It didn't get a whole lot of nationwide attention because of Magnum Moon (Malibu Moon)'s dominant win in the GI Arkansas Derby one race later, but a pair of top-class older horses threw down in a terrific battle in the GII Oaklawn H. Apr. 14, with emergent City of Light (Quality Road) narrowly edging incumbent Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky). Saturday, those two, along with another pair of potential handicap division heavy-hitters, will hook up again in a strong renewal of the GI Gold Cup S. at Santa Anita.
Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren, Jr.'s City of Light has yet to be out of the exacta in seven starts and proved his versatility in Hot Springs, conquering two turns for the first time despite a wide trip. Prior to that, the $710,000 Keeneland September graduate had been limited to seven furlongs, capturing both the GI Malibu S. and GI Triple Bend S. over the winter. He appears to have bounced out of his Oaklawn effort in good order, recording a trio of sharp local workouts, capped by a six-furlong bullet in 1:11 2/5 (1/8) May 19.
Hronis Racing's Accelerate, previously known for upsetting champion Arrogate (Unbridled's Song) in the GII San Diego H. last July, broke through at the top level with a 5 1/2-length romp in the track-and-trip GI Santa Anita H. Mar. 10. Though vanquished in the Oaklawn, the chestnut showed his toughness by battling back late to cut what had been a clear deficit down to a neck at the wire.
Reddam Racing's 'TDN Rising Star' Pavel (Creative Cause) will look to get back on track after a quartet of subpar efforts. The gray, dominant victor of the GIII Smarty Jones S. last September, showed well to be third against older rivals in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup, but was 10th, beaten 34 lengths in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic and finished fourth as the favorite behind City of Light in the Malibu and Accelerate in the GII San Pasqual S. before filling the same slot in the G1 Dubai World Cup last out Mar. 31.
Natalie Baffert's Dr. Dorr (Lookin At Lucky) gets the acid test in this spot. The progressive gelding was a middling allowance type through last year, but has turned the corner in 2018, winning three straight, including a dominant 7 1/4-length score in the GII Californian S. last out. The dark bay earned a 108 Beyer for that effort, which only Accelerate has topped among his competitors, but takes a steep class hike here.
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