Big City Lights has surgery to remove chip, will miss rest of 2-year-old season
The dazzling juvenile stakes winner Big City Lights underwent arthroscopic surgery over the weekend to remove a knee chip and is sidelined until next season.
After winning his first two starts by nearly a combined 20 lengths for owner William Peeples and trainer Luis Mendez, Big City Lights was expected to start favored Aug. 7 in the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar. He missed the race when his mannerisms changed, hinting something was amiss, after a blazing 46.80-second work on July 27 at Del Mar.
An initial evaluation was inconclusive, and the colt’s connections hoped to train him into the Grade 1 Runhappy Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 6. But further X-rays uncovered a knee chip that was removed Saturday, according to racing and bloodstock adviser John Brocklebank.
“Everything looks real good for a full recovery,” Brocklebank said in a text message. “He will spend the next three to four months in recovery, and then back in training.”
Big City Lights earned a 93 Beyer Speed Figure – highest of the year by a 2-year-old – when he won his debut by more than 12 lengths on May 2 at Santa Anita, racing 4 1/2 furlongs in 51.63. He followed June 20 with seven-length blowout in the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Futurity. He raced five furlongs in 58.20 and earned an 85 Beyer.
Sired by Mr. Big and produced by Champagne Exchange, California-bred Big City Lights was purchased for $22,000 by Peeples at a California yearling sale.
Without Big City Lights in the Del Mar Futurity picture, the list of early contenders includes Bob Baffert-trained debut winners Pinehurst (82 Beyer) and Murray (78). Pappacap, the Mark Casse trainee who won the Best Pal with a 70 Beyer, also is aiming to the Futurity.