Sparkling Review earns second straight stakes win with Mrs. Revere

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – One came on the lead, and the other came from well off the pace when jockey Julien Leparoux swept both ends of the twin turf stakes for 3-year-olds Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Leparoux told trainer Ben Colebrook he had to “wait and wait” for a hole to materialize before guiding Sparkling Review to a 2 3/4-length triumph in the Grade 2, $237,800 Mrs. Revere Stakes. It was the second straight rallying score for Sparkling Review, a Lemon Drop Kid filly who captured the Grade 3 Valley View last month at Keeneland for her first career stakes win.

Co-owned by Beverly Anderson and the filly’s breeder, Ed Seltzer, Sparkling Review returned $10.60 as third choice in a full field of 14 fillies after finishing the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:42.33. The turf course was very firm in the wake of a recent cold blast throughout this region.

Lady Lara, the 5-2 second choice, also ran from well back to get second in the last jump from Kiss Moon, a 29-1 shot who led from the start before tiring late to be third. Personal Diary was fourth.

Sparkling Review gave Colebrook, a former assistant to Christophe Clement, the second stakes win of his career, after the Valley View. Currently based in his hometown of Lexington, Ky., Colebrook said he is taking his stable to Sam Houston for the winter, although Sparkling Review isn’t going with him.

“I might run her one more time before she goes to Mr. Seltzer’s farm in Ocala for a little winter break,” he said.

Testa Rossi, the 2-1 favorite making her first start in more than seven months, made a big rail bid in mid-stretch before settling for seventh.

The $2 exacta (4-1) paid $49.20, the $1 trifecta (4-11-7) returned $451.80, and the 10-cent superfecta (4-11-7-5) was worth $349.08.

Two races earlier, the favored Heart to Heart ($4) rolled to a 3 3/4-length victory in the Grade 3, $115,300 Commonwealth Turf after being carefully rated out front by Leparoux.

Trained by Brian Lynch for Terry Hamilton, Heart to Heart was winning for the third straight time, having captured the Grade 3 Jefferson Cup with similar ease here seven weeks ago. The Ontario-bred colt by English Channel finished the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:41.54.

“I think his acceleration in the turns allows him to get an advantage on the other horses,” said Lynch. “By the time they straightened up down the lane, he was full of confidence.”

Other Cheek, prominent throughout in giving closest chase, held second at 17-1, while Bashart was third and Highball fourth in a field of 12 3-year-old colts and geldings.

The $2 exacta (5-7) paid $49, the $1 trifecta (5-7-13) returned $164.60, and the 10-cent superfecta (5-7-13-9) was worth $66.32.