Sparkle Factor Dazzles in the Louisville Oaks

Original article written by Marzy Dotes posted 13 years 2 weeks ago

Sparkle Factor definitely had that going for her and then some when she swept the $500,000 Grade I Louisville Oaks by three lengths over Wondering on a very notable day of racing held at Louisville Downs. The statuesque dark bay filly with the distinctive stripe and shadow roll sped the 1 1/8 miles over the dirt oval in well, a sparkling 1:49.20.

The three year old filly was purchased by Sarah Chase for a mere tick over a cardiac arrest inducing $18.5 million at auction as a yearling. When she took to the racetrack in the mornings, it became quite clear that she had the talent to become a future star working five furlongs in the dirt in a blazing 57.66.

The talent obviously came through the genes she inherited from her parents who met in a breeding shed for a few minutes. She’s by East who’s established himself as not only a stakes winner on the dirt routes but a sire of sons and daughters who can excel at that as well. Besides Sparkle Factor, he sired this year’s Louisville Derby, Persevere and its third place finisher, Triumph. His winners’ percentage from runners is just shy of 15% but he’s sired 23 stakes winners so far including this filly.

The dam, Past and Future (by Conduit) never raced herself but soon became an accomplished broodmare. Among those produced by her were Steward’s Classic winner Bragging Rights (by Radee) who’s off to a nice start at stud as well as multi-stakes winner and sire Start Of The End (by End of the Line), Life Divided and Prestige.

Together, the two horses created the filly who would prove to be every bit as good as a filly could be this early in her career. She started her career by racing at a mile at Futurity Park in Florida and won her debut by eight lengths before winning the Okibi Senshi Stakes over Elizabeth. She finished second in the Steward’s Cup Juvenile Fillies behind Strong and Silent after running a gallant race. The other filly would be named the sport’s North American champion two year old filly after winning all three of her starts that season.
But Sparkle Factor came back very strongly as a sophomore. She won the Sunshine Oaks handily by 2 ¾ lengths and with that victory in hand, she traveled to Louisville Downs ready to take on a talented field of females including Smart and Silent.

Attracting a lot of attention was the regally bred filly, Sound Asleep, a product of another matching of stellar DNA. This elegant dark bay filly was sired by the recently pensioned Tot Ziens (by Conduit) who sired two nice horses and sires to watch in Hammer and Fire Added Starter. Her dam Wonder produced the sport’s last American Triple Crown winner, Awake As I Am and his stakes winning full sister Asleep As I Am along with other stellar performers.

The foals of Wonder have dented several prominent bank rolls at auctions and have induced fainting spells by the time the final gavel pounds. This daughter would prove to be no different, selling for just one tick over $29 million.
Sound Asleep won her first three races including the End Results Stakes but hadn’t shown quite the turn of foot of Sparkle Factor yet. But it would prove to be an interesting matchup of the two royally bred fillies with the weight of their ancestries on their withers.

When the gates opened to start off the Louisville Oaks, Wondering took the immediate lead and Elizabeth went up to challenge her while jockey Rick Sparks held Sparkle Factor in the fifth place position. Elizabeth wrestled the lead away from Wondering in the back stretch with Take What Is Yours in the third spot. Sparkle Factor hung tough in the sixth place position and Sound Asleep remained back in eighth.

Heading into the sweeping far turn, Wondering regained her lead over Elizabeth but Sparkle Factor churned her legs quicker and swept up into the third place spot, ready to go for the lead in the long home stretch. And pounce she did, switching leads and kicking it on home passing the other challengers to take the win in impressive fashion. Wondering held off a charging Sound Asleep by a ¼ length and the latter filly woke up in a big way and beat out Wrap for third.

The crowds were clearly impressed with the race that had unfolded in front of them and many crowded the winner’s circle where Sparkle Factor headed to after checking out some of the contenders for the Louisville Derby who were undergoing final preparations in the paddock. After all, she might meet one or more of them some day when her racing days are done.

She then went to the barn and prepared herself for the trip to the nearby Wise Owl Estate while people wait to see where this talented filly is headed off to next. Will she stick to racing against her gender or take a shot against the males?

Over half of the racing season remains to be contested and thus, it’s still open to many possibilities for this stellar filly to not just shine but sparkle.

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