After capping her 2021 season a distant 10th in the GIII Jimmy Durante S. Nov. 27 at Del Mar, her connections gave her some time away and brought their filly back July 2 in Delaware's Christiana S. sporting first-time blinkers. Gamely overcoming contact in the stretch, she held on to win by a half-length at 15-1 over a field which included dominating next-out winner Gizala (Ire) (Invincible Spirit). Resurfacing last out Sept. 6 in Colonial's Woodford Reserve Virginia Oaks with first-time Lasix, she again fought through contact in the stretch to pick up second over familiar face Lady Puchi (Into Mischief) and SP Omixochitl (More Than Ready) at 30-1 odds.

Tracking from third on the fence after the jump here without the diuretic, Sparkle Blue pursued a clearing leader into the upper stretch after :23.02 and :47.77 splits to launch her winning bid outside of that rival at the furlong marker. Sustaining her kick and inching clear to a 2 1/2-length margin, she was comfortably clear of a hard-charging California Angel and Turnerloose, who chased her in to close out the trifecta.

“[Trainer] Graham [Motion] told me to let her be happy, let her be comfortable. She showed a little bit of speed going into the first turn and she was really happy there. She did great and we had a good trip,” said Joel Rosario after the race. “It looked like to the inside there the horse in front was coming in a little bit. I was trying to work it out to get her clear outside, and she did, and after that she just went on. It was perfect.”

Pedigree Note:

Sparkle Blue hails from the sought-after line of Silk n' Sapphire, making her a half-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf heroine Shared Account (Pleasantly Perfect), who would later accomplish the rare feat of producing a Breeders' Cup winner herself when daughter Sharing (Speightstown) planted her flag in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in 2020. She would later travel to Royal Ascot in the second start of her 3-year-old season, and finish a game second in the G1 Coronation S.

In addition to the mother-daughter pair, Sparkle Blue also claims GSW & MGSP Colonial Flag (Pleasant Tap). The mare has had a bit more hard luck than their famous shared sister with only two of her first four foals being registered. Of those two, the winning Demimondaine (Tapit) sold for $900,000 at KEENOV in 2020 to Claiborne Farm. Her yearling colt by Speightstown brought $450,000 last month at KEESEP from White Birch Farm and Whitehorse Stables.

Half-sister Secret Jewel (Bernardini)–a $1.2 million KEESEP purchase by Besilu Stables–also flies the female line's flag as the dam of GIII Beaumont S. winner Twenty Carat (Into Mischief) and her four-time winning, older full-sibling Mystic Night. Mark of Success (Mt. Livermore), his dam's lone graded stakes-placed male, found the enclosure on four occasions and ran second in the GIII Risen Star S.  Sparkle Blue is the last registered foal for Silk n' Sapphire.

Friday, Keeneland
RUBICON VALLEY VIEW S.-GIII, $298,594, Keeneland, 10-28, 3yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:42.42, gd.
1–SPARKLE BLUE, 118, f, 3, by Hard Spun
           1st Dam: Silk n' Sapphire, by Smart Strike
           2nd Dam: Golden Tiy, by Dixieland Band
           3rd Dam: Tiy, by Nalees Man
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O-Catherine Parke and Augustin Stable; B-Catherine Parke (KY); T-H. Graham Motion; J-Joel Rosario. $174,375. Lifetime Record: 7-4-1-0, $357,075. *1/2 to Mark of Success (Mt. Livermore), GSP, $153,388; 1/2 to Shared Account (Pleasantly Perfect), GISW, $1,649,427; 1/2 to Colonial Flag (Pleasant Tap), GSW-Can, SW & MGSP-USA, $312,463. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–California Angel, 118, f, 3, California Chrome–Sea Mona, by Tiz Wonderful. ($5,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $5,500 2yo '21 OBSOPN). O-Chris Walsh; B-Irish National Stud (KY); T-George Leonard, III. $56,250.
3–Turnerloose, 118, f, 3, Nyquist–Goaltending, by A.P. Indy. ($32,000 RNA Wlg '19 KEENOV; $50,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Ike and Dawn Thrash; B-William Humphries & Altair Farms LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $28,125.
Margins: 2HF, NK, HD. Odds: 4.51, 3.39, 6.64.
Also Ran: Bubble Rock, Majestic Glory (GB), Lady Puchi, Bicameral, My Philly Twirl, Sunroof, Heavenly Hellos. Scratched: Diamond Wow, Dolce Zel (Fr), Frippet, Oakhurst.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPshttp://www.equineline.com/tdn/pedigree.cfm?tk=SAR&cy=USA&rd=09/07/2015&rn=9&de=D  &ref=9104432. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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On the heels of Friday victories by Three Chimneys Farm's Twenty Carat in the Beaumont (G3) and Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Chasing Artie in the Palisades Turf Sprint, Ward doubled up again Saturday with Ten Broeck Farm's Kimari in the Madison (G1) and his Bound for Nowhere in the Shakertown (G2).

“They are both fine this morning,” Ward said about his Saturday stakes winners, adding that neither would run in a stakes at Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby Week in four weeks. “That is too quick.”

With his second victory in the Shakertown, Bound for Nowhere boosted his career earnings to $999,857. “But, when you add in his pounds and Euros from his races at Ascot, he's a millionaire,” Ward said.

In notching her first graded stakes victory, Kimari turned back the likes of Grade 1 winner Bell's the One, who finished in a dead heat for second in her 2021 debut.

“She's got a few nicks, but nothing we can't manage,” trainer Neil Pessin said of Bell's the One. “I still wouldn't trade horses with anyone.”

Next for Bell's the One figures to be a chance to repeat in the $500,000 Derby City Distaff (G1) Presented by Kendall-Jackson Winey to be run May 1 at Churchill.

The post Ward Doubling Down In Stakes On First Two Days Of Keeneland Meet appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Also capturing stakes Friday afternoon were Stuart Janney III's homebred Scarlett Sky in the 33rd running of the $150,000 Transylvania (G3) for 3-year-olds and Ken and Sarah Ramsey's homebred Chasing Artie in the second running of the $100,000 Palisades Turf Sprint for 3-year-olds.

In the Beaumont, Twenty Carat, trained by Wesley Ward and ridden by Luis Saez, covered the Beard Course of 7 furlongs, 184 feet in 1:26.04. The victory was the second in the race for Ward, who saddled Gypsy Robin to win in 2012, and Saez, who won in 2019 on Fancy Dress Party.

Twenty Carat also picked up her first 10 points toward the Kentucky Oaks (G1), but is not nominated to the race.

My Girl Red led the field of seven through fractions of :22.18 and :44.79 with Farsighted and Twenty Carat in closest pursuit. On the far turn, Twenty Carat made a three-wide move and surged to the front at the head of the lane, quickly opened a daylight advantage and was never threatened in the run to the finish.

The victory was worth $90,000 and increased Twenty Carat's earnings to $115,600 with a record of 3-2-1-0. Twenty Carat is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Into Mischief out of the Bernardini mare Secret Jewel.

Twenty Carat (Into Mischief) wins the Beaumont Stakes

Twenty Carat returned $9, $4 and $3. Slumber Party, ridden by Joel Rosario, returned $3 and $2.40 and finished 1½ lengths ahead of Amalfi Princess, who paid $3.60 to show under Tyler Gaffalione.

Lady Traveler finished fourth and was followed in order by Farsighted, Cilla and My Girl Red.

Scarlett Sky rallies to win Kentucky Utilities Transylvania
In the Transylvania, Scarlett Sky rallied from last in the field of six at the top of the stretch to overhaul even-money favorite Fire At Will and longshot Palazzi in deep stretch to win by a half-length and post his first stakes victory.

Trained by Shug McGaughey and ridden by Joel Rosario, Scarlett Sky covered the 1 1/16 miles on a turf course rated as good in 1:43.89. It is the second victory in the race for McGaughey who won in 2011 with Air Support.

Fire At Will, winner of last fall's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Keeneland, shot right to the front under Tyler Gaffalione and maintained a clear advantage through fractions of :24.63, :49.83 and 1:14.32 as Scarlett Sky raced at the rear of the field.

In the stretch, Fire At Will turned back a bid from Barrister Tom at the eighth pole and was clear at the sixteenth pole only to have Palazzi and then Scarlett Sky blow past in deep stretch.

Scarlett Sky wins the Transylvania

The victory was worth $90,000 and improved Scarlett Sky's earnings to $210,400 with a record of 7-3-3-0. Scarlett Sky is a Kentucky-bred son of Sky Mesa out of the Arch mare Mata Mua.

Sent off as the third choice, Scarlett Sky returned $7, $3.60 and $2.40. Palazzi, ridden by Chris Landeros, returned $7.20 and $3 and finished a half-length in front of Fire At Will who paid $2.20 to show.

Barrister Tom was another 1¼ lengths back in fourth and was followed in order by Earls Rock (IRE) and Breadman.

Chasing Art takes Palisades Turf Sprint
In the Palisades Turf Sprint, Joel Rosario rallied Chasing Artie from last place at the top of the stretch in the field of nine to overhaul Fauci inside the sixteenth pole to win by 1¾ lengths.

Trained by Wesley Ward, who also conditions Fauci, Chasing Artie covered the 5½ furlongs on a “good” turf course in 1:03.46. The victory was worth $60,000 and increased Chasing Artie's earnings to $87,000 with a record of 4-2-1-0.

Longshot Lock Up led the field through an opening quarter in :21.76 with Bodenheimer and Unitedandresolute in closest pursuit and Chasing Artie far back. The leaders remained unchanged until the upper stretch where Fauci waited to split horses before taking over at midstretch only to be caught and passed by Chasing Artie.

Chasing Artie wins the Palisades Turf Sprint

Chasing Artie is a Kentucky-bred son of We Miss Artie out of the Kitten's Joy mare Frisky Kitten.

Chasing Artie returned $10.20, $4.80 and $3.60. Fauci, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, returned $3.20 and $2.60 as the favorite with Unitedandresolute finishing another 2 lengths back in third and paying $5.60 to show under James Graham.

Blameworthy finished fourth and was followed in order by Lookin for Loki, Bodenheimer, J C's Champ, Lock Up and Smokin' Jay.

Racing continues Saturday with a blockbuster 11-race program beginning at 1:05 p.m. ET. The card features six graded stakes headlined by the $800,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G2), a major prep for the $3 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) on May 1, and the $400,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1) a key steppingstone to the $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) on April 30.

The post Twenty Carat, Scarlett Sky, Chasing Artie Win Opening-Day Keeneland Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Drawn widest in a field of seven, the homebred showed good gate speed and led the Beaumont field out of the chute before settling to track the pace wide of the rail-skimming My Girl Red (Texas Red) and last-out Any Limit S. winner Farsighted (Bernardini) through an opening quarter of :22.18. Warming up to the task three abreast at the five-sixteenths, Twenty Carat traveled comfortably on the swing for home, was roused to the lead at the head of the lane, was a bit tardy switching her leads and drove under the line a clear-cut winner. 'TDN Rising Star' Slumber Party (Malibu Moon), who looked to have speed to contest the early issue, was slowly away and raced in the second half of the field before launching a rail rally that carried her into second. Amalfi Princess (Temple City) was well spotted just behind the early pacesetters, but lacked a late bid and checked in third.

“She's always been a lovely filly, done everything right. I'm very thankful that Mr. [Goncalo] Torrealba and his team [at Three Chimneys],” said winning trainer Wesley Ward. “I think this filly has a big future, and we're looking forward to it.”

Twenty Carat crossed the line first in her Jan. 15 debut at Turfway, only to be disqualified and placed second behind Wait For Nairobi (Carpe Diem), next-out winner of the Cincinnati Trophy S. in Florence. The bay was the lopsided, 7 3/4-length winner of a Feb. 25 maiden and negotiated this hike into graded company with aplomb.

Pedigree Notes:

Twenty Carat is the 93rd stakes winner and 40th graded winner for Into Mischief and the uber-successful sire's second winner of the Beaumont in the span of four years, joining Gas Station Sushi (2018). She is also the 47th stakes winner and 26th graded winner out of a daughter of Bernardini, also the damsire of Into Mischef's talented son Owendale, as well as GIII Distaff H. winner Paris Lights (Curlin).

Secret Jewel cost Besilu Stables $1.2 million at KEESEP in 2012 owing a great deal to the exploits of her half-sister Shared Account (Pleasantly Perfect), runner-up in the GI QE II Challenge Cup at Keeneland in 2009 a little more than a year before she caused a major upset in the 2010 GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Churchill. She has since gone out to produce 'TDN Rising Star' and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf victress Sharing (Speightstown) as well as SW Riley's Choice (Distorted Humor).

Secret Jewel is the dam of a 2-year-old colt by Three Chimneys' Gun Runner, a yearling colt by the Horse of the Year and was most recently bred to Street Sense.

Friday, Keeneland Race Course
BEAUMONT S. PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SELECT-GIII, $150,000, Keeneland, 4-2, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:26.04, ft.
1–TWENTY CARAT, 118, f, 3, by Into Mischief
                1st Dam: Secret Jewel, by Bernardini
                2nd Dam: Silk n' Sapphire, by Smart Strike
                3rd Dam: Golden Tiy, by Dixieland Band
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O-Three
Chimneys Farm, LLC (Goncalo B. Torrealba); B-Three Chimneys
Farm, LLC (KY); T-Wesley A. Ward; J-Luis Saez. $90,000.
Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $115,600. Werk Nick Rating: B. 
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Slumber Party, 118, f, 3, Malibu Moon–Devilish Lady, by
Sweetsouthernsaint. 'TDN Rising Star' O/B-Gary & Mary West Stables Inc. (KY);
T-Kelly J. Breen. $30,000.
3–Amalfi Princess, 118, f, 3, Temple City–Polish Flower, by
Danzig. ($20,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP; $40,000 2yo '20 OBSAPR).
O-Three Diamonds Farm; B-Monticule (KY); T-Michael J.
Maker. $15,000.
Margins: 1HF, 1HF, 1 3/4. Odds: 3.50, 1.10, 10.30.
Also Ran: Lady Traveler, Farsighted, Cilla, My Girl Red.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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