March 29, 2024

Vision Perfect wins Parx Dash in photo

Vision Perfect #8 ridden by Frankie Penningotn won the $200,000 Grade III Parx Dash at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pennsylvania on July 7, 2018. Photo By Barbara Weidl/EQUI-PHOTO

One year after running a nondescript seventh in the Parx Dash (G3), Vision Perfect proved more up to the task in Saturday’s renewal, taking the $200,000 feature by a nose while handing odds-on favorite Pure Sensation, who was his seeking his third consecutive win in the stakes, his first defeat over the Parx turf in five attempts.

Pool Winner out-hustled Pure Sensation to the lead, with Vision Perfect in close pursuit to his outside under Frankie Pennington. Pool Winner maintained a half-length advantage through splits of :22.62 and :45.11 with a furlong to go, but Vision Perfect eventually wore down the long-time leader to win in a photo. The final time was :57.18 for five furlongs on good ground.

Owned by Mr. Amore Stable and trained by Jason Servis, Vision Perfect paid $9.20 as the 7-2 second choice. Pool Winner, at 11-1, finished 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Pure Sensation.

This victory by Vision Perfect was the first of two graded wins on the afternoon for Mr. Amore Stable and Jason Servis, who minutes later enjoyed a dominating win by Firenze Fire in the Dwyer (G3) at Belmont Park.

Claimed for $80,000 by the connections last June, Vision Perfect finished 7 1/2 lengths behind Pure Sensation in the Parx Dash in his debut for them. After minor awards in a couple longer allowances, the six-year-old by Pollard’s Vision was shortened up to five furlongs.

Third in the $75,000 Janus at Gulfstream on New Year’s Day, Vision Perfect dominated the $75,000 Silks Run over the same course in March. Favored last out in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G3), Vision Perfect weakened in the final furlong to sixth, three lengths behind the winning Will Call.

Winner of the $100,000 Awad and $100,000 Woodhaven in New York and Grade 3-placed in the Pilgrim and Hill Prince earlier in his career, Vision Perfect has compiled a mark of 29-6-3-5, $612,784.

Bred in Kentucky by Robert Spiegel, Vision Perfect was produced by Steamy, a Speightstown half-sister to multiple Grade 3 winner Mr Gruff. Steamy is a daughter of Miss Grillo (G3) heroine Ruff.

Earlier on Saturday’s card, Smiling Causeway rolled to a three-length win in the $100,000 Turf Amazon over odds-on favorite Blue Bahia.

Owned by Audley Farm Stable and trained by Arnaud Delacour, Smiling Causeway covered five furlongs in :56.92 under Daniel Centeno.