
| 4 |
|
Just Basking Arrogate |
4.12 |
Ian R. Wilkes Chris Landeros |
1st, Iowa Oaks 2024 Alabama G1 |
Entered |
|
Last Race Next Race |
1st, Iowa Oaks 2024 Alabama G1 |
|||||
| 5 |
|
America’s Vow Constitution |
0.00 |
Timothy Hamm Junior Alvarado |
1st, Sar AlwOC (7/28/24-R5) 2024 Alabama G1 |
Entered |
|
Last Race Next Race |
1st, Sar AlwOC (7/28/24-R5) 2024 Alabama G1 |
|||||
| 6 |
|
Miss Justify Justify |
0.00 |
Todd A. Pletcher Flavien Prat |
1st, 2024 Wilton RS 2024 Alabama G1 |
Entered |
|
Last Race Next Race |
1st, 2024 Wilton RS 2024 Alabama G1 |
|||||
| 7 |
|
Candied Candy Ride |
6.88 |
Todd A. Pletcher Manuel Franco |
2nd, 2024 Coaching Club American Oaks G1 2024 Alabama G1 |
Entered |
|
Last Race Next Race |
2nd, 2024 Coaching Club American Oaks G1 2024 Alabama G1 |
|||||
| 8 |
|
Neon Icon Arrogate |
0.00 |
George R. Arnold Luis Saez |
5th, 2024 Indiana Oaks G3 2024 Alabama G1 |
Entered |
|
Last Race Next Race |
5th, 2024 Indiana Oaks G3 2024 Alabama G1 |
|||||
After an impressive home win over Kentucky this past Saturday afternoon, the SEC road opener has now arrived for the Alabama Crimson Tide, which is a trip to Nashville to face the unbeaten Vanderbilt Commodores on Wednesday night.
Two teams ranked in the Top 15 nationally in the latest USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll, Alabama and Vanderbilt have emerged as two of the SEC’s top teams this season, and are also both currently among the top scoring teams in all of college basketball.
Both of Alabama and Vanderbilt are also loaded with talent as well, headlined by a talented group of guards such as Labaron Philon Jr. and Aden Holloway for the Crimson Tide, as well as the Commodores duo of Duke Miles and Tyler Tanner.
Stream Alabama vs. Vanderbilt on Fubo
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One of college basketball’s top matchups of the week, following are the latest odds for the SEC showdown between Alabama and Vanderbilt in Nashville.
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Tuesday, Jan. 6:
- Money Line: Alabama (plus-145), Vanderbilt (minus-180)
- Spread: Vanderbilt by 4 1/2
- Over/Under: 178 1/2
Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Vanderbilt Commodores prediction, pick:
Memorial Gymnasium can be a difficult place to play for a road team at times, and it will likely be challenging for the Crimson Tide on Wednesday night, especially with the undefeated Commodores on the opposite end of the floor. A matchup in which Alabama has won four-straight dating back to 2023, as well as the last five in Nashville, I’ll go with Alabama to hand Vanderbilt their first loss Wednesday night in a high-scoring contest. Prediction: Alabama 88, Vanderbilt 82
Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Vanderbilt Commodores channel, start time, streaming:
A Top 25 showdown, Alabama and Vanderbilt are set to meet Wednesday, Jan. 7, from inside Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tennessee. The game is set to begin at 9 p.m. ET live on ESPN2.
Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
Joseph Ionata, who spent two years with the Tide, will be joining former teammate Jaylen Mbakwe.
Georgia Tech fans celebrate during the second half against Syracuse on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta. (Hyosub Shin/AJC 2025)
A second former member of the Alabama Crimson Tide is transferring to Georgia Tech.
Offensive lineman Joseph Ionata intends to play for the Yellow Jackets, according to On3. Ionata spent two years with the Tide and would be joining former Alabama defensive back and wide receiver Jaylen Mbakwe.
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Chad Bishop is a Georgia Tech sports reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The Alabama Farmers Federation has endorsed Kristin Nelson in the upcoming special election for Alabama House District 38, a seat left vacant following the resignation of Rep. Debbie Wood (R-Valley). The district includes portions of Chambers and Lee counties.
Nelson recently secured the Republican nomination after winning a runoff election. The special general election is scheduled for Tuesday, February 3.
“Kristin Nelson is a well-respected community leader in Chambers County, and we are proud to endorse her,” said Jason McKay, president of the Chambers County Farmers Federation. “We know she will represent us well in Montgomery and ensure District 38 gets the attention it needs in the business and agricultural arenas.”
Support for Nelson’s candidacy also came from farmers in neighboring Lee County. “Kristin Nelson is a strong conservative with incredible knowledge of House District 38,” said Robert Walters, president of the Lee County Farmers Federation. “There is no doubt she will work hard and represent the people of Lee and Chambers counties well in the Legislature.”
Nelson grew up along the Chambers-Lee county line and brings experience from both the public and private sectors. Her background includes seven years in city administration with the City of Valley and three years as a third-grade teacher with Lanett City Schools.
She has also been active in homeschooling through Classical Conversations, where she has served as both a tutor and a local representative supporting other families.
In addition to returning to part-time work with Harris Gray LLC, Nelson serves as worship leader at Fairfax Methodist Church, secretary of the Junior Variety Club and president of the EAMC Lanier Auxiliary Board.
She also founded the Chambers County Young Republicans and currently serves as the chair of the Chambers County Republican Party.
“The farmers of this district and I share the same strong work ethic and conservative values,” said Nelson. “It is an honor to have their support and to be able to represent them and all the people of this district in Montgomery.”
Nelson and her husband, Jeff, live in the Huguley community with their two teenage sons.
The Alabama Farmers Federation is the state’s largest farm organization, representing more than 360,000 member families. The organization uses a grassroots endorsement process that relies on decisions made by county Farmers Federation boards of directors in local elections.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
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