Patricia Generazio's homebred Pure Sensation, a 9-year-old Zensational gelding, was retired following a seventh-place finish in Saturday's Grade 3 Troy at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Out of the Disco Rico mare Pure Disco, the popular grey retires with a record of 38-14-5-7 and purse earnings of $2,004,050.
“He's been amazingly consistent over the years. He was a very fast horse from the beginning and he will be a tough guy to replace,” said trainer Christophe Clement. “He was a very straightforward horse and very kind. He traveled all over the country. He ran last year in the Breeders' Cup and was the favorite in the race. It's extraordinary how long he lasted at the top level. It's a credit to Mr. and Mrs. Generazio and their breeding program.”
A multiple graded-stakes winner, Pure Sensation enjoyed tremendous success at Parx where he captured the Grade 3 Parx Dash three times [2016-17, 2019] and the Grade 3 Turf Monster on four occasions [2015, 2017-19].
Pure Sensation graduated at third asking in October 2013 at Belmont Park and was stakes placed twice in a productive juvenile campaign. He notched his first stakes win in the 2014 Quick Call at Saratoga and made the grade in September 2015 when taking his first Turf Monster.
In June 2016, Pure Sensation bested his fellow Generazio homebred and eventual stablemate Disco Partner by a neck in the Grade 3 Jaipur at Belmont. A year later, Disco Partner, this time under the care of Clement, turned the tables on Pure Sensation with a neck win in the 2017 Jaipur.
“What's special about the two of them is that they helped each other,” said Clement's son and assistant, Miguel. “One would be on the lead, and the other would be closing.”
Pure Sensation and Disco Partner would square off on seven occasions, with the latter earning a 3-2 edge on wins. Disco Partner was retired to stand at Rockridge Stud in Hudson, New York at the end of last season.
Clement noted the two long-standing gray turf sprinters will be missed on the track, but he said Pure Sensation may get to enjoy a new career at the racetrack.
“I'm not sure what Mr. Generazio would like to do yet, whether he wants him retired to the farm or if we can use him as a pony at the track because he would be a very popular pony if I can take him with us to Payson Park,” said Clement. “He's a remarkable horse. He was a stakes horse as a 2-year-old and he competed for seven years. This year I couldn't get him back to form but he is healthy and sound and he looks well.”
Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Bethlehem Stables' Shekky Shebaz was elevated to second after being interfered with in the stretch run of the Troy by Imprimis, who was disqualified from the top slot and placed third.
Shekky Shebaz finished third in the Wolf Hill at Monmouth Park in his first start since being transferred to Clement's care and the veteran conditioner, currently tied for most wins [15] with Todd Pletcher at the Spa summer meet, said he was pleased with the 5-year-old Cape Blanco gelding's effort.
“He ran well. It was a better race than his first time with us Monmouth,” said Clement. “He finished very well. He got in trouble but still he was game and he tried. As long as he keeps going up, the Lucky Coin at the end of the meet would be a logical spot for him.”
The $85,000 Lucky Coin, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for 4-year-olds and upward is slated for September 6.
The post A ‘Remarkable Horse,’ 9-Year-Old Gelding Pure Sensation Retired appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
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