Constitution's Daughter Laura's Light Tops Sweet Life
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Laura's Light wins the Blue Norther Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Headed by Tiz the Law, Independence Hall, and Gouverneur Morris, colts by Constitution have been making noise this year on the Triple Crown trail. Now one of his daughters is poised to further the promising young sire's reputation when Laura's Light starts as the favorite in the $100,000 Sweet Life Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park Feb. 16.
The Sweet Life measures aptitude different than what's needed on the Derby trail—in this case, speed and turf prowess. The race is a 5 1/2-furlong grass dash.
Constitution, the leading second-crop sire of 2020, stands at WinStar Farm in Kentucky for $40,000.
Laura's Light has both the quickness and turf form to be popular with bettors. After winning her Nov. 2 debut at Golden Gate Fields when racing on the synthetic Tapeta surface, she was acquired in a private purchase by owner Gary Barber and turned over to trainer Peter Miller, under whose management she has twice performed well in stakes.
Setting the pace in the Nov. 30 Jimmy Durante Stakes (G3T) at Del Mar, Laura's Light managed to hold second, beaten 2 3/4 lengths by the unbeaten Alms. On Dec. 29 at Santa Anita, she led throughout in the Blue Norther Stakes, crossing the finish line 3 1/4 lengths in front under Abel Castillo, her return rider in the Sweet Life.
"Abel did a terrific job of just putting her on the lead, and she was very relaxed," Barber said. "At the quarter pole when someone came to her, she let out a notch and she was gone."
Video: Blue Norther S. (BT)
Blessed with speed, Laura's Light appears suited to a cutback in distance, though she has never raced this short of a trip. Out of the Muqtarib mare Light of a Star, she has been training regularly at San Luis Rey Training Center leading to her sophomore debut. She is 6-5 on the morning line.
Sunday's race includes a couple of fillies she beat in the Blue Norther: third-place Blue Sky Baby and seventh-place Lighthouse.
Blue Sky Baby has started since, running a close fourth in a Jan. 31 allowance optional claiming race at Santa Anita. She won a 5 1/2-furlong grass race at Santa Anita in her Oct. 19 debut for owners Michael Lombardi and Joey Platts and trainer Phil D'Amato.
Stepping up from the maiden ranks is Zhang Yuesheng's Shines Her Light, who won her U.S. debut Feb. 1 in a 5 1/2-furlong grass race by three-quarters of a length for her new trainer, John Sadler. She had a record of 0-1-1 in five starts in Ireland.
The post time for the Sweet Life, the seventh race on an eight-race card, is 3:30 p.m. PT.
Video: Sweet Life S. (G3T)