Alex's Vision much the best in Peppy Addy

Alex s Vision became the latest stakes winner for the hot young sire Afleet Alex when he overcame a poor start to dominate Saturday s $75,000 Peppy Addy Stakes for 3-year-old Pennsylvania-breds at Philadelphia Park.

Afleet Alex, best known for winning the 2005 Preakness despite going to his knees when he was bumped in the stretch, has accounted for seven stakes winners with his first crop that are now 3-year-olds. Most prominently, Afleet Express won the Grade 3 Pegasus and Afleet Again captured the Grade 3 Withers this year. Last summer, Dublin took the Grade 1 Hopeful.

Alex s Vision ($8.20), owned, bred, and trained by Tim Ritchey, was last of five for the first half-mile of the seven-furlong Peppy Addy after bobbling at the break. Ridden for the first time by Jose Caraballo, Alex s Vision was swung to the outside turning for home, took the lead from Punish in deep stretch, and drew clear by 4 1/4 lengths while completing the distance in 1:22.41.

Goldigger s Boy, the longest shot in the short field at 9-1, finished third, 1 1/4 lengths behind Punish. Tujoes, who inherited the role of odds-on favorite when Gunfighter was scratched, led through a half-mile in 45.92 seconds before fading to last.

Alex s Vision, who needed four starts to win his maiden, has now won 2 of his last 3 starts, all against statebred competition.

* Outlaw Dancer ($5.80), the favorite among seven 3-year-old statebred fillies, cruised to an easy 4 3/4-length victory over Lovabull Me in the co-featured $75,000 Caught in the Rain Stakes.

Ridden by Rodrigo Madrigal Jr. for Penn National-based trainer Bernard Houghton, Outlaw Dancer dueled with Bang Away through a half-mile in 46.91 seconds, then emerged with a clear lead entering the stretch and was never seriously threatened while winning her second straight race. She completed the seven furlongs in 1:23.92.

Ms. Moscow finished third, 1 3/4 lengths in back of the 9-1 runner-up, Lovabull Me.