More Happy, making her first start on dirt after a debut neck win on Polytrack, became a graded stakes winner Wednesday afternoon, as her speed held for a three-quarter-length victory over A to the Croft in the 91st running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Adirondack for two-year-old fillies at six and a half furlongs.

She had reason to be leg-weary after running the first quarter mile on the fast main track in :21.98, the half in :44.93 and 1:10.12, but she swished her tail through the lane and held on to win in 1:17.51 under jockey Rafael Bejarano.

“She’s a nice filly and we thought a lot of her,” said trainer Bob Baffert, who also trained More Happy’s sire, 2002 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Vindication. “I knew she was extremely fast. I told Rafael that when she leaves, don’t fight her and don’t hold her back. I like Rafael; he’s a good speed rider. I like to get a rider that fits the horse, and I knew he would let her do her thing. She was getting tired in the end. She was tearing it up early. When I saw 44 and four, John Sikura (one of the owners), said, `Oh my God, we’re dead.’ I said, `No, we’re not.’

“I would love to start her at two turns. I really don’t know what we’re going to do. We’ll have to play it by ear.”

More Happy, who carried 118 pounds and returned $5 as the favorite, was able to avoid the problems that plagued others at the start. Phantom Income was declared a non-starter, as she was still in the hands of the assistant starter when the gates opened. And Bsharpsonata misbehaved a tad before she finally loaded.

More Happy was simply left to do what she does best.

“I saw a lot of speed in the race. Mr. (Bob) Baffert told me to let her break from the gate, and see what happens and let her run and don’t take hold of her,” Bejarano said. “That’s why I was letting go. When nobody put pressure on, and we were on the lead, we were gone. She got a little tired. When I got to the turn, that horse was coming and I heard noise behind me. So, that’s why I started whipping, but I don’t think she liked the whip. She ran good. She won comfortably. I didn’t have to push her too hard to win.”

A to the Croft, also making her second start, was still running after the wire.

“Going a mile, this group wouldn’t have seen my horse,” said A to the Croft’s trainer, Ken McPeek. “She ran out of racetrack. She’s a nice filly and a classy one as well. She will definitely like going longer.”

Added her jockey, Hall of Famer Kent Desormeax: “She ran big today. I’m happy. She has a very bright future.”

Passion was third, followed by Honest to Betsy, Yonagucci, Bsharpsonata, Sky Mom, I Promise and the non-starter, Phantom Income.

Saratoga’s Grade 1, $250,000 Spinaway for two-year-old fillies at seven furlongs on Sunday, September 2, is the logical next spot for several of these fillies.