Imply surges in Plum Pretty, notches Pennsylvania hat trick

Imply used her solid late kick to complete a hat trick of sorts at Parx Racing on Saturday in the $100,000 Plum Pretty, a 1 1/16-mile race for Pennsylvania-bred fillies and mares.

The Plum Pretty was the third career stakes win for Imply. She now has won a stakes at all three Pennsylvania Thoroughbred tracks and one apiece on dirt, synthetic, and turf.

Trained by Bernie Houghton and owned and bred by the Barlar LLC stable of Larry Karp, Imply scored her first stakes victory in the Northern Fling over Tapeta at Presque Isle in 2017. This June, she won the Lyphard on turf at Penn National.

Behrnik's Bank set the early pace in the Plum Pretty, but Disco Rose kept solid pressure on her and took a clear lead before reaching the far turn. Imply, meanwhile, was unhurried early by jockey Julio Hernandez while racing in fourth position, six or eight lengths back.

Hernandez gave Imply her cue in the vicinity of the half-mile pole and she started a steady advance. She collared Disco Rose from the outside in midstretch and pulled away to a four-length victory.

Disco Rose held second by 2 3/4 lengths over Trace of Grace, who also is trained by Houghton.

Imply, a 5-year-old daughter of E Dubai, is now 8 for 28 in her career. The Plum Pretty increased her earnings to more than $529,000.

Imply paid $6.40 as a slight second choice to Miss Avalon, who never got involved and finished fifth in the eight-horse field. Imply was timed in 1:47.64.

Early pacesetter Behrnik's Bank tired to seventh. Malibu Surprise, a maiden, took up entering the first turn, raced in contention for five furlongs and then retreated to last position.

Rose Tree, the morning-line favorite, was scratched after finishing a close fifth in the HBPA Stakes at Presque Isle on Thursday evening.