Good Cheer runner-up in G1 Alabama Stakes

Good Cheer reversed the Acorn Stakes form with La Cara but found another Mark Casse-trained filly too strong as she finished second to Nitrogen in the G1 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga, USA, on Saturday, 16 August. 

Looking to bounce back from her first career defeat in June’s G1 Acorn Stakes, Good Cheer was smartly into her stride and raced in third behind La Cara and Nitrogen. 

The Brad Cox-trained filly had three lengths to make up on the leading duo down the back and initially made limited progress when Luis Saez asked for her effort rounding the far turn. 

Nitrogen breezed into the lead approaching the two-furlong pole, with Good Cheer making gains after being angled wide at the top of the straight to take second from La Cara over a furlong from home. 

Good Cheer continued to close on Nitrogen, although her task wasn’t helped when the leader wandered around inside the final furlong, forcing Luis Saez to switch back inside. Nitrogen re-asserted her advantage close home to score by a length and a half over the Kentucky Oaks winner as the two daughters of Medaglia d’Oro dominated the finish.