Monster Racing Stables’ The Critical Way held on for a third straight stakes victory and his first at the graded level in the $200,000 Parx Dash Stakes (G3T) Aug. 31 at Parx Racing.
Ridden by Paco Lopez, the 7-year-old Tizway gelding was third early in the five-furlong turf sprint. He moved up into second as Francatelli ran an opening quarter-mile in :23.03, and turned three wide into the stretch as Amblin Man moved up along the rail. Amblin Man got a half in :46.44, but The Critical Way cut into the lead to eventually get his head in front.
The Critical Way was bred in Pennsylvania by Blackstone Farm and was purchased by Mike Recio’s Rockbridge Bloodstock out of the 2016 OBS June Two-Year-Old in Training Sale. Rockbridge 2-year-old buys have now won or placed in 26 blacktype races since 2017.
Francatelli continued to fight to The Critical Way’s inside and Battle Station came with a rush on the outside. The Critical Way hung in for a nose victory, stopping the clock in :58.55 on firm turf. He paid $2.60 as the favorite in a field scratched down to seven.
Battle Station got up by a head for second and Francatelli held for third by 1 3/4 lengths over So Street. Amblin Man, Borracho, and Where You Was completed the order of finish.
Trained by Jose Delgado, he increased his earnings to $593,168 from a 10-6-2 record in 27 starts.
South Point Sales & Rockbridge Bloodstock 