Mom shows her heels to Distaff foes

After a frustrating winter at Gulfstream Park where she settled for second or

third in three straight graded appearances, Alex Rankin's TAR HEEL MOM (Flatter)

welcomed the returned to Aqueduct for Saturday's $147,000

Distaff

H. (G2). The five-year-old mare ran her Big A main track record to 4-2-2-0

with a front-running score in the seven-furlong dash under Ramon Dominguez.

Clipping off fractions in :22 and :44 4/5, Tar Heel Mom held sway despite

getting noticeably tired through the lane, passing the wire 2 1/2 lengths in

front in a time of 1:24 2/5 over the muddy strip. The 9-5 favorite, trained by

Stanley Hough, returned $5.60, $2.90 and $2.10.

After turning back a brief challenge from Thunders Dove (Thunderello)

approaching the far turn, Tar Heel Mom next had to deal with Hour Glass

(Petionville), who made a nice inside bid racing toward the quarter pole then

switched outside of the leader for a clear path. However, she did not cut into

the lead in the final three-sixteenths and had to settle for second as the near

3-1 third choice. Hour Glass returned $3.30 and $2.30. Matchless Orinda (Sky

Mesa), the 5-2 second choice, maintained her position in third throughout the

Distaff, gamely holding off Justwhistledixie (Dixie Union) for the show by a

head. Two lengths behind Hour Glass at the finish, Matchless Orinda paid $2.30.