Laura's Light shows her versatility in Sweet Life Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Laura’s Light has compiled a varied collection of stakes wins on turf this winter at Santa Anita.

After winning the minor Blue Norther Stakes at a mile on turf on Dec. 29, Laura’s Light won her debut in a turf sprint in Sunday’s Grade 3 Sweet Life Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

Ridden by Abel Cedillo, Laura’s Light ($2.80) caught pacesetter Lighthouse in the final furlong to win by three-quarters of a length, finishing 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:02.90. She earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 81.

“She can go anywhere – short or long,” Cedillo said. “She has a big kick.”

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Cedillo was aboard Laura’s Light in the Blue Norther as well as her first start in Southern California, a game second to the multiple stakes winner Alms in the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante Stakes at a mile on turf at Del Mar in November.

In the $101,000 Sweet Life, Laura’s Light was third for the first three furlongs behind Lighthouse, who dueled for the lead with 54-1 Spitefulness. Laura’s Light took the lead with a furlong remaining.

“It worked out pretty good,” Cedillo said. “There was a little speed and I put her where I wanted.”

Lighthouse, seventh in the Blue Norther in her stakes debut, finished 4 1/4 lengths in front of 23-1 Roadrunner’s Honor, who was racing on turf for the first time in her fifth start. Roadrunner’s Honor was last of five in the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos in December.

Lighthouse ran a game race despite facing early pressure.

“It’s a shame the 50-1 pressed us,” jockey Drayden Van Dyke said. “She might have had an easy lead. She ran awesome.”

Blue Sky Baby finished fourth, followed by Florentine Diamond, Orquidias Biz, and Spitefulness.

Laura’s Light has won 3 of 4 starts and earned $147,320. By Constitution, Laura’s Light is owned by Gary Barber and trained by Peter Miller. Barber purchased Laura’s Light in November, after she won her debut in a maiden special weight race at Golden Gate Fields on Nov. 2.