ARCADIA, Calif. – Big City Lights will start in his first Grade 1 in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar after a series of fast workouts.
On Saturday at Del Mar, Big City Lights zoomed five furlongs in 58 seconds. The time was close to expectations for a 6-year-old horse who has not raced since a win by 7 3/4 lengths in the California Cup Sprint for statebreds at six furlongs at Santa Anita on Jan. 18, trainer Richard Mandella said.
“He hasn’t run in awhile,” Mandella said. “We wanted him to do something.”
Earlier this month, Big City Lights worked a half-mile in 46 seconds.
Big City Lights has won 7 of 13 starts. His lone graded stakes win is the Grade 3 Palos Verdes Stakes at six furlongs at Santa Anita in January 2024. Big City Lights has won three stakes for statebreds.
Early in his career, Big City Lights set the pace, but Mandella envisions a stalking trip in the BC Sprint at six furlongs.
“He’s gotten older and I think he wants something to aim at,” Mandella said.
Mandella plans to start the 4-year-old filly Kopion in the BC Sprint at six furlongs, while the 4-year-old filly Tamara starts in the $1 million BC Filly and Mare Sprint at seven furlongs. Tamara worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 at Santa Anita on Saturday.
“We weren’t looking for a big work,” Mandella said.
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