Sparkle Blue took command at the eighth pole and drew off through the stretch to post a two-and-a-quarter length victory in the $100,000 Big Dreyfus Stakes at Laurel Park on Saturday, 15 July.
The four-year-old Hard Spun filly, who notched her third Stakes victory in the Big Dreyfus, improved her record to 5-1-2 in 11 career starts. Sparkle Blue entered the nine-furlong turf contest off a third-place finish in the Keertana Stakes at Churchill Downs in her previous start.
Racing in mid-pack through the early stages of the race, Sparkle Blue and jockey Jorge Ruiz found themselves stuck behind a wall of horses entering the far turn. Ruiz was finally able to swing Sparkle Blue out wide for a clear run at the top of the stretch and the filly responded, quickly opening up on the field despite drifting in slightly at the sixteenth pole. Sparkle Blue easily held off a late bid from Atomic Blonde for the victory.
Bred in Kentucky by Catherine Parke, Sparkle Blue is out of Silk n’ Sapphire, a winning daughter of Smart Strike. Sparkle Blue is a half-sister to Shared Account, winner of the G1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf and to Colonial Flag, winner of the G3 Ontario Colleen Stakes. As a broodmare, Shared Account has produced the talented filly Sharing, winner of the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and G2 Edgewood Stakes and was second in the G1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.
In addition to Sparkle Blue, Hard Spun is also represented this year by the talented three-year-old colt, Two Phil’s, winner of both the G3 Ohio Derby and G3 Jeff Ruby Steaks and a gallant second in the G1 Kentucky Derby.
