Photo by Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club

It was the second time this afternoon that we had to wait out a race review, but SPARKLE BLUE and Jorge Ruiz stayed up after a jockey’s objection to win Laurel Park’s Big Dreyfus Stakes for the second consecutive year. It added a bit more lustre to an already glittering resume, giving the 5-year-old daughter of Hard Spun her fifth stakes victory and seventh career win.

Jorge has been aboard for her last several starts, including her win in the Hillsborough Stakes-G2 at Tampa Bay Downs on March 9 and last year’s Big Dreyfus score.

“She’s very professional,” Graham told Kali Francois in the winner’s circle after the race. “Jorge rides her with a lot of confidence.”

When asked what might be next for Sparkle Blue, he said “She ran really well at Kentucky Downs last year, so that’s something we’ll definitely think about.”

It was wonderful that breeder Catherine Parke was on hand at Laurel to lead Sparkle into the winner’s circle today; we know how special this mare is to her! Congratulations to her and co-owner Augustin Stable on another terrific win.