Laura’s Light returned to a familiar surface and a familiar track May 30, and despite and unfamiliar distance, the result was a dynamic victory in the $100,000 Honeymoon Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park.
Laura’s Light was offered by Hidden Brook Farm at the 2018 Keeneland September sale. She was bred in Kentucky by Golden Pedigree out of the stakes-placed Muqtarib mare Light of a Star, who is also the dam of Arlington-Washington Futurity winner and multiple graded stakes-placed Barry Lee, another Hidden Brook Keeneland September grad.
She now has four wins and a second in six starts and earnings of $214,370.
Entered by trainer Peter Miller off a fourth as the 4-5 favorite in the March 14 Bourbonette Oaks at a mile on the all weather track at Turfway Park, the 3-year-old daughter of leading second-crop sire Constitution tackled 1 1/8 miles for the first time in her career with aplomb. Under a perfect ride from Abel Cedillo, the bay filly tracked second off fractions set by fellow 2-1 second choice Parkour, took charge at the head of the lane, and dug deep to repel a bid from 9-5 choice Stela Star.
“My instructions were to have her break well and Peter told me that if Mike Smith (aboard Parkour) decides to take the lead, let him take the lead and try to relax,” said Cedillo. “That worked. I broke sharp and I saw Mike (breaking from) the outside, so I just let him go. I knew they were going pretty fast, but I just sat and gave her time to relax.”
As expected, Parkour darted to the early lead, opening up by 10 lengths on seven sophomore filly rivals through a half in :46.98 after showing the way through a quarter in :23.26. As three-quarters went in 1:11.66, Laura’s Light began to steadily cut into the leader’s margin, trailing by three lengths turning for home and gaining the advantage approaching the sixteenth pole. Although she drifted in some from the whip in deep stretch after clocking a 1:36.96 mile, the winner gamely held sway late over the fast-finishing Stela Star and Croughavouke.
Red Lark, Guitty, K P Dreamin, Parkour, and Fashion Royalty completed the order of finish.
The Miller trainee is undefeated on the Santa Anita turf course, where she won the Feb. 16 Sweet Life Stakes (G3T) at 5 1/2 furlongs and took the Dec. 29 Blue Norther Stakes going a mile.
“She’s a gutty little filly and I can’t say enough about the ride Abel gave her,” Miller said. “It was a world-class ride. Great judge of pace and knowing when to push the button, that was Abel today.
“I’m happy for Mr. (Gary) Barber, this has been a very difficult period for all of us and it’s great to be back racing. We’ve got a lot of options with her. Del Mar’s all about turf racing for 3-year-olds and we’re looking forward to it.”
Laura’s Light is one of two Hidden Brook Keeneland September grads to earn blacktype on the last Saturday in May along with 2017 grad and previous stakes winner Mucho Amor. The 4-year-old filly was a fast-closing 3rd the Camillo Uro Stakes at Golden Gate Fields.
– edited from www.bloodhorse.com
