Sparkle Blue

Sparkle Blue made her 2021 debut in an August 17 maiden special weight race at Colonial Downs. The Hard Spun filly sat in last place early on in a four-horse field, then kicked away in the stretch and won by 3 3/4 lengths under Sheldon Russell. She won a first-level allowance optional claiming race at Del Mar two races later, but was well-beaten in the Jimmy Durante Stakes at the same track to end her 3-year-old season.

Sparkle Blue returned to the races in the Christiana Stakes at Delaware Park on July 2, 2022. She rated off the pace and moved three-wide on the final turn after the leaders. She took control in the last eighth and won in a 15.10-1 upset, withstanding a steward's inquiry to secure her first stakes win.

The Graham Motion-trained filly next ran a good second in the Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs on Sept. 6, overcoming some traffic trouble in early stretch. She then was sent to Keeneland for another try in a graded stakes, and this time got a perfect trip under jockey Joel Rosario, saving ground into early stretch before angling out to take aim on the pacesetter. Sparkle Blue powered clear late to win the Grade 3 Rubicon Valley View Stakes by 2 ½ lengths, improving her career win total to four in seven starts.

Sparkle Blue is out of the winning Smart Strike mare Silk ‘n’ Sapphire and is from an immediate family full of stakes winners. She is a half-sister (same dam [mother], different sire [father]) to Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Shared Account and 3 winner Colonial Flag. She’s also a close relative to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filly Turf winner Sharing, the daughter of Shared Account.