Nest and Secret Oath, the sophomore filly division leaders, will clash again for the third time this year in Saturday’s 142nd running of the $600,000 Alabama Stakes (G1) at 1 ¼ miles at Saratoga. Both runners own one victory over the other. Secret Oath beat Nest in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 6 at Churchill Downs, and Nest turned the tables on her rival in winning the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) on July 23 at Saratoga.

Nest, owned by Repole Stables, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Michael House and trained by Todd Pletcher, ran her foes off their feet in the CCA Oaks, winning by 12 ¼ lengths with Secret Oath finishing a well-beaten second. The romping score earned Nest a Beyer Speed Figure of 104, which is the highest for a 3-year-ld filly this year. The impressive win followed a run against the boys in the Belmont Stakes (G1) where Nest finished a determined second to stablemate Mo Donegal.

“She ran super in the CCA Oaks, and it seems like since she ran in the Kentucky Oaks, she improved physically,” said Todd Pletcher. “She ran a great race and came out of that really well, put on weight, and condition. She came back and ran even better in the CCA Oaks, so hopefully she can continue trending upward.”

If Nest wins the Alabama, she will be the 20th filly to sweep the CCA Oaks-Alabama double. Pletcher has accomplished the feat twice with Princess of Sylmar in 2013 and Stopchargingmaria in 2014. Nest is by Curlin out of the A.P. Indy mare Marion Ravenwood and she was bred in Kentucky by Ashview Farm and Colts Neck Stables. She was a $375,000 Keeneland September Sale graduate.

Secret Oath will look to flip the script on her rival for D. Wayne Lukas. The Briland Farm homebred daughter of Arrogate provided Lukas with his fifth Kentucky Oaks win and first since 1990 when she defeated Nest by two lengths over a wet-fast track at Churchill Downs. Like Nest, Secret Oath also took on the boys earlier this year, finishing a troubled fourth in the Preakness Stakes (G1) on May 21. Secret Oath is produced from the Quiet American mare Absinthe Minded.

“She’s really had a good month since that debacle in the (CCA Oaks),” Lukas said. “In fact, I feel like she’s better now than any time I’ve had her. She’s really flourished here at Saratoga. Luis (Saez) has worked her three times since that race, so he’s getting more familiar every day with her, too. So, that should help us as much as anything. We’re anxious to run her.”

Rounding out the compact field are Kentucky-breds Skratch Kat (Arrogate-Wave Therapy), Goddess of Fire (Mineshaft-Feel That Fire), Gerrymander (Into Mischief-Ruby Lips), Nostalgic (Medaglia d’Oro-Been Here Before), and She’s Keen (Keen Ice-Spelling).