Poker

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A field of eight will line up Sunday for the $100,000 Poker H. (G3) at
Belmont Park with one main-track only entrant waiting at the ready. MR. LIGHT
(Arg)
(Numerous) has shown improving form this season, winning an allowance and
the Appleton H. (G3) before coming home fourth in the Maker’s Mark Mile S. (G2)
after being steadied around the first turn. In each of the three races, the
six-year-old has earned increasing BRIS Speed figures, posting a career high 105
in the Maker’s Mark. Mr. Light has proved effective at the Poker’s distance,
winning four of five tries at one mile on the turf, and will be coming off a
freshening for this one. Trainer Angel Penna Jr. will lift Cornelio
Velasquez in the saddle.

ECCLESIASTIC (Pulpit) comes off a close victory in the Jaipur H. (G3), where
he earned a career high 110 Speed figure. Since moving to the shedrow of Allen
Jerkens this spring, the four-year-old colt has hit the board in all three of
his outings. The bay proved he is ready for this one when smoking four
furlongs on Friday in :47 1/5. Javier Castellano will pick up the mount from
Velasquez.

TRADE FAIR (GB) (Zafonic) has been impressive since making his first start
stateside this March. Although he has yet to hit the board, the Bobby Frankel
trainee has been improving, earning a solid fourth in the Jaipur and
consistently posting improving Speed figures, taking home triple-digit numbers
in his last two outings.

L’OISEAU D’ARGENT (Silver Hawk) likes to get out in front early and has had
numerous achievements with this running style. He’ll face pressure on the front
end, but the Kiaran McLaughlin-conditioned chestnut
will be dropping back in distance here and could hold on for part if not all.

WILLARD STRAIGHT (Lion Cavern) is very much at home over this course and
distance, winning two of four at the Elmont, New York, track and scoring three
victories in four starts at one mile. The five-year-old exits a second-place
finish to L’Oiseau D’Argent versus optional-claiming company and trainer Todd
Pletcher should have him ready to go for this one. GULCH APPROVAL (Gulch) will
probably try to challenge on the front end as he did in the Jaipur, eventually
finishing third in that one. The five-year-old gelding has placed in his last
three starts, earning century-topping Speed ratings for all three contests. His
opponents are certainly in his class range and he could challenge for part.

REMIND (Deputy Minister) will be making his first start over the Belmont
course, but trainer Bill Mott has been doing well of late, winning four of his
last 10. Remind could wind up on the board with good closing speed.
SEEKING THE GLORY (A.P. Indy) has faced allowance company for much of his career and came home fifth, 12 lengths back in his graded bow in May
after some bumping in the stretch. He only has one turf start under his belt and
could need one before facing this field.

AGGADAN (Carnivalay) is listed for the main track only. If the race is taken
off the turf, he will likely be the favorite, as he fares well on off tracks
(5-2-1-0). The six-year-old chestnut finished a disappointing sixth last out in
the True North Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) for trainer Juan Rodriguez, who took over
for Richard Dutrow, after some bumping at the start of that race.