Lady Alexander scores front-running upset

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Lady Alexander pulled off a front-running upset Friday night in the $60,000 Honey Bee Handicap for 3-year-old fillies at the Meadowlands.

In her first start around two turns, Lady Alexander ($17.80) shot right to the front from the outside post in the 10-horse field. With Chuckie Lopez aboard, Lady Alexander rolled along on a solid pace through fractions of 23.34, 46.42 and 1:10.36.

"I knew she was faster than all of them, it was just a matter of whether she could actually go this far," Lopez said.

Roxyana applied pressure on the final bend but could never get by the pacesetter.

Lady Alexander turned for home with a three-length lead, eventually winning by 1 1/4 lengths over Our Khrysty, who rallied from sixth to be best of the rest.

The time was 1:42.17 for the 1 1/16 miles over a track labeled good.

Trained by Bruce Alexander, Lady Alexander scored her fourth win in nine starts.

Patience Drive, the 5-2 favorite was third, followed by Oro Blanco, Saar Treaty, Love That Dance, Roxyana, Autumn Ash, Stage Trick, and Pilot Point Lady.