Embellish the Lace wires field in G1 Alabama

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Allowed to set a sensible pace with minimal pressure, Alex and JoAnn Lieblong's Embellish the Lace led every step of the way and had plenty left down the stretch to dismiss I'm a Chatterbox and win the 135th running of the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama by 1 1Ž4 lengths Saturday at Saratoga Race Course. 

It was the first graded stakes victory for the 3-year-old daughter of 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, making her first start since finishing ninth in the Grade 1 Mother Goose June 27 at Belmont Park. For trainer Tony Dutrow, it was his first victory in the Alabama, one of the oldest and most prestigious races for sophomore fillies which dates back to 1872. 

"I always hoped of winning a race like that, and when it comes, it's just so gratifying, so humbling, so magical," Dutrow said. "And, special is a great word which sums up all that."

Ridden by Javier Castellano, who picked up his fifth graded stakes win of the meet and third Grade 1 this month following the Alfred G. Vanderbilt and Whitney, Embellish the Lace ran 1 1Ž4 miles in 2:01.97 over a fast main track. Sent off at 6-1 in a field of seven sophomore fillies, she paid $14 for a $2 win bet.

Breaking from post 5, Embellish the Lace led the field around the clubhouse turn and through an opening quarter-mile in 24.03 seconds, tracked by 2-1 favorite Curalina and Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks winner Lovely Maria. They raced unchanged after a half in 48.38, six furlongs in 1:12.85 and one mile in 1:37.33.

"I didn't expect her to be on the lead, but nobody went. We put up good numbers all the way, and it paid off," Castellano said. "I tried to rate a little bit the first turn but nobody wanted to take it, so I took it. I knew they were coming but the way she turned for home, I had so much confidence. When I asked her a little bit, she took off. The one thing about her is she goes all day. She passed the wire and she galloped out strong."

Castellano and Embellish the Lace began to separate from the group as they turned for home with only I'm a Chatterbox, charging on the far outside, able to make up any ground. Disqualified to second for interfering with Curalina in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga July 26, I'm a Chatterbox was 3 1Ž2 lengths clear of Curalina in third.

Danette, Include Betty, Lovely Maria and Sweetgrass completed the order of finish. Embellish the Lace, who entered the race with $53,340 in purse earnings, picked up the winner's share of $360,000. 

The Alabama was the first loss in five races dating back to March for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Curalina, who captured the Grade 1 Acorn June 6 at Belmont Park prior to the CCA Oaks.

"I thought she ran well. I think she was maybe showing fatigue from tough races in the Acorn and the Coaching Club," trainer Todd Pletcher said. "It's always hard to come off of two big efforts like that. I thought she came up a little empty in the lane but she kept fighting despite that. We'll look to freshen her up a bit for the fall."