Darling Sky will have class tested in Spinaway

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Darling Sky lived up to her connection’s expectations at Parx when she won her debut by a widening 7 1/4 lengths. Sunday, she’ll get the acid test when she runs in the Grade 1 Spinaway against eight fellow 2-year-old fillies at Saratoga.

Despite ducking in at the break, Darling Sky rolled to a debut win at Parx, covering five furlongs in 57.96 seconds and earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 78.

“As erratically as she ran, it looked like she had some more left in the tank, even though she ran a very swift time,” trainer Butch Reid said. “She’s kind of a high-strung filly. I was more worried about her doing everything right first time out – in the paddock, in the starting gate and all those things – and she did all that like a champ. That was the part I really liked about it.”

Reid sent her here from Parx in time to get a workout over the main track. She breezed a half-mile in 48.90 seconds on Monday.

“She ducked some shadows 50 yards before the wire – there are signs under the rail – but she’s been galloping right through it every day since,” Reid said. “Glad she got a chance for a little experience over the racetrack, and it looks like she handled it very well.”

Cornelio Velasquez will ride Darling Sky in the Spinaway.

Her competition comprises Angela Renee, runner-up in the Grade 2 Adirondack; Condo Commando, a 12-length debut winner for maiden claiming $75,000; Ryabinka, 1 for 4 running at Gulfstream; debut winners By the Moon, Bonnie K and Winter Dawn; and maidens Curalina, Lady Zuzu.