Lady Joanne gamely held off her rivals in the Alabama (Debra Kral/Horsephotos.com)

Bentley L. Smith's homebred LADY JOANNE (Orientate) took the lead while three wide turning for home and held off stern challenges from Lear's Princess (Lear Fan) and Octave (Unbridled's Song) in taking the $600,000 Alabama S. (G1) at Saratoga on Saturday. The Carl Nafzger trainee was always well placed just off the pace dictated by Tough Tiz's Sis (Tiznow), who went in :23 2/5, :47 2/5 and 1:11 1/5 for the opening six furlongs. Piloted by Calvin Borel, the sophomore filly began to assert herself on the far turn, reaching one mile in 1:36 4/5, and dug in gamely while threatened through the final quarter-mile. The winner drifted inside to squeeze Octave in late stretch, but no change was made to the order of finish after a stewards' inquiry into the stretch run. The final time for 1 1/4 miles on the fast dirt was 2:03 3/5, and the 9-2 shot paid $11, $5.30 and $3.20.

Lear's Princess was next-to-last early, made a strong four-wide move entering the final turn, and stayed on gamely in a solid runner-up finish, falling a neck shy at the wire. Going off at nearly 5-1, the second-placer was worth $5.30 and $3 while completing the $57 exacta. Octave was another 1 1/2 lengths back in third, paying $2.60 as the 5-2 second choice. The 7-6-4 trifecta gave back $177. Moon Catcher (Malibu Moon) closed from last to get fourth, trailed by 2-1 choice Panty Raid (Include), pacesetter Tough Tiz's Sis and Folk (Quiet American).

Lady Joanne upped her career mark to 9-6-1-2 with earnings of $771,834. The sophomore lass has reeled off five wins in her last six tries, including the Golden Rod S. (G2), Dogwood Breeders' Cup S. (G3) and the recent Banshee Breeze S. against her elders. The bay miss was a close second to Octave in the Mother Goose S. (G1) two prior.