Taris much the best in Humana Distaff

Taris caught pacesetter Stonetastic in upper stretch and romped home a convincing winner of the $300,000 Humana Distaff (G1) at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

Stalking from third as Stonetastic led uncontested through splits of :22.19 and :44.95, Taris came on with a four-wide rally entering the stretch, easily passed the long-time leader and drew off to win by 5 1/4 lengths in a swift 1:21.03 for seven furlongs on a fast track.

"I had a good trip. It was the trip I was hoping for," jockey Flavien Prat said. "I was happy coming into the turn and the pace was what I wanted. When she turned for home, she was gone."

Owned by the Coolmore connections of Michael Tabor, Derek Smith, and John Magnier, and trained by Simon Callaghan, Taris paid $8.40.

Stonetastic held second by two lengths over Enchanting Lady, who edged Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) winner and 2-1 favorite Wavell Avenue for third.

This was the sixth career stakes win for Taris but first Grade 1. Her prior graded wins came in the Raven Run (G2), La Canada (G2), Ranch Bernardo H. (G3), and Go for Wand H. (G3). At Grade 1 level, Taris missed by a half-length in the 2014 La Brea (G1), by two lengths to Wavell Avenue in last fall's Breeders' Cup, and by a length in the March 19 Santa Margarita H. (G1) in her latest outing.

"We might stretch her back out a little bit; back in California the Vanity ([GI] June 4) is a mile this year. We might do that. We'll think about it, but there are lots of options. The Breeders' Cup [Filly and Mare Sprint] at the end of the year is the obvious goal."

A daughter of Flatter and the Theatrical mare Comedy, Taris was purchased for $2.35 million by Coolmore at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton November sale.

(Coady Photography)