Jockey Drayden Van Dyke got his Big ‘Cap Day at Santa Anita off to a superb start by winning the first four races, including the $400,000 Triple Bend (G1) aboard even-money favorite City of Light.
In perfect stalking position behind Bobby Abu Dhabi, who set splits of :22.33 and :44.55, City of Light needed much of the stretch to get by that determined foe, but did so in the final sixteenth and pulled away to victory by 1 1/2 lengths in a time of 1:21.35 for seven furlongs over a fast track.
“When you get on a roll like this, it gets your spirits up and it puts you in a good mood. I just want to keep it going,” Van Dyke said.
“He grabbed me a little bit when he got the bit but then he relaxed again. He’s just a neat horse and he’s so kind. I’m very thankful to be on him.”
Owned by Mrs. and Mrs. William Warren Jr. and trained by Michael McCarthy, City of Light paid $4. Bobby Abu Dhabi was a clear second, 4 1/2 lengths ahead of Edwards Going Left. The strung-out field was completed by Captain Scotty and Horse Greedy.
A $710,000 Keeneland September purchase bred in Kentucky by Ann Marie Farm, City of Light is now three-for-six lifetime with three second place finishes. He’s a perfect two-for-two in stakes company having beaten Edwards Going Left by two lengths in a 7-1 upset of the Malibu (G1) at Santa Anita on December 26. His earnings now stand at $490,600.
By Quality Road and out of the unraced Paris Notion, by Dehere, City of Light is a half-brother to the stakes-placed Pointsman and Exotic Notion. His second dam was Grade 1 winner Fabulous Notion, herself the dam of Grade 1 vixen Fabulously Fast.
