Siena Farm and WinStar Farm's Emmanuel unleashed a furious outside rally from the back of the field into the stretch and overhauled pacesetter Filo Di Arianna in the final sixteenth to win the $200,000 Poker (G3) by a neck Saturday at Belmont Park.
The 4-year-old More Than Ready colt provided Irad Oritz Jr. his second straight graded win on the Belmont (G1) card following Elite Power's triumph in the True North (G2) two races earlier.
Chez Pierre finished third as the favorite, a half length behind Filo Di Arianna, who was attempting to go gate to wire but could not hold back the winner.
Emmanuel, last of six through for the a half mile, returned $14.40 after covering one mile in 1:34.25 on firm turf.
Filo Di Arianna led the field through the opening quarter-mile in :23.94, the half in :47.82, and three-quarters in 1:11.42.
Emmanuel, who started his 4-year-old campaign with consecutive Grade 3 wins at 1 1/16-miles in the Tampa Bay and the Canadian Turf, made a bid for a return winner's circle visit, as Ortiz, Jr. coaxed him with clear daylight to the outside in the final furlong. He passed three rivals in deep stretch and overtook Filo Di Arianna with plenty of speed in reserve.
The bay colt, sent off at 6-1 odds, was winning for the sixth time from 11 career starts and earned his fourth graded event for trainer Todd Pletcher.
Pletcher said the $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap (G1) on August 12 at Saratoga Race Course, a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) in November at Santa Anita, remains a possibility for Emmanuel's next start.
Filo Di Arianna was making just his second start of the year after returning from an eight-month layoff to run second in an optional claimer going 5 1/2 furlongs over Woodbine's all-weather track in April. With that first race back, trainer Mark Casse stretched out the 7-year-old, who appreciated the distance and has now finished first or second in nine of his 11 career starts (7-2-0).
Emmanuel, who was bred in Kentucky by Helen K. Groves Revocable Trust, was produced by the Hard Spun mare Hard Cloth.
Poker Quotes
Todd Pletcher, winning trainer of Emmanuel (No. 6, $14.40): “He ran great at Pimlico [in the G3 Dinner Party] and seemed to come out of it well. We were targeting this race with Annapolis, but when he couldn't make it, it didn't look like this race was coming up a large field. So, I told Elliott [Walden, CEO of owner WinStar Farm], 'What do you think of taking a look at this race?' And he said, 'Let's take a look at it.' Once he drew in the race, we felt like he fit well and he was sharp and doing well.
“Irad [Ortiz, Jr. ] said in Baltimore, he was in the clear the whole way. It was a mile and an eighth and he was kind of pulling more than you'd like. Today, he was able to get him a little more settled and use that big run.
“He had no chance that day at Keeneland [when a distant seventh in the Grade 1 Maker's Mark Mile], it was over at the break. But he's come back with two good races.”
On targeting the Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave H. on August 12 at Saratoga Race Course, a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile: “I'd think that's one of the races that's on the radar.”
Irad Ortiz Jr., winning jockey aboard Emmanuel (No. 6): “He broke good and I knew some horses had more speed than me. I just wanted to get him in a good spot. Last time, you see the fractions, they went a little quick [in the G3 Dinner Party]. He went fast and kept fighting that day from the eighth-pole. Today, he was perfect. The mile flat suits him perfect here at Belmont.”
Luis Saez, jockey of runner-up Filo Di Arianna (No. 7): “It was a good trip. Broke good, got into a great spot and tried hard. He was the speed in the race. He came from shorter [distances], and he broke sharply and was right there.
“He was very comfortable. Actually, when he came to the straight he really tried pretty hard. But in the end, got caught. He tried really hard.”
Flavien Prat, jockey of third-place Chez Pierre (No. 1): “I had a good trip. He jumped well out of there. I got myself outside of the leader. He relaxed well from there on the backside and he made a good move turning for home and then he just couldn't go by the horse in front and that was it.”
Winning margin: neck
Final time (one-mile, Widener turf course): 1:34.25
Fractions: 23.94, 47.82, 1:11.42, 1:22.69
Full order of finish: 6-7-1-5-4-2
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