Skylighter shines brightly in Indiana Oaks

Stonerside Stable's homebred SKYLIGHTER (Sky Mesa) not only upset the

$406,400

Indiana Oaks (G2) on Friday, she dominated. Moving off the rail around the

far turn to make a three-wide bid, Skylighter wore down Shining Image (Northern

Afleet) inside the final furlong to win going away by three lengths. Under Eddie

Castro, the Bobby Frankel-trained miss finished up 1 1/16 miles in 1:44 4/5 over

a fast track. The 14-1 chance returned $30, $15 and $9 while keying the $173.60

exacta, $1,947.60 trifecta and $3,568.60 superfecta (1-9-7-3).

Skylighter saved ground along the inside in midpack while Whirlie Bertie (Stormin

Fever) led by a length through a quarter in :22 4/5 and a half-mile in :47 1/5.

Shining Image, who tracked in second behind the leader, assumed control around

the far turn, getting six furlongs in 1:12 3/5 while bracing for the challenge

of Dubai Majesty (Essence of Dubai), who had rated in third early.

While Shining Image eventually held off Dubai Majesty, she could not fend off Skylighter's winning rally while easily finishing second-best by 2 1/4 lengths.

The near 4-1 third choice, Shining Image returned $6 and $2.60 with Dubai

Majesty paying $6.20 at 9-1.

Sky Mom (Maria's Mon), the 9-5 favorite, made a mild rally to complete the superfecta, 10 3/4 lengths behind Dubai Majesty. She was followed under the line

by Pious Ashley (Include), Golden Doc A (Unusual Heat), Whirlie Bertie, Color Me

Up (Aptitude), Hey There Cupcake (Prized) and Moa Annette (Van Nistelrooy).

Awesome Moment (Awesome Again) was withdrawn.

Skylighter was twice second in three starts last season, and finally broke

her maiden in her sixth career attempt at Belmont Park on May 11. She returned

to that venue two months later to pass her first-level allowance condition, but

had not raced in the nearly three months since that race, and the Indiana Oaks

was her stakes debut.

Bred in Kentucky, the sophomore saw her earnings swell to $327,240 from a line

of 8-3-2-2.

Out of the winning Painted Lady (Broad Brush), Skylighter counts as siblings

an unnamed two-year-old half-brother by More Than Ready and a yearling

half-sister by Fusaichi Pegasus. Skylighter's second dam was Nastique (Naskra),

a multiple Grade 1 winner on dirt and turf who produced the 1998 Honey Bee H.

(G3) victor Thunder Kitten (Storm Cat), herself the dam of this year's

Ribblesdale S. (Eng-G2) heroine Michita (Dynaformer). Nastique is also

responsible for Japanese Grade 1 winner Nobo True (Broad Brush), a full brother

to Painted Lady.