Tightend Touchdown Ends Skid in Parx Dash
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This year proved to be Tightend Touchdown's turn in the $200,000 Parx Dash Handicap (gr. IIIT).
After finishing second to Ben's Cat in the previous two editions of the five-furlong turf race at Parx Racing, Tightend Touchdown would not be denied Saturday, July 11, edging longshot Mongolian Saturday by a head.
Despite some problems loading, Tightend Touchdown broke well under Frankie Pennington and settled in a tracking position behind early leader Bold Thunder, who surged along the rail through a quarter-mile in :22.39 and a half-mile in :45.34. At the eighth pole, Tightend Touchdown rallied past the early leader and just held off 50-1 shot Mongolian Saturday to win the five-furlong turf race.
Trained by Jason Servis, Tightend Touchdown completed the five furlongs in :57.19 on firm turf to give Pennington his third win of the day.
In winning the $200,000 Parx Dash, Mr. Amore Stable's Tightend Touchdown, a 6-year-old Pure Precision gelding, ended a six-race losing streak that dated back to his win in last year's Pennsylvania Governor's Cup Stakes at Penn National Race Course. After that win, Tightend Touchdown would finish a nose behind Ben's Cat in the 2014 Parx Dash.
A pair of longshots rounded out the top three spots as Mongolian Stable's grade III-placed Mongolian Saturday just missed his first career stakes win. Bradlee Rainwater's grade III-placed Mongol Bull, settled for third, edging 8-5 favorite Power Alert by a neck.
In Saturday's race Ben's Cat, who was looking for his fourth straight Parx Dash victory and 25th career stakes win, launched a mild rally but never threatened. The Mid-Atlantic-based star sprinter finished sixth at odds of 9-5. Power Alert (AUS), who won this year's Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Churchill Downs, was sent off the 8-5 favorite, and also never threatened the winner.
With the two favorites failing to place, the $1 trifecta of 12-1 Tightend Touchdown, 50-1 Mongolian Saturday, and 40-1 Mongol Bull returned $5,672. Tightend Touchdown paid $26.80 to win, $10.60 to place, and $7.40 to show. Mongolian Saturday paid $54 to place and $9.80 to show, while Mongol Bull paid $22 to show.
Out of the Marquetry mare Starry Mark, Tightend Touchdown was bred in Florida by Chad and Laurie Stewart.