Lighthouse Shines in Music City

FRANKLIN, KY – LNJ Foxwoods’ Lighthouse kicked clear at the top of the stretch and had more than enough left late to hold off all comers and win Tuesday’s $400,000 Music City Stakes at Kentucky Downs.

Lighthouse broke from post 9 under Umberto Rispoli at 11/1 odds and sat a stalking trip alongside Bredenbury. Up front, Evil Lyn set the pace through opening fractions of :21.87 and :45.27.

Responding alertly when asked, Lighthouse took the lead and began to pull away from the field. Miss J McKay rallied steadily but could not come closer than 1 1/2 lengths, Lighthouse’s advantage as she crossed the wire first.

The Simon Callaghan trainee completed the 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies over the good turf in 1:14.99.

“We were surprised because there wasn’t much speed in the race,” Rispoli said. “When I looked around and nobody wants to go, I say, ‘Well, I’ll take it.’ I knew she was good enough to win from the front… I decided to run away, and she ran very good to the line, so I’m very pleased and happy with her.”

Miss J McKay was 1 1/4 lengths past the even-money favorite Kimari, while Outburst necked out Lucrezia for fourth.

Bredenbury, She’s My Type, Evil Lyn, Enola Gay, She’s So Special, and Finite completed the order of finish.

Lighthouse’s win followed a neck defeat against older females in the Daisycutter Handicap last time out and improved her lifetime record to 7-3-2-1. The Mizzen Mast filly, purchased for $375,000 as an unraced juvenile, has now earned $335,171.

“She’s been incredibly consistent,” Callaghan said. “I’ve been on a really progressive path, and I think her best race of her lifetime was against older fillies. I think that’s when she really showed she’s really improving. We felt it warranted the trip. We thought it’s good timing, it’s a big pot, and makes sense. It was great that she got the win.”

Lighthouse returned $24 to win, $10.40 to place, and $6.80 to show. Miss J McKay brought back $10 to place and $5.60 to show, while Kimari paid $3.20 to show.