Laura's Light can work out stalking trip in Blue Norther

ARCADIA, Calif. – At 24-1, Laura’s Light split a logical exacta in the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante Stakes at Del Mar on Nov. 30, finishing 2 3/4 lengths behind 5-2 Alms and a half-length in front of 9-10 favorite Princesa Carolina.

In Sunday’s $75,000 Blue Norther Stakes at Santa Anita, the role will change: Laura’s Light will be favored in the one-mile turf race for 2-year-old fillies.

Laura’s Light led to the final furlong of the Durante Stakes at a mile on turf. In her debut in a six-furlong maiden special weight race at Golden Gate Fields on Nov. 2, Laura’s Light closed from a stalking position to win by 2 1/2 lengths.

That may be her preferred style. Trainer Peter Miller said Laura’s Light is “absolutely not” reliant on setting the pace, which could be vital in a race such as the Blue Norther with several other fillies capable of taking an early lead.

Owned by Gary Barber, Laura’s Light was purchased privately from Scott Herbertson and transferred from Jamey Thomas to Miller shortly after the Nov. 2 race.

“We got her a week to 10 days after she ran,” Miller said. “I was very pleased with her last effort. All systems are go. The filly that beat her looks like a star in the making.”

The Durante was Laura’s Light’s first start on turf. In the Blue Norther, the eighth of 10 races on a program that begins at 11:30 a.m., Laura’s Light is part of a field of nine. The race will be run after the track was drenched with 3.5 inches of rain from two significant rainstorms in the last week.

“There are new things for her,” Miller said. “We’ve got a new turf course and there could be some give in the ground.”

The Blue Norther will be the stakes debut for Blue Sky Baby, Lighthouse, Little Bird, and Parkour. Little Bird won 2 of 4 starts in England in the spring and summer. This will be her first start in the United States.

Parkour won a maiden special weight race at a mile on turf in her debut on the surface at Del Mar on Dec. 1, leading throughout. Trainer Richard Mandella envisions Parkour having a similar style on Sunday.

“She liked it so we won’t keep her from it,” he said. “She’s a big, good-looking filly. She has developed and filled out in the last few months.”

Two other fillies have placed in stakes – Croughavouke and Madame Bourbon.

Croughavouke was second in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf in September and second in the Surfer Girl Stakes here in October, but was sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and fourth in the Jimmy Durante Stakes in November.

“We got a little too far back in that one,” trainer Jeff Mullins said of the Durante result.

Croughavouke is owned by Red Barons Barn and Rancho Temescal, who also start Madame Bourbon, the runner-up in the Our Dear Peg Stakes at Gulfstream Park in September. Madame Bourbon won a starter allowance with a $50,000 claiming option at a mile on turf in her debut in California, and first start for trainer Mark Glatt at Del Mar on Nov. 17.