WinStar Stablemates Racing's Paris Lights capped her sophomore campaign with a graded stakes score and made her anticipated 4-year-old bow with similar success, running down Portal Creek in the final jumps to capture the April 2 $150,000 Distaff Handicap (G3) by a half-length at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Paris Lights was last in action nearly nine months prior, when she tracked in second position before edging Crystal Ball by a head to win the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) in July at Saratoga Race Course.
Off the respite, Paris Lights utilized a similar trip in the Distaff, breaking sharp from post 4 under jockey Junior Alvarado and sitting in second position behind pacesetter Portal Creek, who led the compact five-horse field through the opening quarter-mile in :24.04 seconds and the half in :48.28 on the fast main track.
Kendrick Carmouche kept Portal Creek to the inside out of the turn, with Paris Lights tenaciously attempting to overtake her from the outside. The duo linked up in the stretch, with Portal Creek initially repelling her rival's initial charge before Paris Lights regained command in the final sixteenth, hitting the wire in 1:26.99 for the seven furlongs.
Honor Way was another neck back in third. Kansas Kis and Lady Kate completed the order of finish.
The trainee of Hall of Famer Bill Mott won for the fourth time in five career starts and fourth straight following a third-place debut effort in April 2020 at Gulfstream Park.
"I was hoping she would give me a good break so I could put myself in the race in a stalking position, and that's how it worked out," said Alvarado. "I got to the lead and she started wandering a little bit and kind of waited on horses. Being off a little while, she got lost on me a little bit, but it was still a great effort.
"She doesn't have a six or seven-furlong kick; she just grinds on little by little," he added. "Once I got clear, she wandered a little. I tried to keep her attention and move my reins a little and keep her moving forward. This distance is not her game; she was just the best horse today."
Paris Lights' time off did not deter bettors, who made her the 6-5 favorite. The Curlin filly, carrying 121 pounds, returned $4.60 on a $2 win wager. Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, Paris Lights improved her career bankroll to $370,412.
"Obviously, it's not her best distance, but she showed up and ran well," said Mott assistant Leanna Willaford. "This gives her plenty of time for the La Troienne Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs. No complaints. She's been here since Wednesday and has been doing great."
Ten Strike Racing's Portal Creek, carrying 120 pounds, ran second for a second consecutive stakes, edging a rallying Honor Way to her outside by a neck. The 5-year-old Shanghai Bobby mare was also the runner-up in the Heavenly Prize Invitational Stakes March 6 at the Big A for trainer Juan Carlos Guerrero.
In the stretch, Portal Creek angled off the rail closer to Paris Lights, who was making her move near the middle of the track.
"The filly ran very game," Carmouche said. "She only runs one way, and she fought it out to the wire. Carlos had her ready today. My filly wanted to fight it out with the other horse, but she was so far out; by the time you drift out there, you're not going to win the race."
Video: Distaff H. (G3)
