Pure Sensation tries to repeat in Jaipur

ELMONT, N.Y. – Pure Sensation should get the firm turf he prefers on Saturday when he attempts to win the Grade 3, $300,000 Jaipur Invitational for the second year in a row at Belmont Park.

The horse, who would become a millionaire with a victory, faces nine others, including Stormy Liberal, a Southern California invader who has won four stakes in his last four starts, and Green Mask, who figures to vie for favoritism with Pure Sensation off a win in the Grade 3 Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs.

The Jaipur is a six-furlong turf race for 4-year-olds and up and serves as the first leg of an all-stakes pick six that has a minimum guaranteed pool of $500,000. The sequence runs on races 6-11 and ends with the Belmont Stakes.

Forecasts call for a high of 82 degrees Saturday, with little chance of precipitation, according to The Weather Channel.

Undrafted, a Group 1 winner who won the Jaipur in 2014, is back for another running, and the field also includes Hogy, who would hit millionaire status with a victory; Holding Gold, who captured the Grade 2 Shakertown in April at Keeneland; and Disco Partner, who exits a win in the $150,000 Elusive Quality at Belmont.

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Jaipur Invitational, Race 6

KEY CONTENDERS

Pure Sensation, by Zensational

Last 3 Beyers: 83-104-104

◗ He exits the Turf Sprint at Churchill, where he finished fourth to Green Mask over a course rated “good” on May 5. The start was Pure Sensation’s first since he ran third in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita in November.

“Pure Sensation, at Churchill, he hated the soft turf,” said trainer Christophe Clement. “I think he’s much better off on firm turf. He looks well, and I’m excited to see him run.”

◗ Pure Sensation will be moving back to six furlongs following a five-eighths start in the Turf Sprint. His last win came at the Jaipur distance in the $150,000 Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational last October. Pure Sensation is 2 for 2 on turf at Belmont.

◗ Jose Ortiz has the mount from post 3. Pure Sensation, who has tactical speed, races for his breeder, Patricia Generazio. He could get an ideal tracking trip behind Loose On the Town, Canadian Flyer, and Stormy Liberal.

◗ Pure Sensation has won 7 of 20 starts and earned $935,540. A win in the Jaipur, which he captured by a neck last year over Disco Partner, is worth $165,000. Pure Sensation is looking for his sixth stakes win Saturday.

Disco Partner, by Disco Rico

Last 3 Beyers: 99-99-102

◗ He also goes for breeder Generazio and Clement. Disco Partner proved 1 3/4 lengths best in the Elusive Quality in his last start April 29. “Disco Partner had a prep race here at Belmont,” Clement said. “He came from off the pace going seven-eighths. He’s trained well ever since, and same story, I’m excited to see him run.

“It’s fun to be able to have two horses running for Mr. and Mrs. Generazio in the same race.”

◗ Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount from post 2.

Green Mask, by Mizzen Mast

Last 3 Beyers: 102-99-100

◗ He rallied from midpack for a two-length win in the Turf Sprint at Churchill. The start came one race after he missed by a neck in the Shakertown. Green Mask has earned triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in three of his last four starts dating to December.

“He’s a 6-year-old that’s in as good a form as he’s ever been in,” said trainer Brad Cox.

◗ Green Mask has two wins on Belmont’s turf and a year ago closed for seventh in the Jaipur, finishing 3 1/4 lengths behind Pure Sensation.

“He really just didn’t get a shot to even run,” Cox said. “He was trapped, never had the opportunity to cut loose.”

◗ Green Mask’s running style has changed some since last year’s Jaipur.

“He used to be kind of a come-from-behind sprinter,” Cox said. “He’s laid a little closer, more of a stalking style, over the last eight, nine months.”

◗ Javier Castellano has the mount from post 4.