Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T) Winner Twilight Sparkle will likely join Royal Ascot-bound trainer Wesley Ward’s dynamic arsenal following her immediate win in the $114,500 Mamzelle Overnight Stakes matchday May 14th at Mamzelle Overnight Stakes. Churchill Downs.
The Mamzelle, a five-feather sprint for 3-year-olds, was featured on the Downs After Dark card featuring 11 special races, which drew 14,627 attendees.
Breaking from position 5, Twilight Gleaming fell to her knees under the horse’s jockey Tyler Gaffalione as the gate opened but lost only a short distance to his opponent before swooping forward. Racing from the second to the turn, she hit the first 1/4 mile mark: 22.35 with Artos glued to her ribs. At the beginning of the stretch, naitional defense filly hits a new gear, giving it a 1/2 length advantage. After half a mile at: 45.88, Devine charger and Artos is rallying back having launched late bids outside, nearly catching Twilight Gleaming at the wire.
Twilight Gleaming ($2.60) was held by a Devine Charger top, who beat Artos in second place. Five scissors were completed in: 58.22 on a pitch rated as sturdy.
“Tyler (Gaffalione) said she stumbled a bit out of the gate but she was able to set things up at the front,” Ward said. “The Palisades were her first race without blinking but I think she could have relaxed better without them. We’ll talk through that but I suppose getting her back in Royal Ascot would be a bit of a stretch. is a logical next step.”
Mamzelle is the second beginning of the year for Twilight Gleaming. Coloring Girl Stonestreet Stables made her debut at 3 years old last month at the Palisades Stakes in Keeneland against men, where she was narrowly defeated as the favorites 4-5 by Slideway . Last year, the half-Irish girl broke her maiden at the second question in Belmont Park met in the spring before finishing second in the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) in Ascot in their first overseas venture. She then won the Prix de la Vallee d’Auge listed at the Deauville Racecourse in France.
Saturday’s win was worth $55,366 and boosted Twilight Gleaming’s earnings to $721,867 with a 7-4-3-0 record.
Raised by Pier House Stud, Twilight Gleaming is off target Dansili (GB) mare Thames Pageant, the dam of 2 winners from 3 offspring to race. Thames Pageant has a 2-year-old pony that has not been licensed by Sioux Country named Spartan Arrow and a Phoenix of Spain first year students.
Agent Ben McElroy signed tickets on Twilight Gleaming for $96,931 at the Goffs Orby Yearling 2020 Sale from Pier House Stud Shipment.
Video: Mamzelle Overnight S. (BT)
