Sensation on the fence after Astarita win

ELMONT, N.Y. - Sensation presented her connections with an interesting decision regarding the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies by rolling to a 5 1/2-length victory in Sunday's Grade 3, $108,400 at Belmont Park.

Swap Fliparoo rallied to get second by five lengths over Unobstructed View. Saoirse Cat, Fast Deal and Sleeping completed the order of finish.

It was the third victory in four starts for Sensation, who was coming off a disappointing fourth-place finish in the Grade 2 Spinaway on Aug. 26 at Saratoga. Trainer Stan Hough said he would wait until this weekend's round of prep races for the Juvenile Fillies before deciding whether or not to run.

Sensation, under Eibar Coa, stalked the early speed of Saoirse Cat, put a head in front at the five-sixteenths pole and cruised home despite switching leads a couple of times in the stretch. Sensation, owned by Cobra Farm and Castletop Stable, covered the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.90 and returned $6 as the favorite. Her final time was .85 seconds faster than He's Got Grit's time the winning time of the Cowdin for males.

``I thought she ran great,'' said Hough, who blamed the Spinaway performance on too many races too close together. ``She was switching her leads down the lane, whether it was just goofing off or whatever. She's prone to do that when she gets by herself.''

Sensation is 2 for 2 over Belmont's main track, where the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies will be held. Hough believes the division is ``wide open'' but will watch the Frizette here on Saturday and the Alcibiades on Friday at Keeneland before making a decision.