Power Alert could be sleeper in talent-rich Parx Dash
The East Coast turf-sprint division has been deep and competitive the last few years, but the Grade 3 Parx Dash on Saturday sets the bar even higher than usual.
The five-furlong Dash’s field of 10 includes Rocket Heat, the winner of the Churchill Downs Turf Sprint; Ben’s Cat, the winner of the Jim McKay Turf Sprint at Pimlico; Take Cover, the winner of the Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup at Penn National; and Pure Sensation, who upset the Jaipur Invitational at Belmont Park.
And then there’s Power Alert, who hasn’t fired his best shot in his last two races but figures strongly off a top effort.
Trained by Brian Lynch, Power Alert will be making his first start since finishing third in the Churchill Turf Sprint nine weeks ago. He comes into this off three quick works at the Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland.
“He’s a horse that’s a bad bleeder, so we can’t overrace him,” Lynch said. “We have to pick our spots carefully. We keep him down at Fair Hill, where we can make use of the hyperbaric chamber.”
In his last two races, Power Alert has had to break from post 1 in the Shakertown at Keeneland, where he finished eighth, and at Churchill. He has post 7 Saturday.
“He always seems to break flatfooted when he has the 1 hole,” Lynch said. “There’s no room for error going five furlongs. He’s going to have to bring his ‘A’ game. It’s a very good field.”
Ben’s Cat has won 32 races and $2.6 million for his owner-trainer-breeder, King Leatherbury. He began his 10-year-old season with two wins before finishing a rallying third in the Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup on June 4.
“He’s remarkable,” Leatherbury said. “I think he’s as good as ever, and you know that’s impossible for a 10-year-old to be as good as he was at 6. But that’s what he’s showing me.”
Parx Dash, Race 8
Key Contenders
Power Alert, by Alert
Last 3 Beyers: 93-77-99
◗ He won a pair of turf-sprint stakes at Gulfstream Park prior to his Kentucky races. He should benefit from his recent break between races.
“He runs well fresh,” Lynch said.
Pure Sensation, by Zensational
Last 3 Beyers: 102-88-85
◗ In his lone start at Parx, he won the Grade 3, $300,000 Turf Monster Handicap last September for trainer Christophe Clement. He is very dangerous here as he shortens up from his victory in the six-furlong Jaipur. He worked a bullet half-mile at Belmont on June 28.
Ben’s Cat, by Parker’s Storm Cat
Last 3 Beyers: 91-101-93
◗ The Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup was his third race in five weeks. He has now had five weeks off and comes into this off a bullet three-furlong blowout.
Take Cover, by War Front
Last 3 Beyers: 96-81-83
◗ Trainer Alan Goldberg has a Colts Neck Stables entry of Take Cover and Pool Winner, with Jevian Toledo named on both horses. Take Cover ran a career-best race to win the Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup over Spring to the Sky, who returned to win a high-level optional-claiming race at Belmont Park on Monday.