Bobbie Parsons’ TWIN SPARKS (Twining) sizzled six furlongs in 1:06.49, a
world record on dirt, when romping in Saturday’s $50,000 Caballos del Sol H. at
Turf Paradise.
The Karl Myers trainee dueled for the lead through an opening quarter in
:21.79, shook free while reaching the half in :43.20, and widened his margin.
Four lengths in front through five furlongs in :54.57, Twin Sparks was still in
hand as he crossed the wire 11 1/4 lengths in front.
“He felt like he was going that fast,” said winning rider Luis Medina, 24, of
Puerto Rico.
“He’s a nice old horse who’s had a few problems,” Myers said. “I guess he’s
doing a lot better today.”
Winless since taking an optional claimer at Turf Paradise a little more than
one year ago, Twin Sparks was overlooked at 9-1 and rewarded his backers with
mutuels of $21, $11.40 and $8.60.
Longshot Bobadieu (Silver Deputy), the 2007 winner of the Caballos del Sol,
finished runner-up here for the second straight year. He was a half-length in
front of Goin’ Dancin (Ihtimam) in the field of nine older horses.
Turf Paradise has been the scene of a number of blazing six-furlong clockings
in past years. Most notably, on April 8, 1995, G Malleah set a new world mark by
scorching in 1:06.60 on the dirt.
G Malleah’s time has since been bettered by Bob Black Jack (Stormy Jack), who
posted 1:06.53 in the Sunshine Millions Dash S. at Santa Anita on January 26,
2008. That effort, however, came on the old synthetic Cushion Track surface, not
on dirt.
The six-year-old Twin Sparks, who was earning his first career stakes victory
after a pair of black-type placings, improved his record to 22-8-3-3, $123,423.
In early 2009, he finished third in the Phoenix Gold Cup H. and the G Malleah
H., which honors the former world record-holder.
Bred in Kentucky by John Franks, the dark bay gelding is out of the multiple
stakes-winning Sparklin Lil (Mr. Sparkles). One day after his world record, his
weanling half-brother by Kitalpha topped Sunday’s final session of the Keeneland
November Breeding Stock Sale, selling to Dr. Lisa Lex for $100,000.