Sparkling Review gives trainer first stakes win in Valley View

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Sparkling View gave Ben Colebrook the biggest thrill of his nascent training career Friday when she upset the Grade 3, $150,000 Pin Oak Valley View Stakes before a sun-splashed Keeneland crowd of 18,184.

With Julien Leparoux making all the right moves, Sparkling Review took command of the 1 1/16-mile turf race leaving the furlong pole en route to a 2 3/4-length triumph. The stakes victory was the first for Colebrook, a 36-year-old former Christophe Clement assistant who grew up in Lexington.

“I was very excited,” said Colebrook, who went public in May 2013. “That was a good bunch of fillies she beat today, and she did it pretty easily, obviously.”

Sparkling Review returned $16.80 to win, although she was listed at 30-1 on the morning line when making her stakes debut after winning two of three prior starts. Bred by Ed Seltzer, who co-owns the Lemon Drop Kid filly with Beverly Anderson, she finished in 1:44.34 over a course rated “good.”

Spring Included, a 31-1 shot who led from the start, held second, another three-lengths before Goldy Espony in a field of 12 3-year-old fillies. Miss Frost, the lukewarm 7-2 favorite, was prominent to the quarter pole before fading to eighth.

Sparkling Review settled toward the rear in the early going while always in a smooth rhythm, moving up outside rivals on the far turn without being urged.

“It was a great trip,” said Leparoux. “She was much the best. She was relaxed on the backstretch and flew home.”

Four early scratches from the Valley View included morning-line favorite Daring Dancer, whom trainer Graham Motion said will be shipped to Southern California to run in the Oct. 25 Autumn Miss on the Santa Anita turf.

The $2 exacta (13-1) paid $435.40, the $1 trifecta (13-1-9) returned $1,351.70, and the 10-cent superfecta (13-1-9-5) was worth $880.51.

Colebrook ran his first winner at Keeneland on Oct. 19, 2013. The Valley View was the 20th win of his career.