By J.N. Campbell
Achieving the mark of 'TDN Rising Star' means that you have done something out of the ordinary. Though he may have been green at the start of Aqueduct's fourth race on a slop-filled Sunday afternoon, by the time it was over, Crimson Light (c, 3, City of Light–Crimson Frost, by Stormy Atlantic) proved he earned the title. The colt definitely fit the mold when he came back from a seemingly insurmountable distance to graduate.
The Todd Pletcher trainee debuted with Lasix as the even-money choice here, but he hopped so badly at the start that he spotted the field at least 15 lengths. With Kendrick Carmouche aboard, the bay steadily began to pick up steam into the far turn even though the cameras were focused on the leaders. Rolling from the back of the pack, the bay moved to the center of the course down the lane, briefly was bumped by Shore Time (Not This Time), but was able to get up in the shadow of the wire. A claim of foul by Shore Time's rider was dismissed by the stewards and the result stood.
Crimson Light is his dam's first offspring, but he does have a 2-year-old unraced half-brother named Guns and Ships (Gun Runner), who was purchased for $310,000 by Greg Tramontin at Keeneland September. Crimson Frost initially went to S.F. Henderson for $10,000 at '15 Keeneland September before selling to Amy Moore for $250,000 at the '20 Keeneland November Sale while the winner was in-utero.
This is the fourth 'Rising Star' for sire City of Light, with the last being GISW Fierceness, who is a Eclipse Award finalist for the 2-Year-Old Colt category.
4th-Aqueduct, $70,000, (S), Msw, 1-7, 3yo, 6 1/2f, 1:22.04, sy, head.
CRIMSON LIGHT, c, 3, by City of Light
1st Dam: Crimson Frost (MSW & GSP, $476,278), by Stormy Atlantic
2nd Dam: Rock Jasmine, by Horse Chestnut (SAf)
3rd Dam: Ski Racer (Fr), by Ski Chief
Sales History: $280,000 Ylg '22 SARAUG. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $38,500.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Whisper Hill Farm, LLC; B-South Gate Farm (NY); T-Todd A. Pletcher.
WOW! #1 CRIMSON LIGHT ($4.20) veered in after the break, hit the rail, and was well out of it early. The debut runner was still at the back of the field heading into the stretch, but absolutely flew down the lane to get up in time to win the 4th at Aqueduct. pic.twitter.com/5Zz6h7fh6Z
— TVG (@TVG) January 7, 2024
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