Big City Lights romps his was to top of division in Cary Grant

DEL MAR, Calif. – Heavily favored Big City Lights ($3.80) seized command of the California-bred sprint division with a dominating victory in the $98,000 Cary Grant Stakes on Saturday at Del Mar.

With nemesis The Chosen Vron turned out for winter, Big City Lights produced one of the most lopsided victories of his career in the seven-furlong Cary Grant. He won the California-bred stakes by 8 1/2 lengths, the largest margin by a Cary Grant winner and largest winning margin by Big City Lights since his 12 1/2-length debut victory as a 2-year-old in May 2021.

Richard Mandella trains Big City Lights for owner William Peeples; Kazushi Kimura rode the 5-year-old, who was making only his fourth start of the year and only the 12th start of his career.

“He’s had some problems in his life, he’s overcome them,” Mandella said. The romping victory over runner-up Man O Rose was a bit of a surprise, but Mandella expected him to run well based on his recent workouts.

“He always trains well, he’s a class horse,” Mandella said. “He does anything you want.”

Kimura wanted Big City Lights positioned inside on Saturday, just off the pace set by Curlin’s Kaos and front-runner Man O Rose. Those two sped the opening half-mile in 44.23, and Big City Lights waited.

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Midway on the turn, Kimura pushed the button and Big City Lights cut inside, made the lead and ran away in 1:21.39. “It was smooth sailing behind the horses and then I saw a huge gap on the inside,” Kimura said.

It was the fourth stakes win by Big City Lights, runner-up to The Chosen Vron in the 2023 Cary Grant. Big City Lights has faced The Chosen Vron five times, and finished behind him every time. Big City Lights, by Mr. Big, has won six races and $503,420 from 12 starts.

Man O Rose finished 1 3/4 lengths in front of third place Moose Mitchell. The order of finish was completed by Curlin’s Kaos and None Above the Law.

The Cary Grant victory was the 77th Del Mar stakes victory for Mandella, who is now tied for third with Ron McAnally. Kimura won his third stakes at Del Mar; during the summer meet he won the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante and Grade 2 John C. Mabee.

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