Light the City looks ready to go longer after dominating Anoakia

ARCADIA, Calif.- Light the City was such a convincing winner in her stakes debut in Sunday’s $76,500 Anoakia Stakes for 2-year-old fillies over six furlongs that trainer Jerry Hollendorfer left the winner’s circle eager to try the filly in longer races.

“I think she would like a distance,” he said.

Ridden by Elvis Trujillo, Light the City ($4) had an ideal trip in the Anoakia Stakes. Breaking from the outside in a field of five, Light the City stalked pacesetters Xoxo and Seduire through opening fractions of 21.08 seconds for a quarter-mile, and 43.98 seconds for a half-mile.

Light the City trailed by four lengths on the backstretch but closed the gap to 2 1/2 lengths with a quarter-mile remaining. Light the City took the lead under urging with a furlong remaining, and pulled away to win by 2 1/2 lengths over Seduire. Light the City was timed in 1:09.

Seduire, also trained by Hollendorfer, finished 5 3/4 lengths clear of Starlet O’Hara, who was followed by Holiday Maker and Xoxo.

Hollendorfer said that Light the City and Seduire often work together. He was impressed Seduire was able to set quick fractions and still run well late despite pressure from Xoxo.

“Both of those horses have been working together and they’ve been equal,” Hollendorfer said. “I think Seduire was a little unlucky. We thought they might send that horse.”

Seduire won the Wine Country Debutante at Santa Rosa on Aug. 8 and was fifth in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Aug. 30.

Light the City, by Street Sense, races for Cheyenne Stables. The filly was purchased for $80,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sale in 2013.

Light the City beat maidens in her debut at Del Mar on Aug. 24, and has earned $90,900. She earned only $900 more from Sunday’s race than she did from the maiden race, so high are Del Mar’s purses for maiden special weight races.