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Big City Lights Seeks Consecutive Graded Wins In Saturday’s GII, $200,000 Triple Bend
5/29/2024
BIG CITY LIGHTS SEEKS CONSECUTIVE GRADED WINS IN SATURDAY’S GII, $200,000 TRIPLE BEND GOING 7 FURLONGS AT SANTA ANITA
ARCADIA, CA (May 29, 2024)—Big City Lights, who was scratched from last weekend’s Thor’s Echo Stakes for California-breds, takes aim at a second-straight graded win in the GII, $200,000 Triple Bend Stakes going seven furlongs Saturday at Santa Anita.
Trained by Richard Mandella, Big City Lights is a perfect 2-for-2 this season. He won a second-level allowance/optional going 6 ½ furlongs Jan. 6 at Santa Anita, then came right back to take the GIII Palos Verdes by a nose going six furlongs Feb. 10 at Santa Anita.
A 5-year-old horse by Mr. Big, Big City Lights is 9: 5-4-0 with $392,420 in earnings for owner William R. Peeples. He will be ridden by Kyle Frey for the first time.
Happy Jack makes his second start of the year after a promising comeback effort in the 6 ½ furlong Kona Gold Stakes April 27 at Santa Anita. After a nearly nine-month layoff, Happy Jack was beaten just three-quarters of a length by top sprinter The Chosen Vron in the Kona Gold. The Chosen Vron returned to win last Saturday’s Thor’s Echo.
Trained by Doug O’Neill for owner-breeder Calumet Farm, Happy Jack is 12: 2-2-3 with $325,560 in earnings. The 5-year-old Oxbow horse will be ridden by Edwin Maldonado for the first time.
Dr. Venkman, who showed big promise in three starts last year, makes his 4-year-old debut following a nearly seven-month layoff for trainer Mark Glatt. A gelding by Ghostzapper, Dr. Venkman graduated on debut by 5 ¼ lengths last July at Del Mar and came right back to dominate a first-level allowance by 5 ½ lengths, also at Del Mar.
Dr. Venkman was then sent to Keeneland for a try in the seven-furlong Perryville Stakes. Sent off as the favorite, Dr. Venkman was beaten a head by Raise Cain.
Dr. Venkam is 3: 2-1-0 with $138,500 in earnings for owners Dan J. Agnew, Clint Bunch, Mark Cohen and James Hailey. He will be ridden by Antonio Fresu for the first time.
__THE GII TRIPLE BEND WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER __
Race 6 of 9 - Approximate post time 3:30 p.m. PT
- Dr. Venkman – Antonio Fresu – 120
- Happy Jack – Edwin Maldonado – 120
- Tahoe Sunrise – Juan Hernandez – 120
- Big City Lights – Kyle Frey - 122
First post Saturday is at 1 p.m. PT. Admission gates open at 11 a.m.