The Critical Way favored in rescheduled Parx Dash
In the winner’s circle following the Wolf Hill Stakes at Monmouth Park, trainer Jose Delgado made The Critical Way’s future intentions known.
“Definitely, we’re going to Parx,” he said.
Sure enough, The Critical Way is among the 13 horses entered in Tuesday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Parx Dash at five furlongs on the turf. The Parx Dash was postponed one week due to heavy rain caused by Tropical Storm Henri.
Listed at 8-5 on the morning line, The Critical Way has competed exclusively in turf-sprint stakes in 2021 and compiled a record of three wins, a second, and two thirds. The 7-year-old gelding has earned triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in two of his last three races. A nine-time winner with lifetime earnings of almost $500,000, The Critical Way has good speed and should be among the early leaders under Paco Lopez after breaking from post 6.
Firecrow defeated The Critical Way in the Jim McKay Turf Sprint on May 15 at Pimlico and might provide the favorite with his stiffest challenge. Although Firecrow was winless on turf going into the Jim McKay, trainer Ron Moquett was confident Firecrow would handle the surface.
“I thought up until that point, his first out on the turf was far superior to most of his dirt efforts,” Moquett said Friday morning.
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Firecrow runs in the Parx Dash after 108 days on the sidelines.
“For whatever reason, a lot of the fast horses I have had a hard time with the inside heel of their right foot,” Moquett said. “I call it the fast-horse right foot. Whitmore had the same thing.”
Moquett admitted that Firecrow “isn’t as fit as he was last time,” but believes that the Maclean’s Music gelding will give a good showing. The Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint remains a long-term goal. Joel Rosario retains the mount.
A stakes winner on both turf and dirt, Francatelli finished a troubled third behind The Critical Way in the Get Serious Stakes on June 19 at Monmouth. He recently placed second in the Da Hoss Stakes at Colonial and prepped for this with a bullet workout. Frankie Pennington rides Francatelli for Cal Lynch.
The expected swift pace could benefit late-kickers such as Battle Station and So Street. The former pulled off a 20-1 upset in last summer’s restricted Lucky Coin Stakes at Saratoga for Rob Atras and will make his first start under the tutelage of Danny Velazquez. Battle Station recently finished sixth for an $80,000 tag at Saratoga.
So Street, a stakes winner at 2, looks to break a 13-race losing streak in the Parx Dash. Trained by Jamie Ness, the Street Magician gelding was fourth last month in the Meadow Stable Stakes for Virginia-bred or -certified runners.
Amblin Man, Borracho, Where You Was, The Connector, and I Got a Rock also are entered. Appealing Future and King’s House will run main-track only. Shekky Shebaz entered, but trainer Wayne Potts said Friday morning that he will instead be pointed to Saturday’s Rainbow Heir Stakes at Monmouth.