Primed for his graded stakes debut, California-bred Big City Lights used an extended bid to catch front-running Hopkins in the final strides of the $100,000 Palos Verdes Stakes (G3) Feb. 10 at Santa Anita Park.
With a thrilling stretch rally to win by a nose, William Peeples’ Big City Lights earned the victory in his graded stakes debut, which arrived in the ninth start of a career in which he has finished first or second in all his races. A 5-year-old Mr. Big horse, Big City Lights is trained by Richard Mandella and was guided to victory Saturday by Flavien Prat.
Congrats to the connections of #FasigGrad BIG CITY LIGHTS, winner of the Palos Verdes S. (G3) at @santaanitapark!
O: William Peeples
T: Richard Mandella
J: Flavien Prat
Br: Bar C Racing Stables (CA)pic.twitter.com/2m3XC7bw7v— Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) February 10, 2024
Big City Lights completed the six-furlong test for older horses in 1:09.91 on a fast track. In the far turn the top two rivals drew off and grade 3 winner Hopkins would finish four lengths ahead of third-place See Through It , who also was making his graded stakes debut.
“I noticed that he did grab a quarter, I didn’t think it was bad, but it was enough to set him back the first part,” Mandella said. “He showed his class, he dug in and fought it out anyway.”
Of Note
- With Saturday’s score, Big City Lights has a stakes win in three of his four seasons of racing.
- Bred by Bar C Racing Stables, Big City Lights is out of the Exchange Rate mare Champagne Exchange, who also has produced graded-placed winner Exchange Vows (by Tapiture ).
Video: Palos Verdes S. (G3)
