Fab 5 Fillies Update: Alabama Stakes Winner Dunbar Road New #1

The Alabama Stakes (G1) was run on Aug. 17 at Saratoga Race Course and Dunbar Road finished strong to capture the ten furlong stamina test for sophomore fillies. She is lightly raced and on the improve for Chad Brown, and he also has Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) and Acorn (G1) winner Guarana. 

Check out Today's Racing Digest for handicapping products, analysis, and more! Dunbar Road capture above courtesy of Today's Racing Digest. 


Later that same day at Del Mar, Fighting Mad was too fleet for her rivals in the Torrey Pines (G3). The Bob Baffert trainee won by eight lengths but might not want to travel longer distances against top company. 


Alabama Stakes (G1) Recap (8-17-19): Winner: Dunbar Road ($5.50)


The track was sloppy in this mile and a quarter stamina test for 3-year-old fillies. Speed did not hold in this race. Champagne Anyone, Ulele, and Lady Apple were all right there early and nowhere late. Point of Honor made a nice outside move under Javier Castellano, and it looked for a brief moment that she might spurt clear, but Street Band went with that one and would not go away. Meanwhile, Dunbar Road was patiently ridden and always traveling well under Jose Ortiz, and she had all of the momentum in the stretch and pulled clear to win by a bit less than three lengths. Point of Honor won the place battle by a nose over Street Band, and the top three were 5+ clear of Off Topic and Afleet Destiny. The three aforementioned early runners completed the order of finish. 


Torrey Pines Stakes (G3) Recap (8-17-19) - Winner: Fighting Mad ($6.60)


This race was settled right out of the gate. Fighting Mad stretched out for Baffert, made a clear early lead though very reasonable splits, and scampered away in the lane to win by eight lengths. Hollywood Hills rallied from last to land the place as the longest shot on the board. Into Chocolate stalked and tried to make a run at the winner, and she lost 2nd late. Kim K was 4th, followed by High Regard, Sneaking Out, and Classic Fit.


Jarrod Horak’s Fabulous Five Sophomore Fillies (8-27-19) 


#1 - DUNBAR ROAD - Mother Goose (G2) winner easily handled 10f in Alabama (G1). 


#2 - GUARANA - Acorn (G1) & CCAO (G1) winner is 3-for-3. Sept. 21 Cotillion (G1) at Parx is next. 


#3 - POINT OF HONOR - Black-Eyed Susan (G2) winner finished 2nd in CCAO (G1) and Alabama (G1). 


#4 - SERENGETI EMPRESS - Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner 2nd in Acorn (G1) and 2nd in Test (G1). 


#5 - BELLAFINA -  6-time graded winner has worked twice at Del Mar since distant 3rd in Test (G1).