Watch and Wager on Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Program Sunday at Laurel

LAUREL, MD – Michael Schrader’s Robin Sparkles, racing outside of her native New York for the first time, tuned up for her return to stakes competition with a 1 ¼-length victory in Thursday’s featured eighth race at Laurel Park.

Ridden by Mychel Sanchez for Belmont Park-based trainer Bruce Brown, Robin Sparkles ($3.20) completed 5 ½ furlongs in 1:02.32 over a firm All Along turf course in the third-level optional claiming allowance for fillies and mares 3 and older.

Breaking from far outside Post 9 as the 3-5 favorite, Robin Sparkles dueled with July 24 Sensible Lady Turf Dash winner Can the Queen up front before forging a short lead after going 21.53 seconds for a quarter-mile. The half went in 43.83 and Robin Sparkles asserted her class once straightened for home, rolling through the stretch as Quiet Company chased in second.

“It was weird to not see her in front but they were really rolling along. This turf is firm but not lightning fast, and they were very fast fractions,” Brown said. “We did give her some time off, so I think it was perfect. It was just what we wanted, something to get her tightened up.”

Robin Sparkles had made each of her first 11 career starts in New York, including a win in the May 31 Mount Vernon against fellow state-breds at Belmont. She had run third in each of her two previous races, the July 24 Caress (G3) and Aug. 21 Smart N Fancy, both 5 ½ furlongs at Saratoga, beaten a total of 7 ½ lengths.

“She ships around to the farm and Saratoga and stuff and she’s not the best of shippers, so that was kind of big,” Brown said. “She really handled everything very well today so that was another hurdle that we got over.”

Brown said Robin Sparkles would be pointed next to the $150,000 Floral Park for fillies and mares 3 and up sprinting six furlongs on the turf Oct. 17 at Belmont.

Watch and Wager on Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Program Sunday at Laurel

In addition to a full card of live racing, fans at Laurel Park can watch and wager on the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe program from Longchamp Sunday, Oct. 3.

Laurel will open its doors at 9:45 a.m. The Longchamp simulcast begins with the $5.78 million Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1), which goes off as Race 4 at 10:05 a.m.

Other available races from Longchamp include the Prix de l’Opera (G1) in Race 5 at 10:50 a.m., Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp (G1) in Race 6 at 11:25 a.m., and Prix de la Foret (G1) in Race 7 at noon.

Notes: Jockey Horacio Karamanos tripled Thursday with Big Rinne ($32.20) in Race 4, Fionbharr ($24.20) in Race 6 and Towser ($7.80) in Race 7 … Jorge Ruiz doubled aboard Still My Babe ($5.20) in Race 3 and Polished Gal ($12) in Race 5 … Edward Seltzer and Beverly Anderson’s Towser ($7.80), a homebred 2-year-old Into Mischief filly making her second start and first on dirt, swept to the lead in mid-stretch and pulled clear to win Thursday’s Race 7. Winning time in the 5 ½-furlong maiden special weight was 1:03.93 over a fast main track.