Perfect Alibi outduels Frank's Rockette in Adirondack

Tracy Farmer's Perfect Alibi fought through horses at the top of the stretch and outlasted a game Frank's Rockette late to win a thrilling edition of the $200,000 Adirondack Stakes (G2) for 2-year-old fillies.

With Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, Perfect Alibi completed 6 1/2-furlongs in 1:18.89 and paid $15.40 for the half-length victory. Frank's Rockette finished well clear of Magic Dance for second. 

Perfect Alibi raced unhurried near the back of the eight-horse field through fractions of :22.06 and :45.84 set by Integral and John Velasquez.

As the field turned into the stretch, both Perfect Alibi in the middle of the track and Frank's Rockette, racing along the rail, were forced to bull through rivals for clear running room.

"I got a good position on the turn and I just had my hands down and relaxed," Ortiz said. "Turning for home [Magic Dance, with Ricardo Santana up] was on the outside, so I didn't want to make a premature move 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."

Perfect Alibi was a 9 1/2-length debut winner at Churchill Downs this spring before just missing in the Astoria Stakes at Belmont Park on June 6.

She was purchased at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale for $220,000.

Trainer Mark Casse indicated Perfect Alibi has turned into a hidden gem. 

"This filly is funny, because in the morning when she breezes you wouldn't know she's anything," Casse said. "She'll go a half [mile] in 50 [second] and it's like she's giving you everything.

"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'...good thing about Mr. Farmer is he's not afraid to lose. Sometimes you have to run them."