Pure Sensation Bests Crowded Field in G3 Jaipur Invitational

ELMONT, N.Y. – Pure Sensation took the lead a quarter-mile in and held off fast-charging stablemate Disco Partner to post a win by a neck in the Grade 3, $300,000 Jaipur Invitational for 4-year-olds and up over six furlongs in the Widener turf as part of Saturday’s Belmont Stakes Day card.

The Christophe-Clement trained gray gelding hit the wire in a course-record time 1:06.76, earning him a trip to the winner’s circle for the first time since capturing the Grade 3 Turf Monster Handicap in September at Parx Racing. He has won two of his last three graded stakes starts.

“When this horse is right, he’s a top class horse and he proved it today,” Clement said. “He’s not an easy horse to keep right all the time because he’s not the soundest horse. When he’s training well, he runs well.”

Both Pure Sensation and Disco Partner are owned by Patricia Generazio. The Tom Albertrani-trained Ready for Rye also made a strong stretch drive to finish third, just one length behind.

‘I’m just thrilled because he belongs to Patricia Generazio,” Clement said. “Mr. and Mrs. Generazio have been a long-time supporter of the stable. They are great owners and breeders and I think it was a great result for them.”

Pure Sensation, an 18-1 wagering choice, bested a crowded 13-horse field in setting fractions of 21.64, 44.06 and 55.32 seconds. The 5-year-old paid $39.20 for a $2 win wager. He also broke the course record for six furlongs on the Widener turf that was set by Keep The Faith’s 1:06.82 on July 24, 2005.

Jockey Jose Ortiz, who rode Pure Sensation for the first time, picked up his second victory of the day.

“When the gates opened he broke good and he wanted to go to the front,” Ortiz said. “When we got the lead and he was going good, I looked around and nobody was coming after us. I had a lot of horse so I let him run and he ran great. I think he set a track record and that’s exciting. I want to thank Mr. Clement and the owner for giving me the opportunity to ride such a nice horse.”

At 16-1, Disco Partner, trained by James Ryerson, finished in the money for a fourth straight start. He went from sixth at the top of the stretch to second in his graded stakes debut.

Ready for Rye, with jockey Javier Castellano in the irons for a fourth straight start, improved to 5-4-4 in 14 career starts.

A Lot, the 4-1 favorite coming off a win in the listed Elusive Quality, finished fourth in running just a head behind Ready for Rye for trainer Chad Brown.

Mosler, Summation Time, Green Mask, Commute, Hothersal, Rocket Heat, Green Gratto, Royal Squeeze and Guns Loaded completed the order of finish. Take Cover was scratched.

NYRA