Pure Sensation will return to the friendly confines of Parx Racing for a title defense in the $200,000 Parx Dash (G3) on Saturday. A dominant wire-to-wire scorer last year, the 6-year-old is 2-for-2 over the course for Christophe Clement having also captured the 2015 Turf Monster (G3).
Kendrick Carmouche regains the mount about the front-runner and Pure Sensation’s blazing speed was on display most recently in the June 10 Jaipur (G3) at Belmont Park, establishing early splits in :21.43 and :43.04 before weakening to fourth behind a deep group of rivals. Third in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G3) last fall, the gray horse will make his third start off the layoff against 11 rivals.
Richard’s Boy is among the main challengers if he starts in the 5-furlong turf affair. The 5-year-old gelding exits wins in the Jim McKay Turf Sprint and Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup (elevated to first via DQ), but he’s reportedly been disqualified from the latter due to a positive drug test.
Bold Thunder enters on the upswing, finishing first at 24-1 in the Governor’s Cup, and Paco Lopez picks up the mount on the Patricia Farro charge. Pool Winner got good last summer for Alan Goldberg and returned to action this year with an allowance/optional claiming at Monmouth Park on June 23. The intriguing gelding will have Jevian Toledo up.
Mongolian Saturday brings plenty of back class to the festivities but will be attempting to snap a four-race string of unplaced finishes, recording his last tally in the Woodford (G3) in October. Reformed claimer Platinum Prince exits an encouraging neck third in the Mighty Beau at Churchill Downs and invades from Kentucky for Michael Tomlinson.
Multiple stakes winner Amelia’s Wild Ride is another runner of note, returning from a 14-month hiatus with a good third in the Jim McKay Turf Sprint. Starship Wildcat and Vision Perfect are stepping up in class in good form for their respective connections.
