Conkeyref color

I am working on structured documents using Frame 2019.

We are using conkeyrefs on the keyword elements and some ph elements that contains a variable (outputclass-="variable"). In the past, we did not use conkeyrefs and I was able to control the color of the keywords as well as the text within the ph tag (our variable). I would hide the keywords and change the variable text from red (which was specified in the EDD) to black and be on my merry way.

Now, with the conkeyrefs, if I add a new ph tag with the variable name and conkeyref, the color is red as I have specified in the EDD but after I select the appropriate ditamap that links the variable values and the taxonomy to the ph tag, the content turns blue and I cannot change it to another color even in the FM files which are used to create the PDF files for print.

Unfortunately, the books that I need to produce contain hundreds and hundreds of these keywords and ph tags and the product is well over 1,000 pages.

I am stumped and the pressure to get this product off to the printer is hanging heavy over me. I hope someone here has a suggestion. It is too late in the game to change the source dita. 

Thanks in advance.