Page 67 - 17 August 2012

Peace Bridge Stakes
MY BIG CITY LIGHTS
by Stacy Pigott
Last year, My Big City Lights did well splitting his time between Oklahoma and Canada,
so owner Clinton Crawford decided to try it
again in 2012. Only this time, he stretched the gelding out to 870 yards. The result was a jump from the claiming ranks to stakes company, and the 8-year-old gelding’s first stakes win in the $42,944 Peace Bridge Stakes on Aug. 6 at Fort Erie in Ontario.
A trainer in Oklahoma, Crawford managed My Big City Lights’ career through his first three 80-yard starts at Remington Park—includ- ing a win at the $7,500 claiming level—and one
at Fair Meadows at Tulsa, where he was third against allowance company. He then sent the veteran north of the border to trainer Jeff Burgess.
Jumping from claiming and allowance races to stakes
company, My Big City Lights didn’t disap- point. Ridden by Scott Sterr, the Holland Ease gelding showed his usual speed out of the gates and quickly became the horse to catch in the 870-yard stakes. Special Ela came the closest to accomplishing the task, but in the end could only come within 1 3/4 lengths of My Big City Lights at the wire.
the hook for owner Lucas Racing Inc. Greg Watson trains the 4-year-old filly, who was rid- den by Tony Phillips. In her most recent start, Special Ela was fifth in the Fort Erie Distaff Challenge at 400 yards.
Show finisher Atta Boy Fly (Fit To Fly- Bugs Jetlark) ran fifth in a 250-yard allowance in his only other start this year prior to the Peace Bridge Stakes. The 6-year-old gelding was fourth in this race last year, and regularly switches distances for owner-trainer-breeder Chantelle Bourgeois.
Kipty Mac (Kenny Mac-Twotwenty Shock) was fourth, followed by Silver Grill (Hawkinson-Takin On The Green), First Step Away (First Down Dash-Cassie’s Promise-TB), First Down Planetary (Planetary-Hannas Rare Bar), and Its Snowing On Me (Feature Mr Jess-Shez A Snow Me).
The win was
the sixth for My Big City Lights, who was bred by David Stone in Oklahoma. Sired by Holland Ease, My Big City Lights is out of
the Thoroughbred mare Hatfield’s Choice, who won 16 of 36 starts during her rac- ing career. She has two other registered Quarter Horse foals—both foaled in 2006— although neither is a winner.
Special Ela (Special Leader-Ocean Memories) was making her first start around
Fort Erie $42,944 • 870 yards :46.190 • si 86
First Down Dash
Holland Ease
Easy Henryetta
MY BIG CITY LIGHTS, ’04-g.
Silver Ghost
Hatfield’s Choice-TB
Gloria Trice
racing news
Battle Of The Breeds Summer Challenge
LOOKINGFORAGOODTIME
by Stacy Pigott
With only one Thoroughbred entered
in the $43,942 Battle Of The Breeds Summer Challenge on Aug. 6 at Fort Erie in Ontario, Canada, it was a safe bet that the Quarter Horses would steal the show. They did just that, with Lookingforagoodtime tak- ing top honors in the 440-yard stakes race.
A former claimer who raced in Oklahoma last year and earlier in 2012, Lookingforagoodtime
stepped up to allowance and
stakes company upon his
arrival in Canada. In his first
stakes attempt for trainer
Renee Wilson, he crossed the
line ninth after a troubled
trip in the All Canadian
Stakes and was placed eighth
through a disqualification.
His second time in stakes company was more productive. With jockey Daniel Rose in the irons,
Lookingforagoodtime loaded into post position six for the Battle Of The Breeds. Breaking on top, Lookingforagoodtime fought gamely to hold off all challengers and was never headed while racing to a neck vic- tory. The 4-year-old gelding stopped the clock in :22.090 for a speed index of 85.
The Battle Of The Breeds is the first stakes win for Lookingforagoodtime, and also makes
him the first stakes winner produced by his dam, Dreams For Lyndsie. A stakes winner on the track, Dreams For Lyndsie has also foaled stakes- placed Cashinginmydreams and the point-earning barrel horse Youlightafire.
Ivy Lane Racing owns Lookingforagoodtime, who has now won five of 15 starts and $47,426.
Finishing second was Fast Flung Floyd (Heza Fast
Man-Swells Belles). Clinton Crawford owns
the 6-year-old gelding, who is trained by Jeff Burgess. Brian Bell rode Fast Flung Floyd, who made only one other start in 2012—a fifth-place allowance finish at Remington Park in April.
Show finisher A Plain Brown Rapper
(A Regal Choice-Belles A Lady) was previ- ously second in the Fort Erie Championship Challenge-G3 on July 2 for owners J. Lloyd and Toni Yother. Greg Watson saddled the 4-year-old gelding and Scott Sterr rode.
The top three were followed by ONe
Kool Shake (Royal Shake Em-Kool Kinda Star), Twin Spires (Separatist-Docs First Card), Straking Eye Opener (Mr Eye Opener- Streakin Sign), Mi Playa-TB (Werblin-Warm Weather), Bones Show Boy (Kipas Special- Copa Show Girl), and Chiseled In Kisses (SC Chiseled In Stone-Kiss Me Im Gone).
Fort Erie $43,942 • 440 yards :22.090 • si 85
Corona Cartel
Furyofthewind
Dashing Phoebe
LOOKINGFORAGOODTIME,’08-g.
Takin On The Cash
Dreams For Lyndsie
Lizas Mystique
SPEEDHORSE, August 17, 2012 65
Michael Burns Photography Michael Burns Photography