Thrilling finish to first Grade I race saratoga

b1 of Crystal Ball and it was not until the final strides that Gaffalione was able to get his filly’s head in front.

“My filly just kept digging in,” said Gaffalione, who has been aboard the daughter of Curlin in all four of her career starts, three of them wins.” The other filly was a little stubborn to get by, but my filly is all class. All credit to Mr. Mott and his team. I’m just thankful I got the opportunity to ride her.”

Paris Lights was the 2-1 second choice in the field of five after trainer Chad Brown scratched

Altaf earlier in the day. Crystal Ball, ridden by Javier Castellano, went off at 4-1 and was saddled by New York-based trainer John Terranova. Baffert was in California.

Paris Lights broke her maiden in her second start on May 31 at Churchill Downs and then won an allowance race at the same track June 27. The combined margin of victory in those races was 10 lengths. Mott decided to give her a shot in the big time. None of the horses in the race had ever run in a Grade I race and only one, 6-5 favorite Tonalist’s Shape, had ever won a graded race.

Of her six wins in seven starts (all at Gulfstream Park), two of them were graded stakes. She was not a factor in the Coaching Club American Oaks.

Crystal Ball, who came east after breaking her maiden at Santa Anita by 61/4 lengths in her second career start, is a daughter of Malibu Moon. She set all the early pace and then would not go away when the two horses barreled to the finish line.

“She’s a young horse and it was just the third start of her career,” said Castellano, who was riding Crystal Ball for the first time. “I’m not disappointed. We just got beat on the (head) bob.”

Mott said the likely next target for Paris Lights will be the Grade I, $500,000 Alabama here on Aug. 15.

“She didn’t draw away and win by 10 (lengths),” he said. “I’m not gonna call her Ruffian just yet. But she is a pretty accomplished filly for the lack of seasoning she has. She has some grit and she has some quality.”

Antoinette, also trained by Mott, finished third, 43/4 lengths behind Crystal Ball.

The winning time was 1:50.81. Paris Lights, owned by Winstar Stablemates Racing LLC, paid $6.00, $3.60 and $2.60.

Hall of Fame Stakes

Decorated Invader continued to show his class as he won the Grade II, $150,000 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes. Owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, trained by Christophe Clement and ridden by Joel Rosario, the 3-yearold son of Declaration of War won for the fifth time in seven starts on the grass. The 11/4-length win kept him unbeaten in three starts this year.

“He’s a top-class horse and has been since Day 1 for me,” Clement said of the 2-5 favorite. “I love him. I love the way he trains, I love the way he races.”

Rosario and Decorated Invader reeled in pacesetter Get Smokin in the stretch and began edging away in the final sixteenth of the 11/8mile race on the Inner Turf. The final time was 1:49.29. The winner paid $2.80 and $2.10. There was no show wagering in the field of five. Gufo, also trained by Clement, was scratched earlier in the day. Money Moves, a main-track-only horse, was also scratched.

twilkin@timesunion.com 518454-5415 @tjwilkin