A beautiful bay son of Quality Road, this Michael McCarthy trainee made the trifecta in every one of his eleven starts.

Like his sire, he showed remarkable consistency and turned into a multiple Grade I winner. Owned by Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren, Jr., he even found victory at the same venue where Quality Road scored one of his biggest wins.

But despite those similarities, City of Light proved to be very much his own horse as he built a terrific career all his own.

Exclusively sprinting as a three-year-old, City of Light stayed on the Southern California circuit for the 2017 season. After a runner-up effort at Los Alamitos that summer, improvement followed second time out at Del Mar as he took the early lead and never gave it up to earn his diploma. Another pair of seconds followed against allowance optional claiming company when he made a stop at Santa Anita for the track's autumn meet and then on the Breeders' Cup undercard at Del Mar.

But the year ended on a winning note as he took charge up the backstretch in Santa Anita's Grade I Malibu Stakes. After withstanding a challenge in the stretch, City of Light found more in the final sixteenth to capture his first Grade I and build momentum for his next season at the races.

Back at Santa Anita as the winter wound down, City of Light did not miss a beat. He added another Grade I to his resume in the Triple Bend Stakes before heading to Arkansas for the Grade II Oaklawn Handicap. He delivered one of his most memorable performances in Hot Springs, staying within a few lengths of the leaders in the backstretch before making his move in the far turn. Emerging with the lead in the stretch, he held off the talented Accelerate with a tough and spirited effort. This ranks as one of City of Light's biggest wins for two reasons: first, he defeated a Eclipse Award winner in Accelerate (who would be named that year's Champion Older Dirt Male); and second, he showed that he could win as a shipper, which is always a valuable skill to have.

City of Light followed up the Oaklawn Handicap with a nice third in the Grade I Gold Cup at Santa Anita (won by Accelerate). He then traveled East to Saratoga, taking a fine second in the Grade I Forego Stakes behind Whitmore (who was later voted the Champion Male Sprinter for 2020). After a couple months break, City of Light started in the Grade I Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Churchill Downs. Nearly eight years after his father competed in the Grade I Breeders' Cup Classic, City of Light did one better than Quality Road. After taking control early, he shook off some rivals at the top of the stretch and excelled on the big stage. No one could catch him that day as he became a Breeders' Cup champion in front of the enormous crowd. Certainly one of his finest moments, City of Light had one more race to go. And it came at a venue Qualty Road knew well.

In early 2019, City of Light traveled to Gulfstream Park for the Grade I Pegasus World Cup. While the race had not been around when Quality Road saw action, that did not keep him from thriving over the oval. Quality Road was a true horse-for-course when it came to Gulfstream, winning four graded stakes there during his career (including the Florida Derby). But for all the success Quality Road enjoyed in Hallandale, he never had to start over an off track in any of his starts there. City of Light, on the other hand, met with an off track in the Pegasus World Cup.

But the plot twist did not faze City of Light. As rain fell over Gulfstream, the bay Thoroughbred got into perfect position. Stalking the leader on the outside, he took over in the far turn and proved to be in a class of his own as he won convincingly by several lengths to cap off a laudable career and join Quality Road as a winner at Gulfstream.

In total, City of Light won at five different racetracks, did well as a sprinter and router, won on an off track, and turned into a multiple Grade I winner. Highly versatile, he was also a bona fide competitor. To finish third or better in that amount of starts, which includes graded stakes, is indicative of both talent and a competitive streak. When leading in the stretch, City of Light always had the look of a focused racehorse, not giving up until the wire. He was not afraid to do battle with horses, often showing up in the early mix. He just had no fear. And that bravery was instrumental in making his career so excellent.

Whether he raced in rain or shine, City of Light was indeed a bright Thoroughbred.