Crimson China Back on Turf in Lamplighter
Some lightly raced 3-year-olds will be tested on the turf in Saturday’s $70,000 Lamplighter Stakes, which goes as the 10th race on the card.
Topping the field is Crimson China, owned and trained by the Kentucky Derby-winning Team Valor International and Graham Motion.
The colt by Giant’s Causeway raced in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) last out because stablemate Animal Kingdom had won the Spiral Stakes to earn his way into the Kentucky Derby. Crimson China was fifth that day on Polytrack, but won his only lifetime grass start at Gulfstream in February.
Crimson China will ship in from Motion’s Fair Hill, Md., headquarters for the Lamplighter with regular rider Alan Garcia named aboard.
Trainer Chad Brown will send in Beachcombing from his Saratoga base. The colt by Lemon Drop Kid will be back on the turf for the first time since he was second behind Data Link at Gulfstream in January. In his last two starts, Beachcombing finished fourth behind Animal Kingdom in the Spiral Stakes, and second in an allowance on the Keeneland Polytrack. Paco Lopez is named to ride.
Cam Gambolati will send out the Monmouth-based Le Bon Ton Roule, a speedster who will be seeking his first turf win in the mile and a sixteenth Lamplighter.
“It’s a tough field,” Gambolati said, “but he’ll run decent.
“He’ll go to the lead, that’s for sure,” Gambolati said. “If he gets away with a slow pace, who knows what can happen.”
Mike Luzzi, second to Joe Bravo in the jockey standings, has the mount Saturday.