Taris Dominant in Humana Distaff

Back at arguably her best distance, Taris shined brightest in the $300,000 Humana Distaff (gr. I) May 7 at Churchill Downs. 

The 5-year-old Flatter   mare—who had never finished worse than third or more than two lengths back in her first three grade I tries—smashed through that barrier Saturday with a 5 3/4-length Distaff score for owners Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and John Mangier.

Taris, trained by Simon Callaghan and ridden for the first time Saturday by Flavien Prat, stalked early leader Stonetastic in third, moved up three-wide in the turn, and blew by in the stretch, finishing off the seven furlongs in 1:21.03. Stonetastic held second, two lengths ahead of Enchanting Lady, while Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) winner Wavell Avenue checked in fourth.

Stonetastic, the last-out winner of the Inside Information Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park, shot to the front and set fractions of :22.19, :44.95, and 1:08.84 through six furlongs, with Super Saks tracking in second and Taris to the outside in third. But there was no question who was best at the top of the stretch.

"It was the trip I was hoping for," said Prat, who won his second graded stakes in as many days after a victory in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint (gr. IIIT) aboard Rocket Heat May 6. "I was happy coming into the turn and the pace was what I wanted. When she turned for home, she was gone."

The winner paid $8.40, $4.20, and $3.20 across the board. Stonetastic brought $4.20 and $3.20, and Enchanting Lady delivered $3.80 to show.

Taris is now a five-time stakes winner in one-turn races, but also showed she could go two turns earlier this year in her 5 1/4-length La Canada Stakes (gr. II) score. She was purchased for $2.35 million by Callaghan at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November sale.

"There was a little bit of pressure with such a high purchase price, but she deserved it and she deserved it before this," Callaghan said. "We couldn't be happier. It was a perfect trip. We thought there would be speed up to the inside and we just got a nice, clean trip and it just worked out perfectly."

Birdatthewire closed to finish fifth, followed by You Bought Her, Super Saks, Sarah Sis, and Kathballu to complete the order of finish.

Bred in Kentucky by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider, out of the Theatrical mare Comedy, Taris now has an 8-2-2 record from 13 starts and became a millionare with the Distaff win. She now has earnings of $1,086,260.