Graded Score Looms for The Critical Way in Parx Dash

Monster Racing Stables' The Critical Way  has found his best stride at age 7. Trained by Jose Delgado, the Tizway  gelding has won three stakes races this year sprinting on the turf, including a last out win in the July 17 Wolf Hill Stakes at Monmouth Park. Facing familiar foes, The Critical Way looks to add graded stakes winner to his growing résumé Aug. 31 in the $200,000 Parx Dash Stakes (G3T) at Parx Racing.

The race was moved back a week from its original date of Aug. 24 due to heavy rain forcing races off the turf.

In the Wolf Hill, The Critical Way defeated The Connector , who was entered in the Parx Dash but finished third Aug. 28 in the Rainbow Heir Stakes at Monmouth.

Two starts back, the Pennsylvania-bred cruised to a three-length score in the June 19 Get Serious Stakes—in which Parx Dash entrant Francatelli  was third—in a time only two ticks off the Monmouth track record for five furlongs, the same distance as the Parx Dash.

Earlier in the year The Critical Way banged heads against some of the best grass sprinters in the division, finishing just behind Al Quoz Sprint Sponsored By Azizi Developments (G1) victor Extravagant Kid  as the pair finished 2-3 in the Jan. 1 Janus Stakes at Gulfstream Park. He also finished third behind multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Bound for Nowhere  in Keeneland's Shakertown Stakes (G2T) April 3.

The Critical Way will carry the co-high weight of 126 pounds Tuesday. Sharing that weight will be Firecrow , who makes his first start since capturing the May 15 Jim McKay Turf Sprint Stakes over The Critical Way at Pimlico Race Course in track record time of :55.30 for five furlongs, as well as Battle Station  and The Connector.

Firecrow, owned by Robert V. LaPenta and Harlow Stables, was entered into the Parx Dash after the new race date was announced. The 5-year-old son of Maclean's Music   ships into Parx from Saratoga Race Course, where he last breezed a half-mile in :49.02 Aug. 22. Trained by Ron Moquett, Firecrow will again be partnered with jockey Joel Rosario in the Parx Dash, who guided the gelding to victory in the Jim McKay.

Entries: Parx Dash S. (G3T)

Parx Racing, Tuesday, August 31, 2021, Race 9

• Grade IIIT
• 5f
• Turf
• $200,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 4:39 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Amblin Man (PA)	Jonathan Ocasio	122	Bryant R. Taylor	20/1
2	2Borracho (KY)	Abner Adorno	122	Penny Pearce	15/1
3	3Where You Was (PA)	Silvestre Gonzalez	122	Ronald W. Rogers	15/1
4	4Firecrow (KY)	Joel Rosario	126	Ron Moquett	6/1
5	5Francatelli (KY)	Frankie Pennington	122	Cathal A. Lynch	4/1
6	6The Critical Way (PA)	Paco Lopez	126	Jose H. Delgado	8/5
7	7So Street (MD)	Jaime Rodriguez	122	Jamie Ness	8/1
8	8Battle Station (NY)	Angel Cruz	126	Daniel Velazquez	8/1
9	9Appealing Future (PA)	Angel Castillo	122	Philip T. Aristone	7/2
10	10Shekky Shebaz (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	122	Wayne Potts	5/1
11	11The Connector (KY)	UNKNOWN	126	Mark Hoffman	8/1
12	12I Got a Rock (FL)	Jose C. Ferrer	122	Michael L. Catalano, Jr.	15/1
13	13King's House (KY)	Julio Correa	122	Patrick Ashton	3/1