Rumble at Parx Racing: The Pumpkin rolls to course record

Woodbine-based PUMPKIN RUMBLE surged from off the pace to win the $104,850 Alphabet Soup Handicap by a half-length in course-record time under Luis Saez Saturday at Parx Racing. The 8-year-old gelding by English Channel, making his first start in the U.S. for trainer Kevin Attard in the first of seven stakes on the Pennsylvania Derby Day card, won in 1:40.21 for the 1 1/16 miles on the firm turf. Whatever For set the previous course mark of 1:40.40 in June 1986.

Bill and Al Ulwelling own Pumpkin Rumble and the American owners have a sizable string of runners at Woodbine with Attard.

Pumpkin Rumble, the 6-5 favorite in the field of seven, improved to 10-for-45 with the victory. Saratoga Jack finished second and 2 lengths ahead of Taxable Goods.

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Assistant trainer Denton Ebanks said, “Beautiful race, we’re happy to win. He’s a beautiful horse to work with. We came in Friday morning and our expectations were to win. Great ride from Luis.”

Jockey Luis Saez, recently issued a three-day riding suspension from AGCO stewards at Woodbine for his ride on Lucullan in the Woodbine Mile said, “It was amazing. We broke perfect and we saved ground. I didn’t know where we were going to go because everyone was moving everywhere. We stayed on the rail, and, thank God, we did. He finished strong and I am very happy with how he ran.”