Lite Light Beats the Rap, Meadow Star by 7 Lengths

ELMONT, N.Y. —  The stage for M.C. Hammer on Saturday was the winner’s circle at Belmont Park, but this time the rap star was a member of the supporting cast.

The star was the 3-year-old filly Lite Light.

Hammer couldn’t have been happier.

“I can’t remember a more exciting moment,” said Hammer, who, along with his father and two brothers, owns the filly. They race as Oaktown Stable.

Lite Light, beaten by a nose by Meadow Star in the Mother Goose at Belmont on June 8, turned the rematch into a one-horse show with a little more than a quarter-mile to go.

Meadow Star moved into the lead past pace-setting Car Gal approaching the quarter pole, but then Lite Light shot through a gap on the rail and won by seven lengths.

“It was just starting to open up when I went for it,” winning jockey Corey Nakatani said of the gap.

Lite Light’s victory, in 2:00 2/5 for 1 1/4 miles under 121 pounds on a good track, was her fifth in seven starts this year. She became the first filly to beat Meadow Star, whose only other loss in 13 races was against colts in the Wood Memorial on April 20.

Light Lite returned $3.80, $2.40 and $2.10 and earned $150,000 from a purse of $250,000.