Data Link holds strong hand in Poker; Samitar gets class
relief on undercard
Grade 1 star Data Link is the main attraction in Thursday’s Grade 3, $150,000
Poker,
the anchor of a three-stakes program on the Fourth of July at Belmont Park.
Data Link holds a class edge in the one-mile contest over the Widener turf.
The Shug McGaughey charge was last seen finishing runner-up to Horse of the Year
Wise Dan at Keeneland, in a gallant attempt to defend his title in the April 12
Maker’s 46 Mile. Data Link also boasts scores in last season’s Monmouth Stakes
and Citation Handicap, and he kicked off 2013 with a cozy success in the
February 23 Canadian Turf at Gulfstream Park.
On Sunday, Data Link completed his preparations by blitzing three furlongs in
:35 over Belmont’s firm inner turf, and he looms as the 6-5 favorite on the
morning line.
His opponents hope that his 123-pound impost, and his failure to hit the
board in two prior appearances at Belmont, will take him down a notch. While
Data Link is much improved from those fourth-place efforts here — in a maiden
at two and his comeback from injury at three — note that both had come over
rain-softened ground, and the son of hot sire War Front definitely prefers firm
going.
Howe Great was one of the notable turf sophomores of 2012, through a trio of
stakes victories including the Palm Beach along with placings in the American
Turf, Hill Prince and Del Mar Derby. Although only seventh to Data Link in the
Canadian Turf, in his first try versus older horses, the Team Valor
International runner has gone on to take a salty Keeneland allowance and most
recently finished fourth in the Dixie at Pimlico. The Hat Trick colt has
since left Graham Motion and will be making his debut for Team Valor’s new
trainer, Rick Mettee.
New York-bred stalwarts King Kreesa and Lubash are not to be overlooked.
Likely pacesetter King Kreesa, runner-up in the Jamaica Handicap in October, was
third in both the Appleton and Fort Marcy this spring before wiring the June 1
Kingston at this course and distance. Lubash, who had captured the Fort Marcy
two back, could get no closer than third when King Kreesa turned the tables in
the Kingston.
Upgrade, winner of the seven-furlong Jaipur at Belmont last summer, was a
closing third in the May 26 Connaught Cup at Woodbine over that same trip, and
tacks on an extra furlong in this spot. Two Poker entrants are coming out of the
June 7 renewal of the Jaipur, which was transferred to the sloppy main track —
Big Screen, the gutsy front runner who was demoted from first to second for
interference, and third-placer Politicallycorrect, who again hopes for rain as
as a main-track-only runner.
One race earlier, Grade/Group 1 heroine Samitar drops to overnight company
for the $100,000
Fairy
Garden over 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf. Last year’s Irish One Thousand
Guineas winner has had a tough time since landing the Garden City here in
September. The Chad Brown filly has run well, but come up short, in the Queen
Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (fourth), Honey Fox (second), Jenny Wiley (third) and
Gallorette (fourth) last time out on May 18.
The Fairy Garden could serve as a confidence booster for Samitar, but it’s
not that soft a spot, for Irish Group 3 veteran Future Generation spearheads a
three-pronged squad for Christophe Clement. Unraced since finishing fourth in
last November’s Matriarch, Future Generation ran away with the Serena’s Cat over
this course two starts ago. She is joined by stablemates Team and the
main-track-only Clarinda.
Others to note are Peace Preserver and Dinner’s Out, both cross-entered to
Tuesday’s Grade 3 Dr. James Penny Memorial Handicap at Parx; Grade 3 scorer
Silver Screamer; and pace factors Baffle Me and Free as a Bird.
New York-bred sophomore fillies will open the holiday stakes action in the
$100,000
Eventail over 1 1/16 miles on the Widener turf. Discreet Marq capitalized as
the lone speed in the Sands Point on Memorial Day, but the Clement filly figures
to have company on the front end this time. The Todd Pletcher-trained Roses for
Romney just dominated an entry-level state-bred allowance in wire-to-wire
fashion, and Moonlit Sonnet had similarly flashed speed in her maiden romp.
A contested pace would play into the hands of Unbelievable Dream, who rolled
from last to first in the Appalachian at Keeneland. The Barclay Tagg pupil had
no chance to duplicate that performance when trailing throughout in the paceless
Sands Point. Fellow closer Adriatic Dream just ran fourth in Sunday’s Cupecoy’s
Joy division of the New York Stallion Stakes and might not wheel back for David
Donk.
An intriguing new shooter to the turf ranks is stakes victress Kelli
Got Frosty. Trained by Rudy Rodriguez, she has placed in four straight stakes on
dirt — to the likes of Princess of Sylmar, Kauai Katie and Lovely Syn — and
the daughter of Frost Giant is eligible to enjoy the switch to turf.
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