City of Light likely to set Malibu Stakes pace

ARCADIA, Calif. – The Grade 1 Malibu Stakes will have a pacesetter after all.

City of Light, a lightly raced speedster who posted two bullet works this month at Santa Anita, has jumped into the seven-furlong Malibu, which will be run Dec. 26, opening day of the Santa Anita winter meet. Post positions were to be drawn Thursday.

Even though he is eligible to a first-level allowance, City of Light is a threat to wire a Malibu field that is otherwise short on pace. The $300,000 Malibu, for 3-year-olds, has been won by the pacesetter four times in the past nine years.

Michael McCarthy trains City of Light, who has won 1 of 4 starts. Drayden Van Dyke, who worked City of Light five furlongs in a blistering 59 seconds Wednesday at Santa Anita, is expected to ride.

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McCarthy’s assistant trainer Thomas Dubaele said City of Light “is doing great, and working very well in the morning.” City of Light finished second in two recent starts against allowance rivals.

A field of nine is expected, led by Grade 2 winner Favorable Outcome and C Z Rocket, a 3-for-3 Midwest-based colt who has posted two sharp workouts at Santa Anita since arriving early this month.

Game Over, who was expected to ship from Florida, will not run in the Malibu.

The expected field: Favorable Outcome, C Z Rocket, Pavel, Edwards Going Left, City of Light, Dabster, Irish Freedom, Heartwood, and The Street Fighter.

Irish Freedom worked a half-mile in 48.60 seconds Thursday morning in company with Faypien, who is expected to start opening day in the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. Irish Freedom will be ridden for the first time by Mike Smith, who replaces Rafael Bejarano.