By DRF.com
DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 9, 2024) – Heavily favored Big City Lights ($3.80) seized command of the California-bred sprint division with a dominating victory in the $98,000 Cary Grant Stakes for Golden State Series-eligibles on Saturday at Del Mar.
With nemesis The Chosen Vron turned out for the winter, Big City Lights produced one of the most lopsided victories of his career in the seven-furlong Cary Grant. He won the California-bred stakes by 8 1/2 lengths, the largest margin by a Cary Grant winner and largest winning margin by Big City Lights since his 12 1/2-length debut victory as a 2-year-old in May 2021.
Big City Lights was bred by Bar C Racing Stables and is trained by Richard Mandella for owner William Peeples; Kazushi Kimura rode the 5-year-old, who was making only his fourth start of the year and only the 12th start of his career.
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“He’s had some problems in his life, he’s overcome them,” Mandella said. The romping victory over runner-up Man O Rose was a bit of a surprise, but Mandella expected him to run well based on his recent workouts.
“He always trains well, he’s a class horse,” Mandella said. “He does anything you want.”
Kimura wanted Big City Lights positioned inside on Saturday, just off the pace set by Curlin’s Kaos and front-runner Man O Rose. Those two sped the opening half-mile in 44.23, and Big City Lights waited.
Midway on the turn, Kimura pushed the button and Big City Lights cut inside, made the lead and ran away in 1:21.39. “It was smooth sailing behind the horses and then I saw a huge gap on the inside,” Kimura said.
It was the fourth stakes win by Big City Lights, runner-up to The Chosen Vron in the 2023 Cary Grant. Big City Lights has faced The Chosen Vron five times and finished behind him every time. Big City Lights, by Mr. Big, has won six races and $503,420 from 12 starts.
Man O Rose finished 1 3/4 lengths in front of third place Moose Mitchell. The order of finish was completed by Curlin’s Kaos and None Above the Law.
The Cary Grant victory was the 77th Del Mar stakes victory for Mandella, who is now tied for third with Ron McAnally. Kimura won his third stakes at Del Mar; during the summer meet he won the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante and Grade 2 John C. Mabee.
Big City Lights has six wins in 12 starts, earnings of $503, 420 and was coming off a third in the Aug. 24 Pat O’Brien. He was second in this race in 2022 and 2023.
“Coming into this race I realized it’s a small field and that there was going to be speed. I just tried to pray for my break,” said Kimura.
”It was smooth sailing behind the horses and then I saw a huge gap on the inside, and like I’ve said before he is a great horse during morning training as well. Always going the extra mile and not wanting to stop after the wire, too. He is very confident to ride. After the last race I was hoping he would jump into the Breeder’s Cup sprint but maybe next year.”