Saratoga 2024: Unbelievable Power Squeeze Shocks Everyone in Alabama!

Saratoga Springs, New York

The Grade 1, $600,000, Alabama Stakes was a gripping contest run over the classic 1 1/4 mile distance. Two 3-year-old fillies, Power Squeeze and Candied, emerged as the frontrunners in the grueling race. In the end, Power Squeeze came out on top, winning by a head.

The 6-1 fourth betting choice, Power Squeeze, engaged in an intense duel with the 9-5 favorite, Candied, over the final 1/16-mile. The two alternated in the lead, but Power Squeeze, trained by Jorge Delgado, clinched the victory in the final strides. This win, coming after her journey from Monmouth Park to Saratoga, marks her second consecutive stakes victory and her first Grade 1 win.

Eight contenders broke evenly from the gate, with California-based Chatalas taking an early lead, similar to her previous victory at the Indiana Oaks (G3) in July. She secured a comfortable lead of over two lengths while pursued by Miss Justify, Intricate, and Neon Icon. Chatalas maintained the lead for a mile, clocking successive fractions of 23.31, 47.06, 1:11.42, and 1:37.64.

Bringing up the rear in the early stages were Just Basking, Power Squeeze, and Candied. These three launched their closing moves after six furlongs and eventually became the top three finishers. Candied made the first wide move, followed closely by Power Squeeze, under jockey Javier Castellano, with Just Basking being the last to start closing.

“That’s my preferred strategy,” said Castellano, now a four-time Alabama winner. “Everything fell into place perfectly. The pace was high, she came from behind, and fought all the way to the end.”

The front-runners began to tire in the final quarter-mile due to the classic distance, allowing the closing horses to seize control of the top three positions in the Alabama.

“It was a mile and a quarter race. Not many 3-year-olds face a mile and a quarter in their campaign,” Castellano noted. “I believed the horse with the most stamina left at the end of the race would win. I didn’t want to engage with speed or chase it. I wanted to take my time and let the horse develop through the race to find her kick and finish.”

With her win, Power Squeeze earned $330,000, increasing her career earnings to $900,450. Her across-the-board winning wagers paid out $14.80, 6.80, and 4.30. Candied’s second-place finish completed a $2 exacta that paid $47.60. Just Basking, at 7-2, finished third, a length behind the top two, leading to a $2 trifecta payout of $173.50.

The race’s exciting finish left a lasting impression on the winning trainer.

“It was extraordinary,” Delgado said. “I want to watch the replay a thousand times and savor it. I didn’t feel like a winner until the very end.”

Power Squeeze, bought for $30,000 as a 2-year-old, was chosen by Delgado due to her potential for handling longer distances.

“We always wanted this distance for the filly,” Delgado mentioned. “She’s sired by Union Rags and they always aim for more distance. Her size and her galloping style, and the stride she has, suggested she could cover this distance. And she did, winning her first attempt at this distance.”