Turfway Park: Paros sets track record in Prairie Bayou Stakes

Paros set a track record for 1 1/16 miles while holding off a late surge from Dresden Row to win Saturday in the 29th running of the listed, $244,570 Prairie Bayou Stakes, the feature of the inaugural synthetic championships at Turfway Park.

Ridden by Luis Sáez for trainer Mike Maker, Paros stopped the clock at 1:42.22, besting the previous mark of 1:42.26 set by Cyber Secret in 2013.

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In the early stages Sáez settled Paros in seventh, trailing the field as pacesetter Tremor set sharp fractions of 23.53 and 46.95 seconds. Approaching the three-eighths pole, Sáez began to ask for more, guiding Paros to the outside and steadily gaining ground.

Turning for home Paros seized the lead but had to dig deep to repel a late bid from Dresden Row, who closed strongly along the rail under jockey Martín García. At the wire Paros prevailed by a head.

“I had a good trip and was able to relax off the pace,” Sáez said. “Around the turn, we started passing horses, and he was very game late to hold on.”

Hush of a Storm, ridden by Luan Machado, rallied late to finish third followed in order by 6-5 favorite Wadsworth, Noises Off, Big Blue Line, Money Supply, Exaulted, Wonderful Justice, Midnight West, Stilleto Boy and Tremor. 

At odds of 6-1, Paros returned $14.94, $7.20, and $4.10. Dresden Row paid $5.16 and $3.74. Hush of a Storm returned $4.48 to show.

The Prairie Bayou marked the eighth win in 17 starts for Paros, a 4-year-old gelding by Cairo Prince. Owned by Paradise Farm, his career earnings climbed to $495,596.