On Monday, La Ville Lumière claimed victory in the $100,000 Blue Nozer Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, a one-mile turf race at Santa Anita. Jockey Flavien Prat expertly navigated the filly through a slow-paced race, starting from the back and making a strong late surge to win decisively. Covering the first half mile in 49.52 seconds, La Ville Lumière, who boasts a record of nine wins and five losses, maintained a steady pace before unleashing her finishing kick near the stretch, overtaking Wild Like the West—who briefly led before finishing second—and Peanut Butter Bombe, who came in third.
Prat remarked, “I knew she was going to finish strong, but I wasn’t certain I could catch her due to the slow pace.” Trained by Michael McCarthy, La Ville Lumière completed the race in 1:37.52. The filly recently placed third in the G3 Jimmy Durante stakes and has shown versatility, performing well on both turf and dirt. With a current record of 7 starts, 2 wins, 1 second, and 2 thirds, she has earned over $160,000 for her owners Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Savvy Racing, and Ken T. Reimer.
Trainer McCarthy praised the performance as a breakout moment and hinted at the possibility of racing La Ville Lumière back on dirt in the future. The filly paid out $5.60 to win, while Wild Like the West returned $5.60 and Peanut Butter Bombe paid $3.20. Owner Hal Mintz expressed excitement about the mare’s progress and future potential, appreciating the well-executed race strategy by Prat.
Flavien Prat commented on the race dynamics, noting the slow pace and how challenging it was to position La Ville Lumière for the finish. McCarthy highlighted the filly’s versatility and promising outlook, while Mintz celebrated the long-awaited big win ahead of her third year.
Fan Take: This victory showcases the emergence of a versatile young filly with potential to impact both turf and dirt races, exciting fans about future competitions. It underscores the importance of strategic riding and conditioning, promising thrilling contests in upcoming major stakes.
