Perfect Alibi has the answer in Adirondack

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Perfect Alibi burst through between horses near midstretch then outfinished an unlucky Frank’s Rockette to register a half-length victory in Sunday’s $200,000 Adirondack Stakes, the second of three graded stakes for 2-year-old fillies decided each summer at Saratoga.

Perfect Alibi, a daughter of Sky Mesa owned by Tracy Farmer, had been idle since finishing a close second in the Astoria Stakes two months earlier at Belmont Park. She won her only other start, a five-furlong maiden race at Churchill Downs, by a widening 9 ½ lengths three weeks earlier.

With Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard for the first time, Perfect Alibi broke alertly and showed some early foot before easing back between horses in the run down the backstretch. Ortiz bided his time as the field turned into the stretch, finding a seam when Just Fly lugged in on the favorite causing serious crowding leaving the eighth pole. Perfect Alibi shot through that gap to join for command at that point before outfinishing Frank’s Rockette in the final drive.

Frank’s Rockette was bet down to be the prohibitive 3-5 favorite off a one-sided maiden win of her own this summer at Churchill Downs. She saved ground while within easy striking distance of the early leaders, took up sharply when shut off by Just Fly attempting to split horses near midstretch, continued gamely inside the winner once clear, but was not quite good enough in the end.

Magic Dance, who entered the Grade 2 Adirondack undefeated in two starts that included a victory in Churchill’s Debutante Stakes, had her chances severely compromised after stumbling badly leaving the starting gate. She recovered to join the leaders while wide leaving the turn, and battled on even terms with the top pair to the sixteenth pole before giving way late.

Perfect Alibi, who tuned up for the Adirondack with a couple of slow breezes on the turf here earlier this month, covered 6 ½ furlongs over a fast main track in 1:18.39 and paid $15.40.

“This filly is funny because in the morning you wouldn’t know she’s anything. She’ll go a half in 50 and look like she’s giving you everything she’s got,” said Casse. “I was surprised she broke her maiden so easily. I told Mr. Farmer I can’t tell you not to run her and I can’t tell you to run her. The good thing about Mr. Farmer is that he’s not afraid to lose. Sometimes you just have to run them.”

Casse he said he breezed Perfect Alibi on the turf to see if it might “provide a little spark.”

“I thought, well maybe because she’s by Sky Mesa she’d like the grass. I’ve trained a lot of Sky Mesas who really love the turf,” Casse explained. “I thought maybe I’d get her ready for the Natalma or something. But she worked the same on the grass as she did on the dirt. I told Irad she’ll probably struggle a little early, but don’t give up on her, she’ll come running. But he said she took him right there early.”

Casse said the Grade 1 Spinaway going seven furlongs here on Sept. 1 would likely be the next option for Perfect Alibi.