Pure Sensation Wins G3 Turf Monster Thriller

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Keith Jones
kjones@parxracing.com

For Immediate Release: Monday, September 7, 2015 215.639.9000 ext. 3290 or 3329 Contact: Keith Jones, Announcer – Philadelphia Park @ kjones@parxracing.com

PURE SENSATION WINS THRILLER IN G3 TURF MONSTER Neck ‘n Neck Battles to Win in G3 Greenwood Cup

Parx Racing capped off its Labor Day weekend with a terrific Monday afternoon program that featured three of its major stakes of the year. Topping the card were the G3 $300,000 Turf Monster Handicap, a five furlong turf sprint, the G3 $200,000 Greenwood Cup, a mile and a half main track marathon, and the $200,000 Turf Amazon Handicap, a five furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares.

The Turf Monster Handicap featured a sensational stretch duel between Mongolian Saturday and Pure Sensation and when the dust had settled, it was Pure Sensation who had won by a dramatic nose. Breaking from the inside gate in the field of nine, Mongolian Saturday sprinted to the lead and blazed through an opening quarter in 21.30. Pure Sensation, though, was right with him, just a neck back every step of the way. The pair stayed that way as they clicked off the half in :44.07. Nearing the top of the stretch, winning jockey Kendrick Carmouche made his move with Pure Sensation and came off the turn with a head in front. Mongolian Saturday, however, would not give in. Valiantly fighting on from the inside, he came back to draw even with Pure Sensation as they passed the eighth pole and the two raced as a team all the way to the wire. With heads bobbing at the finish, it was Pure Sensation who came out on top in an absolute thriller. Owned by Patricia Generazio and trained by Christophe Clement, he went post ward as the 2-1 favorite and paid $6.00 to win. The final time over the firm turf was :55.81.

The Greenwood Cup went to Ted Mitzlaff’s Neck ‘N Neck by the margin of, yes, a neck. He and rival Majestic Harbor raced one-two throughout the entire mile and a half, exchanging the lead twice before setting up their final battle in the stretch. Outside of Neck ‘n Neck, Majestic Harbor got the lead in the opening furlong with jockey Corie Lanarie immediately trying to back down the pace. With the slow fractions, 25.2 and 50.2, winning jockey Paco Lopez was able to keep Neck ‘n Neck on the inside of the track and in fact with a little more than a mile to go, seized the initiative and went to the lead. Rounding the clubhouse turn, Majestic Harbor now chased from the outside, but as they turned into the backstretch, Lanarie again went on with it and reclaimed the lead. At this point, Lopez allowed Majestic Harbor to go by and neatly guided his horse to the outside. Majestic Harbor stayed a length in front until they came to the head of the stretch when Neck ‘n Neck slowly began to close the gap. By mid-stretch, they were on even terms and Neck ‘n Neck was going just a little better. He ever so slowly edged away while getting a fight to the end, but at the wire, Neck ‘n Neck prevailed. Trained by Ian Wilkes, he went off as the 8-5 favorite and paid $5.40 to win. The final time over a fast track was 2:33.3.

Richies Sweetheart broke like a shot and went gate to wire to win the Turf Amazon Handicap. The four year-old Bring the Heat filly was very impressive indeed. Winning jockey E.T. Baird had her immediately in front as the gate opened. She quickly established a clear lead in the opening furlong and was clear for essentially the entire race. Ripping off fractions of 21.61 and 44.59, with the other speed horses in hot pursuit, she came to the top of the stretch with a length and a half lead. The late runners were hoping she might back up in the last furlong, but she was strong throughout, maintained her lead all the way to the finish and flashed home two lengths in front. Owned by Richard Ravin, Patricia’s Hope and Larry Rivelli and trained by Larry Rivelli, she went off at 9-2 and paid $11.60 to win. The final time was 56.1.