Just as she did in her last stakes start, E. Paul Robsham Stables' homebred Broadway's Alibi went wire-to-wire, this time scoring by 3 1/2 lengths in the $250,000 Comely (gr. III) (VIDEO) and perhaps punched her ticket to the May 4 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) in the process.
The 3-year-old daughter of Vindication won for the fourth consecutive time April 7 at Aqueduct Racetrack, as she followed her 16 3/4-length romp in the Jan. 29 Forward Gal at Gulfstream Park with another impressive victory for trainer Todd Pletcher.
With Javier Castellano aboard, she covered one mile on the fast main track in 1:36.52.
“I wanted to make a gradual stretch out, so we were pleased," Pletcher said. "(As for the Kentucky Oaks), I don’t know yet. We’ll take her back to Palm Meadows tomorrow and see how she trains. She was kind enough today to step up to a mile. It’s encouraging, but we’ll just play it by ear and see."
Sent off as the 6-5 favorite in a field of six, Broadway’s Alibi paid $4.30, $2.90, and $2.10. She is out of the Seeking the Gold mare Broadway Gold.
Welcome Guest finished second under Ramon Dominguez, 1 1/2 lengths in front of Millionreasonswhy, who was the second betting choice.
Broadway’s Alibi broke from the inside post and was never tested while setting fractions of :23.73, :47.25, and 1:11.74. Singlet was the closest pursuer early on.
Broadway's Alibi turned for home with a comfortable lead, with Welcome Guest chasing from the outside and Millionreasonswhy making a rail bid with John Velazquez aboard. But the favorite opened up in the stretch and won for the second time this season.
“I was the only pace-maker in the race," Castellano said. "I wanted to do my own thing. I took advantage and broke out of the gate. If they put pressure on, there’s nothing I could do. I was much the best in the field. When I asked her, she took off and did it the right way today.”
