Favored Skylighter takes Allaire DuPont

Trainer Bobby Frankel said Skylighter didn't do well in south Florida this winter. Once back in the Northeast, however, Skylighter appeared to perk up. Her new attitude plus a soft field equaled a return to the winner's circle in Saturday's Grade 2 $150,000 Allaire DuPont Stakes.

After getting squeezed slightly at the start, Skylighter, under Julien Leparoux, made the lead entering the first turn, then set moderate fractions of 25.37 seconds, 49.61, 1:13.30 while opening up an insurmountable advantage turning for home. With two cracks of Leparoux's left-handed whip, heavily-favored Skylighter ($2.80) continued on for 4 1/4-length victory. She covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.34.

"Kind of put them to sleep on the backstretch," Leparoux said. "That was good; we had a perfect trip, we got an easy lead and she finished good anyway."

Unforgotten, last turning down the backside but second in midstretch, won a nose decision over All Smiles for second. Tammy's Victress was fourth followed by Two Columbus.

Sea Chanter, part of the Darley Stable owned entry along with Skylighter, and Striking Tomisue both scratched from the DuPont in favor of Saturday's Shuvee Stakes at Belmont.

Skylighter, a 4-year-old daughter of Sky Mesa, is 4 for 11 in her career with earnings of $451,212. She won the Grade 2 Indiana Oaks last year.