A Lot Too Good in Paradise Creek

Amerman Racing LLC's A Lot proved that he had more than enough, romping to a 5 ¾-length victory in the $100,000 Paradise Creek Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs on the grass on Saturday at Belmont Park.

Favored at 1-2 in the field of six, the son of Tapit stalked a pace set Bridget's Big Luvy, following 24.27 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.91 after a half. A Lot, ridden by John Velazquez, seized command at the top of the stretch and easily pulled away from the field under a hand ride from the Hall of Famer.

In his last start in the Grade 2 1 1/16-mile American Turf at Churchill Downs on May 2, A Lot was outkicked in the final strides by a late-charging Divisidero, finishing second by three-quarters of a length.

"He has that kind of acceleration that he gives to you and he gives it quickly," Velazquez said. "Going seven furlongs, I didn't worry about it the way I would if he was going two turns if he was going more than a mile. I just decided to let him do it and that's the way he did it. I think he could be as effective [going up to a mile], but going 1 1/8 miles, 1 1/16 miles, you really have to worry about how much you use, because you have to be careful of the way you get into position for that last turn."

"Preferably, there would've been a little more speed to give him a target," said winning Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. "At 1 1/16 miles or further, he sort of hangs a little bit at the end but going seven furlongs, he doesn't hang. And he likes firm ground, which he got today."

Mott also trained the race's namesake, the multiple graded stakes winner and 1994 Champion Grass Horse who broke his maiden by 11 lengths at Belmont Park in 1991.

"He looked like Paradise Creek breaking his maiden," Mott joked after the race. "He won at seven-eighths his first time."

Croninthebarbarian rallied late to secure second place, a nose ahead of Enjoy the Show in third. The winner paid $3.10 on a $2 win bet. The $60,000 winner's share of the purse boosts A Lot's career bankroll to $200,615.

The winning time over a firm Widener turf course was 1:21.71.

Bridget's Big Luvy, Alex the Terror and St. Louie completed the order of finish while main track-only entrants Nonna's Boy and Whateveryouwant were scratched.

Source: NYRA