Magic Dance will try to stay unbeaten in Adirondack

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Steve Asmussen has already won 17 races for 2-year-olds this year, two of those courtesy of Magic Dance who will look to stay unbeaten in Sunday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Adirondack Stakes for fillies at Saratoga.

Magic Dance romped to a 4 3/4-length debut victory June 7 at Churchill Downs, stalking the pace three wide before drawing away from Josie, the 3-5 favorite trained by Brad Cox. Josie did come back to win her next start by 2 3/4 lengths at Churchill.

Asmussen wheeled Magic Dance back in 22 days in the $125,000 Debutante rather than wait for the Grade 3 Schuylerville here on opening day and again she got an outside stalking trip, running away from Cholula Lips in the final furlong to win by 1 1/2 lengths.

“I chose the Debutante [because I was more] comfortable about how the racetrack is there and with them not opening the main track here any sooner than they do you never know what kind of racetrack you’re going to get opening week, so I chose to avoid that with her,” Asmussen said.

Magic Dance was sent off at 8-1 in a five-horse field in her opener, perhaps owing to her modest work tab.

“She’s a tremendous talent, she really is, she’s got a great disposition and obviously is fast,” said Asmussen, who has won two of the last eight Adirondacks. “I was very surprised how sharp she was in her first start just because of what a laid-back personality she has.”

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Magic Dance will break from the outside post in the eight-horse field.

It was hard to be any more impressive than Frank’s Rockette was in her debut, rolling to an 8 3/4-length victory June 21 at Churchill Downs for trainer Bill Mott. Frank’s Rockette ran five furlongs in 57.27 seconds and was in hand under Julien Leparoux in what track announcer Travis Stone accurately described as a “flashy effort.”

“It’s hard not to think it was very impressive,” Mott said. “It’s no surprise that she won, but you never know they’re going to win like that.”

Frank’s Rockette will break from post 2 under Leparoux.

Trainer Gary Gullo sends out a pair of maiden winners in Miss Peppina and Big Q. Miss Peppina was very professional rallying from far back in her 5 1/2-furlong debut July 3 at Belmont.

“She ran good, she got dirt in her face, she had a horse backing up on her, she was probably 15 lengths out of it and came running,” Gullo said. “I think she’s better now, she’s developing and getting better. She’s going to run good, I don’t know how good she has to be to beat those horses.”

Big Q rallied from off the pace to win here on opening day. Joel Rosario rode both of Gullo’s horses in their maiden wins. He is riding Miss Peppina on Sunday. Jose Lezcano picks up Big Q.

Perfect Alibi, won her debut by 9 1/2 lengths on May 16 at Churchill and finished second to the first-time starter Maryanorginger in the Astoria Stakes on June 6 at Belmont.

Integral, Mylastfirstkiss, and Just Fly complete the field.