Sparkle Blue made her sophomore debut a winning one when she overhauled Tasweya in deep stretch to win the Christiana Stakes by a half-length at Delaware Park on Saturday, 2 July.
The daughter of Hard Spun led home a Darley-sired exacta in the mile-and-a-sixteenth turf contest, with Tasweya (by Frosted) holding on for second. Both fillies then had to endure a lengthy stewards’ inquiry involving the first four fillies across the wire. After a 15-minute review, both Sparkle Blue’s and Tasweya’s placings remained the same and the result became official.
Sparkle Blue, who was making her first start of the year in the Christiana, was settled into third behind Tasweya and Center Stage through the early stages of the race. Sparkle Blue began closing on the leaders on the far turn, drawing even with the two leaders at the top of the stretch as she raced three-wide. The three fillies battled through the lane, with Center Stage – who was in between Tasweya and Sparkle Blue – having to check after the other two fillies both came over on her. Sparkle Blue finally overhauled Tasweya nearing the wire to post the half-length 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 second in the G1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Hard Spun is coming off a successful year which was highlighted by Aloha West, winner of the G1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint and Silver State, winner of the G1 Met Mile. Hard Spun is also represented this year by Stakes winners Exotic West, Green Light Go and My Philly Twirl.
