Paris Lights and Crystal Ball put on a show in Coaching Club American Oaks

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Had there been a crowd in attendance Saturday at Saratoga, Paris Lights and Crystal Ball certainly would have had the fans on their feet, cheering raucously during the stretch run of the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks. Instead, the pair put on their show before the dead calm of an empty grandstand, going eyeball to eyeball through the final quarter-mile before Paris Lights prevailed by a hard-fought head over her stubborn nemesis.

Although Paris Lights and Crystal Ball reside 3,000 miles apart, the former with trainer Bill Mott in New York, the latter in trainer Bob Baffert’s barn in Southern California, they are both owned by the same entity, WinStar Stablemates Racing LLC.

Paris Lights and Crystal Ball have accomplished a lot in a short span of time. Paris Lights entered the 1 1/8-mile Coaching Club American Oaks with only three starts under her belt but on a two-race winning streak, with both victories coming at Churchill Downs within the past seven weeks by a combined margin of 10 lengths. Crystal Ball came into her stakes debut with even less experience, just two prior outings, including a 6 1/4-length maiden win less than five weeks earlier at Santa Anita.

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And the two lightly raced fillies controlled the Coaching Club from start to finish. Crystal Ball set the pace with Paris Lights lapped on her from the outset. The pair turned for home on even terms before Crystal Ball finally stuck her head in front approaching the furlong marker. She then maintained the advantage under vigorous handling by her regular rider Tyler Gaffalione to the end.

Crystal Ball set a modest pace then dug in tenaciously when headed by the winner after a mile, not giving quarter through the final furlong. It was another 4 3/4 lengths farther back to Antoinette, who finished third after looming a threat into the stretch.

Tonalist’s Shape, the 6-5 favorite, checked sharply behind Antoinette in the run to the clubhouse turn, was taken outside horses upon recovering, raced wider around the second turn, and was done after seven furlongs. Velvet Crust dwelt at the start and was never a factor. Altaf was scratched earlier in the day.

Paris Lights, a homebred daughter of Curlin, completed the distance in 1:50.81 over the fast track. She paid $6.

“The other filly fought hard, they both fought hard,” said Mott. “The other filly really dug in but our filly was the best one today. I was very proud of her. The fact we had another allowance race in her at Churchill gave her experience and helped to build on her confidence level, and it paid off. She didn’t draw away by 10 or anything, we’re not going to call her Ruffian yet, but she’s won three in a row and is a pretty accomplished filly considering her lack of seasoning. She’s got some grit and she’s got some quality.”

As for running before an empty house, Mott said: “We’re just glad to be here. The main thing is for the horses to be able to run. It’s something all the horsemen are grateful for, that we don’t have to shut down our entire operation.”

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Mott said he felt the Grade 1 Alabama on Aug. 15 would be the next logical goal for Paris Lights.

Mott also trains third-place finisher Antoinette.

“She’s a hard-knocking filly,” said Mott. “It doesn’t matter whether you put her on turf or dirt. She hasn’t proven to be a superstar but she’s Grade 1 placed today. She’s a stakes winner and a darn good, hard-knocking filly with a lot of quality to her.”