Sparkling Review Makes the Grade in Valley View

Beverly Anderson and Edward Seltzer’s Sparkling Review took the scenic route around Keeneland’s grass course before drawing away to post a three-length victory in her stakes debut in the Grade 3, $150,000 Pin Oak Valley View on Friday.

 

Clocking :23.64, :48.49, and 1:13.60 for the early fractions, Spring Included led an evenly-matched field of 12 in the early going followed by Size, Miss Frost and Rosalind. Breaking from Post 13, Sparkling Review settled early to the outside in the middle of the pack. The 3-year-old daughter of Lemon Drop Kid began to advance in the middle of the far turn.

 

Ridden by Julien Leparoux, Sparkling Review traveled in the middle of the lane turning for home and overcame the leader and drew clear to win. Spring Included held well to finish second and Gold Espony closed to finish third ahead of Fashion Fund.

 

V V Goodnight, Annulment, Stellaris, wagering favorite Miss Frost, A Little Bit Sassy, Rosalind, Valseuse and Size completed the order of finish. 

 

Sent off at 7-1, the winner paid $16.80, $9.40 and $6.80 and finished the 1 1/16 miles on "good" turf in 1:44.34.

 

Sparkling Review is now a three-time winner from four career starts, missing only in her debut on a muddy track at Churchill Downs in June. She went on to break her maiden by 2 1/4 lengths at Arlington over the turf on Aug. 9 and overcame a troubled trip at Kentucky Downs to edge out a three-quarter length victory on Sept 6. The score pushes the filly’s career earnings to $169,475.

 

Sparkling Review’s Valley View win is the first stakes victory for trainer Ben Coleman, formerly assistant to Christophe Clement.