Poker Stakes: Maker's Mile runner-up looks a good thing in Belmont's feature

Given Chad Brown’s stranglehold on turf contests in New York, it comes as a shock that he is yet to win the Grade 3 Poker Stakes, which is the featured race at Belmont Park on Saturday night.

This mile turf event for older horses offers up $250,000 in prize-money, yet has only attracted a field of five this season. That might not be good news for bettors or the sport, but it will certainly put a smile on Brown’s face as he has the top two in the market in the form of Masen and Public Sector.

Masen, a Juddmonte homebred son of Kingman, began his career with trainer Ger Lyons in Ireland and looked on a stiff upward trajectory when he recorded his third victory in just six starts in the Knockaire Stakes at Leopardstown in October. He was subsequently shipped stateside and joined Brown, who wasted no time in trying him at the top level.

The Grade 1 Maker’s Mile, which is held during Keeneland’s Spring Meet, is certainly not the easiest assignment for a horse making their US debut, but Masen was sent off a well-backed favourite and looked the winner for much of the contest, only to be nailed right on the wire by outsider Shirl’s Speight.

Despite the tough defeat, that performance was extremely encouraging ahead of future engagements and Masen duly went one better in a small-field edition of the Seek Again Stakes just over a month later. Sent off at prohibitive odds, he tracked leader Wolfie’s Dynaghost and scooted clear under hands-and-heels riding to record a facile five-length strike.

That aforementioned rival is in the field again for the Poker and a similar pace scenario could unfold. With further improvement likely from Masen, he is undoubtedly the horse to beat and I don’t want to look elsewhere for punting purposes. If he opens anything like the 6/5 on the Morning Line, he is a good bet at skinny odds.

Stablemate Public Sector may offer the biggest challenge, although it’s worth noting that he’s also entered in the Grade 3 Monmouth Stakes on Saturday. Initial reports suggest he will run at Belmont, but that hasn’t been confirmed at the time of writing this article. 

Another son of Kingman, Public Sector has won five of his 11 career starts and is yet to finish out of the first two in five runs at Belmont. He posted his career-best performance in the Grade 2 Hill Prince here in October and a repeat effort would give him a chance, but his two subsequent efforts have been a shade disappointing and it’s hard to see him fending off Masen.

Sanctuary City is a reliable and ultra consistent performer who has hit the frame in 14 of his 19 starts, albeit the majority of those have come against New York breds. He ran creditably in the Kingston Stakes when last seen, but he’s a deep closer who needs a strong pace and probably won’t get that here. 

The final contender is Penalty, the oldest horse in the field (seven-year-old) who doesn’t look up to this level. His only start in Graded company came in this race last year, where he finished a well-beaten sixth.

Recommended bet

Masen (8.27 Belmont Park) @ 1.8