Prat And Favorite La Ville Lumiere Slip Through On Rail And Score in Monday's Blue Norther Stakes For 2-Year-Old Fillies Going A Mile On Turf At Santa Anita

PRAT AND FAVORITE LA VILLE LUMIERE SLIP THROUGH ON RAIL AND SCORE IN MONDAY’S BLUE NORTHER STAKES FOR 2-YEAR-OLD FILLIES GOING A MILE ON TURF AT SANTA ANITA

ARCADIA, CA (Dec. 29, 2025)—La Ville Lumiere became a newly minted stakes winner Monday when she slipped through on the rail under jockey Flavien Prat and surged late to score by a neck in the $100,000 Blue Norther Stakes for 2-year-old fillies going a mile on turf at Santa Anita.

Prat and La Ville Lumiere, the 9-5 favorite, saved ground throughout and were able to overcome a tepid pace for the victory. The opening half mile was covered in 49.52 seconds on firm turf and the quarter pole was reached in 1:14.17. Prat and La Ville Lumiere had settled in the back half of the field before launching their winning move at the top of the stretch. Wild Like the West, the second-longest shot on the board at 7-1, had the lead inside the eighth pole but could not hold off the late charge of La Ville Lumiere. Wild Like the West, ridden by Juan Hernandez, held second by a neck over Peanutbutterbombe (3-1).

“I knew she would finish but I didn’t know if I would be able to catch them. The pace was slow,” Prat said.

Trained by Michael McCarthy, La Ville Lumiere won in a time of 1:37.52.

La Ville Lumiere most recently finished third in the GIII Jimmy Durante at Del Mar on Nov. 29, also at one mile on turf. Prior to that, the City of Light filly raced on dirt finishing third in the GII Oak Leaf at Santa Anita in October and seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar on Oct. 31. She is now 7: 2-1-2 with more than $160,000 in earnings for owner Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Sabby Racing and Ken T. Reimer.

“It was a fantastic performance,” McCarthy said. “She trained well since the Breeders’ Cup. She’s versatile. This today was kind of a breakout performance for her. It’s nice to get a black-type win.”

McCarthy said a return to dirt could be in the future for La Ville Lumiere.

“Keeping her on the grass for now but we have a lot of options coming up in the next couple of months,” McCarthy said.

La Ville Lumiere paid $5.60, $2.80 and $2.20. Wild Like the West, trained by Richard Baltas, returned $5.60 and $3.40. Peanutbutterbombe, ridden by Umberto Rispoli for trainer Phil D’Amato, paid $3.20.