Joya Real Finds Room in Blue Sparkler

Pewter Stable’s Joya Real found room between horses late in the lane and with a quick turn of foot pushed past her rivals to capture the $60,000 Blue Sparkler Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday afternoon by a neck.

Trained by Kate DeMasi, Joya Real stepped the 5 ½ furlongs over firm turf in 1:01 4/5 and returned $5.40, $3.80 and $2.60 as the favorite in the field of nine fillies and mares.  Aquinnah completed the $25.60 exacta and paid $5.60 and $3.80.  It was another head back to Strikinglybeautiful, who paid $6.20 to show.

“I’ve never ridden her before, but based on her past performances it looked like she did her best when coming from off the pace,” said winning jockey Roberto Alvarado Jr.  “I just let her get out of the gate and settle where she wanted.  Turning for home I asked her, the hole opened up, and she just exploded the last part of the race.”

A 6-year-old daughter of Eddington from the Regal Classic mare Regal Locket, Joya Real has a record of 8-6-3 from 23 starts, good for earnings of $339,149.