Poseidon’s Warrior filly sparkles on Woodbine turf

After taking more than five months off between her two and 3-year-old racing campaigns, Sparkle Sammy has now won two in a row after a more-than-eventful trip over six furlongs on the grass at Woodbine yesterday. 

The Poseidon’s Warrior filly, bred by Pleasant Acres Stallions owners Joe and Helen Barbazon, was taken to the lead by Gary Boulanger and was in front through a quarter in :22.29. Then, a loose horse shot inside her and Sparkle Sammy was forced to the outside, dropping back to second. Boulanger was able to get her back on stride and sent her to the lead again, and Sparkle Sammy continued on to a commanding score, drawing off by four lengths under a hand ride. She had broken her maiden five weeks earlier by 4 1/2 lengths.

Sparkle Sammy’s clocking of 1:08.18 is just one and one-fifth seconds off the Woodbine turf course record for six furlongs and there’s no telling what she might have posted if not for the incident on the first turn.