Clement forming New York stakes plans for stable stars

Two weeks from making his annual return to New York after wintering at Payson Park Training Center in Indiantown, Florida, for the start of the Belmont Park spring/summer meet on Friday, April 26, conditioner Christophe Clement was upbeat in discussing upcoming targets for his stakes contenders. 

Multiple graded stakes winner Pure Sensation, an 8-year-old homebred for owner Patricia Generazio, won his 2019 debut on Friday at Gulfstream Park, going five furlongs in an optional-claiming race to best a field of eight by three-quarters of a length. 

"It was a very nice victory to kick off the year for him," said Clement. "He's now eight-years-old and he won well. He'll head up to New York in two weeks and we'll keep a number of options in mind with the [Grade 1, $400,000] Jaipur [June 8] as one consideration."

Fellow multiple graded stakes winner Disco Partner, also a Generazio homebred, made his first start of the year in the Grade 2 Shakertown at Keeneland, finishing a disappointing ninth.

Clement said the 7-year-old New York-bred son of Disco Rico has exited the race well. 

"He came back okay," said Clement. "He was up against it in the Shakertown and didn't appreciate the ground, but we're optimistic going forward. We'll take a look at the Elusive Quality [April 27] as well as keep the Jaipur in mind for him as well."

Clement also reported multiple graded stakes-placed White Flag, a 5-year-old War Front homebred for owner Robert S. Evans, who ran fourth in the Grade 3 Tropical Turf on January 12 at Gulfstream would also be under consideration to enter the Elusive Quality.

Graded stakes winner Have At It, also owned and bred by Evans who captured the Grade 2 Hill Prince last October is in good order and will be making his return at Belmont.