City of Light Off The Blocks With First Winner

[Wandering Eyes]

Three Diamond Farm & Joseph Besecker's Roja Ligera (City of Light) was the 9-5 post-time favorite for Sunday's rained-off event despite trailing all but one rival home following a poor break in a five furlong dirt sprint at Churchill Downs when debuted July 1. The $75,000 OBSMAR purchase (:9.4) got away much sharper this time out, coming between horses to contend for the lead before giving way to Catcha Later Mo (Mo Town). A length behind to her outside, Roja Ligera began to move around the far turn, drawing even with her rival at the quarter pole before drawing off from the three path. Collected Glory (Collected) gave chase along the rail from second and was gaining slowly but ran out of time as Roja Ligera went on to win by 1 1/4 lengths to become the first victor for her freshman sire (by Quality Road).

Also City of Light's first foal born, Roja Ligera is out of a half-sister to GSW Wishful Tomcat (Tactical Cat) and to the dam of MGSW Rated R Superstar (Kodiak Kowboy). The winner has a yearling half-sister by Mastery.

City of Light, winner of both the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at four and the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. at five, currently stands alongside his sire at Lane's End for $60,000.

5th-Ellis, $60,000, Msw, 7-31, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f (off turf), 1:05.31, my, 1 1/4 lengths.
ROJA LIGERA (f, 2, City of Light–Redbud, by Union Rags) Sales History: $155,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $75,000 2yo '22 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $37,139. Click for the Equibase.com chart.
O-Three Diamonds Farm & Jospeh Besecker; B-Machmer Hall (KY); T-Joe Sharp.

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