Stopchargingmaria wins Alabama at Saratoga

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) Stopchargingmaria swept to the lead in mid-stretch, edged clear of long-shot Miss Besilu and held off late-running Joint Return to win the 134th $600,000 Alabama by three-quarters of a length Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.

Ridden by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, the 3-year-old daughter of Tale of the Cat ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:05.14 and paid $4, $3.20 and $2.70 as the even-money favorite in a field of nine sophomore fillies.

Joint Return, at 24-1, came flying late to get second, returning $12.80 and $7, while 30-1 Miss Besilu paid $8.50 to show. Fortune Pearl, Got Lucky, America, Catch My Drift, Unbridled Forever and Size completed the field.

Owned by Mike Repole, Stopchargingmaria won for the third time in four lifetime starts at Saratoga and second in a Grade 1 stakes at the meet, having captured the Coaching Club American Oaks July 20. She earned $360,000 for the Alabama, pushing her career bankroll to $1,414,000.