Poker Stakes winner Social Paranoia likely for Fourstardave
The Elkstone Group's Social Paranoia matched a career-best 100 Beyer Speed Figure for his wide-rallying score in Saturday's Grade 3, $150,000 Poker, a one-turn mile on the Widener turf course at Belmont Park.
Trained by Todd Pletcher and reunited with Jose Ortiz, who guided the colt to victory in the Grade 3 Appleton in his seasonal debut at Gulfstream, Social Paranoia made a four-wide move at the three-eighths following the runs of Seismic Wave and Value Proposition.
With a clear run from the top of the lane, Social Paranoia picked off his rivals one-by-one as she won by a single length.
Pletcher said the turnback in distance following an off-the-board effort in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Fort Marcy was beneficial.
"It was good to see him get back in the winner's circle. I think he enjoyed the mile distance and being off the pace a little bit," said Pletcher. "I think Jose sensed a slow pace and wanted to get him out in plenty of time to get his run together. It worked out well."
2020 Poker (G3)
| Fin | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Social Paranoia Street Boss | T. Pletcher J. Ortiz |
| 4-1 | |||
| 2nd | Seismic Wave Tapit | W. Mott J. Rosario |
| 8-1 | |||
| 3rd | Value Proposition Dansili | C. Brown I. Ortiz, Jr. |
| 5-2 | |||
| 4th | Got Stormy Get Stormy | M. Casse J. Velazquez |
| 7-2 | |||
| 5th | Dream Friend Ghostzapper | J. Terranova J. Lezcano |
| 8-1 | |||
| 6th | Hawkish Artie Schiller | J. Toner M. Franco |
| 12-1 | |||
| 7th | Eons Giant's Causeway | A. Delacour K. Carmouche |
| 20-1 | |||
| 8th | Valid Point Scat Daddy | C. Brown J. Castellano |
| 7-2 |