Clement pair top Belmont Turf Sprint

ELMONT, N.Y. – Pure Sensation won the inaugural Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational in 2016. Stablemate Disco Partner won the second running last year.

Saturday, both horses are part of an eight-horse field entered for the third running of the $150,000 Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational at six furlongs. The Belmont Turf Sprint is a stepping-stone to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs.

Pure Sensation will enter the Belmont Turf Sprint off a neck victory in the Grade 3 Turf Monster at Parx Racing. Disco Partner, who beat Pure Sensation in the Grade 2 Jaipur, comes off a third in the Troy Stakes at Saratoga, a race run over soft turf.

With regular rider Kendrick Carmouche sidelined by injury, Jose Ortiz will ride Pure Sensation from post 5. Irad Ortiz Jr. keeps his regular seat on Disco Partner from the rail.

Others entered in the race include Blind Ambition and Gidu from the barn of Todd Pletcher, Pocket Change, Proforma, and Simon Bar Sinister.