Watching on television from his barn at Saratoga Race Course on Friday afternoon, Hall of Fame trainer H. Allen Jerkens could not have been more pleased as the field turned for home in the 17th running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Honorable Miss.

Sitting on a two-length lead and a ton of horse, jockey Cornelio Velasquez had yet to ask the Jerkens-trained Any Limit for run. When he did, the response was instantaneous. Opening up through the stretch, the 5-year-old mare rolled to a 5 ¾-length victory over Zada Belle for her second straight stakes win.

“Wire-to-wire, that was nice,” said Jerkens, who won the 1994 edition of the Honorable Miss with Classy Mirage. “This was her first win here [at Saratoga]. It was one of the best fields for the Test when she ran in it [losing to stablemate Swap Fliparoo in 2006] and I think she ran on the turf here once.”

As she had in the Grade 2 First Flight at Belmont Park on July 4, the daughter of Limit Out bounced right into the lead, zipping through uncontested fractions of 22.16 and 45.00 as her four rivals gave chase. Rounding the turn, favored Miss Macy Sue appeared ready to threaten but instead flattened out as Any Limit cruised under the wire in 1:09.98 over the fast track.

“My filly broke good,” said Velasquez. “She went over to the lead easy. When I asked her I still had a lot of horse. She can run.”

Graeme Six was third, a length behind Zada Belle, followed by Miss Macy Sue and Rite Moment.

“She was just off today,” said Eddie Razo Jr., aboard the beaten favorite. “I thought I had a pretty good trip. I thought I had a really good chance to win the race. When I got to the top of the lane, she was just dead. I didn’t have any horse at all.”

It was the eighth victory in 21 lifetime starts for Any Limit, who earned $90,000 for owner/breeders Joseph V. Shields and boosting her bankroll to $523,138. Coming off a lengthy layoff after suffering a bizarre injury while training last year, she finished third in the Upper Noosh over a soft turf course on May 17, then was fourth in the Grade 2 Vagrancy on May 25.

“We were trying to get her ready and ran her back too quick,” said Jerkens. “After that we were able to regroup [in the First Flight].”

Sent off at the longest shot in the field by the crowd of 19,435, Any Limit returned $15.60 and could return for another engagement at the Spa later this month.

“We’re going to be trying for the Ballerina [Grade 1, Saturday August 24] if she’s well,” said Jerkens.

HONORABLE MISS QUOTES

Winning trainer Allen Jerkens of Any Limit (No. 5): “Wire to wire, that was nice. This was her first win here. It was one of the best fields for the Test when she ran in it and I think she ran on the turf here once. We’re going to be trying for the Ballerina [Grade 1, $250,000 Ballerina, fillies and mares, 3 and up, seven furlongs, Saturday, August 24, Saratoga Race Course] if she’s well.”

Winning jockey Cornelio Velasquez: “My filly broke good. She went over to the lead easy. When I asked her, I still had a lot of horse. She can run.”

Eusebio “Eddie” Razo, Jr. jockey of beaten favorite Miss Macy Sue (No. 1): “She was just off today. I thought I had a pretty good trip. I thought I had a really good chance to win the race. When I got to the top of the lane, she was just dead. I didn’t have any horse at all.”