Sue’s Fortune Champions G2 Adirondack

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Fortune Farm’s homebred Sue’s Fortune tried out a new racing tactic on Saturday, stalking the lead before pouncing and running off in the Grade 2, $200,000 Adirondack Stakes at Saratoga.

Breaking cleanly from post 6, Sue’s Fortune soon found herself riding in mid-pack while the 7/5 favorite Lyrical Lady set opening splits of :21.72 and :45.53. Pressing the leader midway through the far turn while running three-wide, Sue’s Fortune took command soon after and took off down the stretch before being geared down late. The Jeremiah Englehart trainee crossed with a 1/2-length advantage in a final time of 1:19.83 for the 6 1/2-furlong main track event.

“It was Plan B,” Alvarado said of his riding tactics. “We tried to go with Plan A, which was hoping she broke like last time (when breaking her maiden on July 5 at Belmont). She broke good, but not as sharp as last time. We wanted to put a little pressure early, though. I was sitting in a perfect position; by the 3/8 pole, she started pulling me. I saw horses struggling and I saw horses coming near, so I thought I had to take a shot at that point to let my filly go and hope she would hold. It worked out.”

After a rough beginning in which she looked to despise the kickback from her foes, Virginia Eloise fell almost a dozen lengths behind early but regrouped and exploded in the stretch to take second. Guacamole was far behind in third, while Mucho Amor, Lyrical Lady, and Grandma Gertie were all spread out behind to complete the order of finish.

Sue’s Fortune remains perfect in two starts for Fortune Farm and trainer Jeremiah Englehart. The New York-bred has earned $147,200 in her young career thus far.

“I think the biggest thing for her is her first race,” Englehart said. “She goes out, she takes the lead, and she runs away. This race, she stalked. She’s a racehorse. Now we just have to find out when she’s right for her next race and try to find what the next spot is going to be. For her to settle off the pace this time and close, she wants to run. She’s won on the lead (and) she’s won off the lead, so hopefully now we can get her to relax even more and finish strong as well.”

Sue’s Fortune returned $9.10 to win, $4.60 to place, and $3.30 to show. Virginia Eloise brought back $3.90 to place and $2.70 to show, while Guacamole paid $3.90 to show.