City of Light overtakes Bobby Abu Dhabi in Triple Bend
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Photo:
Benoit Photo
Poised like a big cat stalking his prey around the far turn, heavily favored City of Light pounced on pacesetter Bobby Abu Dhabi approaching the quarter pole and edged clear late under confident handling to win by 1 ½ lengths under Drayden Van Dyke, providing him with his fourth consecutive win on the day. Trained by Michael McCarthy, the 4-year-old Quality Road colt got seven furlongs on a fast track in 1:21.35.
Ridden by Victor Espinoza, longshot Bobby Abu Dhabi darted to the early lead and opened up on the winner by nearly three lengths approaching the far turn, but Van Dyke had plenty of horse and prevailed as expected.
An upset winner of the Grade I Malibu Stakes on Dec. 26, City of Light was off as the even money favorite in a field of five older horses and paid $4.00, $2.80 and $2.10.
“When you get on a roll like this, it gets your spirits up and it puts you in a good mood," said Van Dyke. "I just want to keep it going."
“He grabbed me a little bit when he got the bit but then he relaxed again," Van Dyke continued. "He’s just a neat horse and he’s so kind. I’m very thankful to be on him.”
Owned by Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren, Jr., City of Light picked up $240,000 for the win, nearly doubling his earnings to $490,600. With his second Grade I victory in the books, City of Light, a $710,000 Keeneland September yearling, is now 6-3-3-0 overall.
“It’s not always easy keeping a horse at the top of his game for an extended period of time (after skipping his original plan of running in the Razorback at Oaklawn Feb. 19) and going to plan B, but the horse was good enough today to overcome that," said winning trainer Michael McCarthy.
One of two Peter Miller entrants, Bobby Abu Dhabi proved game in defeat while finishing 4 ½ lengths in front of Edwards Going Late for the place. Off at 8-1, “Bobby” paid $5.60 and $2.80.
Unhurried early, California-bred Edwards Going Left kept to his task at the rail while well beaten and finished 5 ½ lengths in front of Miller’s Captain Scotty. Off at 5-2 with Tyler Baze up, Edwards Going Left paid $2.20 to show.
Fractions on the race were 22.33, 44.55 and 1:08.53.
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