Pure Sensation Threepeats Parx Dash

BENSALEM, PA – Patricia Generazio’s homebred Pure Sensation made history on Saturday when he won the $200,000 Parx Dash Stakes (G3) for the third time in his storied career.

Breaking from post 7 under Paco Lopez as the 6/5 favorite, Pure Sensation shot to the front and posted opening fractions of :22.18 and :46.81 while defending champion Vision Perfect and Smokin Nitro applied pressure to his outside and Rocket Heat raced along his inside. In the far turn, Rocket Heat backed off enough to give Pure Sensation the rail, and that was all he that needed.

Repelling his foes as he kicked clear at the top of the stretch, Pure Sensation drew off with more than enough left in the tank. The Christophe Clement trainee crossed with a 4 1/4-length advantage in a final time of 1:00.42 for the 5-furlong sprint over the soft turf course.

Rocket Heat swung out wide in the stretch and was able to rally for second by 4 1/2 lengths over Smokin Nitro, who was a neck and a head past Fig Jelly and Completed Pass. The battle for sixth was also close as Fielder headed Snowday, while Nice Tune and a spent Vision Perfect came close behind them. Long May You Run failed to ever menace and finished last in the field of 10.

Cowboy Mz and Swell did not draw into the race off of the also-eligibles list.

Pure Sensation’s win was his third in four Parx Dash attempts, having finished third last year after winning it in 2016 and 2017. The 8-year-old gelded son of Zensational, who has not lost in three 2019 starts, improved his overall record to 33-13-5-6 with $1,773,550 earned.

Pure Sensation returned $4.60 to win, $3.20 to place, and $2.40 to show. Rocket Heat brought back $7.40 to place and $5.20 to show, while Smokin Nitro paid $7.60 to show.