Robin Sparkles leads all the way in off-turf Politely Stakes
Even rained onto dirt, which is not her preferred surface, Robin Sparkles shined brightest in the $100,000 Politely Stakes on Saturday at Monmouth Park.
Racing on a fast dirt track for the first time in her career, Robin Sparkles shot straight to the front in the Politely, setting splits 21.86 seconds and 44.96 under Daniel Centeno. None of her four opponents had the speed to apply pace pressure, Robin Sparkles turned for home on a clear lead, and though she appeared to tire slightly through the final half-furlong, the mare won by a length over pace-chasing Bold Confection.
Gogo Shoes was a neck back in third with a 10-length gap back to fourth-place Pugilist. Creative Girl was pulled up and vanned off the course. Six scratches reduced the Politely field to just five runners. The winner ran five furlongs in 57.78 and paid $4.60 as the favorite.
Bruce Brown shipped Robin Sparkles to Monmouth from his New York base and had his mare ready for her first start since October.”
“We’ve always known she is better on the grass, but she has done okay on the dirt. It was kind of a situation where we’re trying to get this first race in her for the year to get her going,” Brown said. “She’s still probably a little short. That’s why we pointed for this five-eighths race. This is almost the equivalent of a couple of works, and she should be ready to continue on from here.”
New York-bred Robin Sparkles is by Elusive Quality out of My Sparky, by Dehere. The 5-year-old, winning for the eighth time in 14 starts, is owned by Michael Schrader and was bred by Hibiscus Stable.