Perfect Alibi needs no excuses in G2 Adirondack

by Keith McCalmont

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Tracy Farmer's Perfect Alibi found racing room late in the lane and surged to a half-length score in Sunday's Grade 2, $200,000 Adirondack, a 6 ½-furlong sprint for juvenile fillies at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Mark Casse, the dark bay daughter of Sky Mesa arrived at the Adirondack from a narrow three-quarter length defeat to Maryanorginger in the Astoria on June 6 at Belmont Park.

Sent to post as the third choice in the Adirondack at 6-1, Perfect Alibi settled in fifth position under Irad Ortiz, Jr. as Integral cut out the opening quarter-mile in 22.06 seconds and the half-mile in 45.84 on the fast main track.

The 2-1 second choice Magic Dance, undefeated in two starts for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, stumbled out of the gate and was positioned sixth outside of rivals at the half-mile call, while the 3-5 mutuel favorite, Frank's Rockette, tracked along the rail in third under Julien Leparoux.

Magic Dance, with Ricardo Santana, Jr. up, rallied into contention late in the turn to own a 1 ½-length lead at the stretch call, with Perfect Alibi and Frank's Rockette launching inside runs.

Perfect Alibi, full of run, angled between Frank's Rockette and Magic Dance in the final eighth of a mile and surged clear to secure her first stakes win in a final time of 1:18.39.

"I had a good trip. I broke running because she's that kind of filly," said Ortiz, Jr. "She has a nice stride. I got a good position on the turn and I just had my hands down and relaxed. Turning for home, Asmussen's filly was on the outside, so I didn't want to make a premature move and try to get through because it looked like Santana had a lot of horse, so I just waited. They didn't keep a straight [path], so I got through in between the horses and she responded really well."

Casse and Farmer, who teamed up to win the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets with Sir Winston, enjoyed their first Saratoga stakes score together in the Adirondack.

The Canadian Hall of Fame conditioner credited Farmer for taking a chance in the Adirondack.

"This filly is funny because in the morning when she breezes, you wouldn't know she's anything. She'll go a half [mile] in 50 [seconds] and it's like she's giving you everything," said Casse. "I was a little surprised she broke her maiden the way she did so easy. I told Mr. Farmer, 'I can't tell you not to run her, I can't tell you to run her.'

"She's a little bit like Sir Winston," added Casse. "When he gallops out, he shows you something. Good thing about Mr. Farmer is he's not afraid to lose. Sometimes, you have to run them. This is why you run them, because if you watched her train the past couple of weeks, you would think she wouldn't be any good."

Frank's Rockette completed the exacta, 1 ¼-lengths ahead of Magic Dance. Rounding out the order of finish were Miss Peppina, Big Q, Mylastfirstkiss, Integral and Just Fly.

Leparoux said traffic trouble down the lane may have cost Frank's Rockette lengths.

"The plan was to sit behind the speed, and we got that the first part," said Leparoux. "Even though I was inside, I could move anytime. Coming to the quarter pole, [No. 7 Just Fly] came out and I had plenty of room, so I just tried to go in there and it just closed on me and we got bumped. She ran a great race. If that doesn't happen, she probably wins."

Perfect Alibi, a 9 ½-length winner in her May 16 debut at Churchill Downs, was a $220,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale.

Bred in Kentucky by Pin Oak Stud, Perfect Alibi banked $110,000 in victory while improving her record to two wins and one second from three starts. She paid $15.40 for a $2 win ticket.

Live racing will resume Wednesday with a 10-race card highlighted by the $100,000 Mahony in Race 6 and the $100,000 Evan Shipman in Race 9. First post is set for 12:50 p.m. Eastern.