Sparkle Blue put her class on display by powering through the stretch and turning back stubborn longshot Cut From Class to win the $100,000 Big Dreyfus Stakes at Laurel Park on Sunday, 21 July, for the second consecutive year.
Sparkle Blue, a five-year-old daughter of Hard Spun, is now a five-time Stakes winner. Two of those victories have come against Graded Stakes company, in the 2022 G3 Valley View Stakes and the G3 Hillsborough Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs earlier this year.
Sent off as the favorite in the field of seven, Sparkle Blue stalked the pace from fourth as Cut From Class led the field through the opening half mile. Tic Tic Tic Boom applied mild pressure on the leader while racing in second, as Cats Inthe Timber saved ground along the inside rail in third.
Cut From Class and Tic Tic Tic Boom led the field into the far turn as Charmed Way worked her way up to third while racing in between horses. Sparkle Blue still held fourth while racing in the clear on the outside. Cut From Class dug in once the field straightened for home as Tic Tic Tic Boom and Charmed Way began to fade.
Sparkle Blue launched her bid in the lane, coming with a steady run as the field crowded together near the sixteenth pole. Sparkle Blue never wavered, getting up to win by a half-length over Cut From Class. Sun Bee closed late to take third.
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 multiple Graded Stakes-winning filly Sharing, (G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, G2 Edgewood Stakes) and Stakes winner Riley’s Choice.
In addition to Sparkle Blue, Hard Spun is also the sire of 2024 Stakes winners Necker Island, winner of the Iowa Sprint Stakes; Good Lord Lorrie (Woodhaven Stakes); Informed Patriot (Bath House Row Stakes); Kupuna (Evangeline Mile) and Drum Roll Please (Jerome Stakes).
