Sparkle Blue Delivers for Breeder Parke in Valley View

Even in retirement Silk n' Sapphire  helped bring another special moment for Kentucky-based owner-breeder Catherine Parke Oct. 28 at Keeneland.

Sparkle Blue —the final foal of Parke's blue hen mare Silk n' Sapphire—drew off in the stretch to win the $298,594 Rubicon Valley View Stakes (G3T) Friday on the Keeneland turf. With the 2 1/2-length victory, the 3-year-old half sister of 2010 Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T) winner Shared Account  secured the first graded stakes victory of her young career.

Parke, who bred Sparkle Blue and raised the filly at her 225-acre Valkyre Stud near Lexington, made the short trip to Keeneland Friday for the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies. It would take Sparkle Blue, a daughter of Hard Spun  , and jockey Joel Rosario 1:42.42 on the good turf to make this a memorable day for Parke, who campaigns Sparkle Blue with George Strawbridge Jr.'s Augustin Stable.

"That was a gift I never expected," Parke said after the win. "I foaled and raised her. The whole thing has been a dream story. This is the last foal for Silk n' Sapphire—she's retired on the farm and doing great. It's just one final gift from an amazing mare. I'm beyond words; just speechless."

Parke purchased Silk n' Sapphire for $40,000 before Shared Account won the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. And, she bought Silk n' Sapphire's half sister, Champagne Sue , and bred that mare's 2021 Saratoga Special Stakes Presented by Miller Lite (G2) winner High Oak .

Besides Sparkle Blue and Shared Account, Silk n' Sappire also is the dam of grade 3 winner Colonial Flag , and granddam of 2019 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) winner Sharing  and stakes winner Riley's Choice .

Video: Rubicon Valley View S. (G3T)

In Friday's race Sparkle Blue, who like Shared Account and Sharing is trained by Graham Motion, tracked in third as early leader Bubble Rock  cruised through a half-mile in :47.77. Sparkle Blue and Rosario saved ground throughout before tipping outside for her stretch run. 

Grade 2 winner California Angel  rallied for second, just edging another grade 2 winner in third-place Turnerloose . Bubble Rock held fourth.

"Graham told me to let her be happy, let her be comfortable," Rosario said. "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."

Trainer George Leonard III, who sent out California Angel to a victory in last year's JP Morgan Chase Jessamine Stakes (G2T), was pleased with the latest Keeneland stakes try by the fast-finishing daughter of California Chrome  .

"She ran her race; the winner just outkicked us today," Leonard said. "I was pleased; she came running at the end, but we just could not get to the winner."