MATCH: Dynatail, Pure Sensation top turf stakes
Pure Sensation. Photo by Taylor Ejdys/EQUI-PHOTO.
The MATCH Series racing continues Saturday with four stakes at Penn National. A pair of dirt sprints feature the winners of the first legs of the series, while the two turf events will be without the first leg winners — but will include a couple of accomplished runners in their own right.
Those two are carded as races eight and nine, with the eighth kicking off an all-stakes Pick 4 that ends with the Grade 2 Penn Mile. The Pick 4 features a reduced takeout of 15 percent.
SUSQUEHANNA STAKES
The first stake in the Filly and Mare Long—Turf Division, the Dahlia, went to the Graham Motion-trained Secret Message, who on Memorial Day weekend captured the Grade II Nassau Stakes at Woodbine. Mens Grille Racing’s Enchanted Ghost (trainer Hamilton Smith) was a troubled fourth in the Dahlia in her first outing on grass and appears to have a fine chance in the Susquehanna.
Live Oak Plantation’s Souper Striking (trainer Mike Trombetta) was sixth in the Dahlia after an early duel in her first start of the year and should move up off that effort; she won the Hilltop Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in 2018. Ballybrit Stable’s Dynatail, trained by Mike Dini, is the only entrant with a race on the Penn National turf course; in 2017 she won the Penn Oaks and in her first start of this year won a tough allowance race at Keeneland.
SUSQUEHANNA STAKES SELECTIONS
- #2 Dynatail (5-2): 2017 Penn Oaks winner saw a modest two-race win streak snapped last out when fading to fifth in the G3 Gallorette after chasing the early pace of Mitchell Road, who won impressively for her fourth straight score; Mike Dini trainee just seems to possess a class advantage over these, enters in good form, and makes her third start off a six-month break; figures to be involved in the early running under Luis Saez…
- #7 Enchanted Ghost (4-1): Got bumped around leaving the gate last time out in the Dahlia — her first try on the greensward; recovered to have a trip similar to the winner but couldn’t fire on quite the way that runner did; winner returned to take the G2 Nassau, flattering this one’s effort; ought to be able to find a cleaner trip in compact field and breaking from outside stall and can contend here…
- #5 Souper Striking (7-2): The only other turf stake winner in the group won the 2018 Hilltop over soft turf at PIM; pressed a fairly moderate pace before fading to sixth last out in the Dahlia; makes second start of ’19 and owns the right to improve here. Note that pilot Pimentel passes on making this trip, opting to stay home at LRL instead…
- #6 I’ll Take the Cake (8-1): Local runner hasn’t shown much on the grass but enters in good form and scored last out versus second allowance foes; cross-entered in Penn Ladies Dash earlier on the card…
PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR’S CUP
Patricia Generazio’s veteran campaigner Pure Sensation a multiple graded-stakes winner of $1.59 million with Breeders’ Cup experience, may have chased away some of the competition given the compact field, but the Governor’s Cup could prove rather competitive.
Robert Bone’s Completed Pass, who has made four starts for trainer Claudio Gonzalez, tried the turf in his last two starts and came away with a near-miss behind Dirty in the King T. Leatherbury Stakes, opening leg of the 3-Year-Olds and Up Sprint—Turf Division. He followed up with a victory in the Jim McKay Turf Sprint at Pimlico.
Dirty, trained by Jeremiah Engelhart, isn’t entered in the Governor’s Cup, but the trainer will send out Gold Square’s Square Shooter, who was sixth in the Grade II Shakertown Stakes at Keeneland in April and has been shopping for a spot recently.
PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR’S CUP SELECTIONS
- #1 Pure Sensation (7-5): Veteran millionaire is a multiple G3 winner and was beaten just a length in the 2017 BC Turf Sprint; speedster figures to gun for the lead and try to take ’em all the way from inner post; Kendrick Carmouche rejoins this 8yo, and the duo has done good work together (including wins in last two G3 Turf Monsters)…
- #3 Square Shooter (7-2): Not a bad effort last out while hung out wide behind the very fast Imprimis (at 100-1 odds!)… Jock Vargas and trainer Englehart strike 34 percent of the time… has shown ability to stalk or close and might be sitting in the garden spot early…
- #2 Completed Pass (8-5): Switch to the lawn has worked wonders, as he was second to track record-setter Dirty in the Leatherbury two back and followed up with a win in the Jim McKay on the Black-Eyed Susan undercard. Probably not quite as fast away from the gate as #1 but will be pressing that runner from the first jumps…
- #4 Siralfredthegreat (6-1): Doesn’t figure as good as the top trio but in the best form of his career and with a short field, may as well give it a shot…
