Big City Lights won't defend Palos Verdes title

ARCADIA, Calif. – The $100,000 Palos Verdes Stakes on Feb. 15, a six-furlong sprint for open company at Santa Anita, may have California-bred representation – but it won’t be from the 2024 Palos Verdes winner.

Big City Lights, a 7-year-old Cal-bred whose seven career wins including five stakes, was nominated to the Palos Verdes. He will miss the race, however, trainer Richard Mandella said Friday.

Big City Lights grabbed a quarter days before his scheduled start on Jan. 17 in the California Cup Sprint. The setback temporarily knocked him out of training. He has not worked since Jan. 7.

“He’s back galloping,” Mandella said. “We’re going to try to make the Cal-bred race in a month.”

:: Santa Anita Classic Meet! Get DRF Past Performances, Clocker Reports, and more.

That race, the $100,000 Sensational Star Stakes, is March 22 at 6 1/2 furlongs on turf. The next dirt stakes for Cal-bred sprinters is the $125,000 Echo Eddie Stakes on April 4.

Man O Rose, currently the top California-bred, is nominated to the Palos Verdes. His trainer, Jeff Mullins, indicated that the 11-for-18 gelding is under consideration for the race. Man O Rose has won five stakes for Cal-breds. The Palos Verdes would be his first start in a graded stakes.

Others nominated to the Palos Verdes include Bob Baffert-trained duo of Madaket Road and Pilot Commander.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.