Paris Lights Scores in Coaching Club American Oaks
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Photo: Skip Dickstein
Paris Light (left) out duels Crystal Ball to win the Coaching Club American Oaks
Lightly-raced Paris Lights outdueled Crystal Ball in the stretch to narrowly win the $350,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) July 18 at Saratoga Race Course.
Stepping into a graded stakes race after earlier victories this year at Churchill Downs in maiden and allowance company, Paris Lights completed 1 1/8 miles on a fast track under Tyler Gaffalione in 1:50.81. She paid $6 as the second favorite in the field of five.
Antoinette ran third and was followed by favored Tonalist's Shape in fourth.
The latter, racing with blinkers for the first time, appeared rank with her new equipment and was steadied into the first of two turns. She faded down the lane, beating only slow-starting Velvet Crush in the field of five.
Altaf was scratched.
The CCA Oaks provided qualifying points toward the Sept. 4 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs on a 100-40-20-10 basis to the top four finishers.
Bill Mott trains the winner, a 3-year-old Curlin filly for WinStar Stablemates Racing.
This story will be updated.