Soft turf the only worry for Alexander

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Lady Alexander has already experienced an extensive range of track surfaces in her brief career, spanning fast dirt to slop to firm turf.

That background could come in handy, considering the weather forecasts call for rain Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

The feature is the $60,000 P.G. Johnson Stakes for 3-year-old filly sprinters on the turf. Lady Alexander, 3-1-1 in 7 career starts, is on target for the race, either on grass or the main track in the event of a surface switch.

The only concern for trainer Bruce Alexander would be something completely new.

"The only thing I don't want is soft turf," Alexander said. "That would be an unknown. I know she runs on the turf. I know she excels on dirt. Even though she broke her maiden in the slop, I'd prefer it's not that.

"Soft turf would be the worst-case scenario for me, and it's an X-factor for most horses. You don't know how soft is soft."

Regardless of surface, Lady Alexander looks ready to go. She turned in bullet workouts in her last two breezes, most recently zipping four furlongs at Monmouth Park in 47 seconds. It's par for the course with a filly who normally goes well in the morning.

"I used to get excited, I used to get concerned," Alexander said. "The truth of it, every time she works, she works fast. She's ready to go. Fitness is not a factor. She's on top of her game."

As usual, Daniel Centeno will be aboard.

The field also includes a pair of last-out stakes winners at Monmouth Park riding two-race winning streaks: Don'tgetsuspicious and Girlfrienontheside.

Don'tgetsuspicious has already put together a banner season for trainer Scott Lake, winning 6 of 8. Claimed for $25,000 last December at Laurel, Don'tgetsuspicious held on gamely to beat Noisy Feet by a nose in the Miss Woodford Stakes in the slop on Aug. 29. They'll square off again in this spot.

Girlfrienontheside hasn't run since taking the Crank It Up Stakes on the turf in late June. She shows a steady work tab at Aqueduct in preparation for this for trainer Tony Dutrow.

Platinum Girl, winner of the Monmouth's Little Silver Stakes in May, shortens up and restores blinkers for trainer Todd Pletcher. Glitter City, Thoroughly Holy, and Pleasant Ballerina complete the field.