Expectations high for Pocket Square in Athenia Stakes
ELMONT, N.Y. – Pocket Square ran so well in her U.S. debut in April that the public sent her off the favorite in the Grade 1 Just a Game Stakes here on Belmont Stakes Day. She finished fifth.
Pocket Square ran so well in an allowance race at Saratoga last month that she figures to be sent off a heavy favorite in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Athenia Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile turf race at Belmont Park that drew only five runners for the turf, plus one main-track-only entrant.
Pocket Square looks tough to beat in the Athenia, a race her trainer Chad Brown has won five times in the last eight years. Brown also sends out Miss Teheran.
In four starts in the United States, Pocket Square has two allowance wins and two fifth-place finishes in Grade 1 stakes. Her last race, however, was a strong performance as she sat behind a slow pace and then responded when jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. went to the whip in upper stretch. She won by 4 1/4 lengths as the 1-9 favorite.
“She did what she was supposed to do, she did it nicely,” Brown said. “She needs to step up now and show it.”
Ortiz will ride Pocket Square from post 4.
Brown said he hopes the turf dries out from rain that was expected here Friday.
“I do believe she’s better on firm ground,” Brown said.
Miss Teheran is 0 for 2 at 1 1/8 miles, but was closing well when second to Vigilantes Way in the Miss Liberty Stakes on Aug. 28 at Monmouth Park. Vigilantes Way runs back in Saturday’s $100,000 Violet Stakes at Monmouth, which is scheduled three hours prior to the Athenia.
“I thought it was time to try her back in a graded stakes,” Brown said. “I liked her last race very much; she was coming on pretty well.”
Manny Franco rides Miss Teheran from post 2.
Trainer Brendan Walsh has sent a few horses to New York, led by Maxfield for the Grade 1 Woodward on Oct. 2, plus Lake Lucerne for the Athenia. Lake Lucerne came with a solid run to win a second-level allowance on Sept. 1 at Saratoga, racing closer to the pace than she had done previously.
There wasn’t much pace in that allowance, there doesn’t appear to be much pace in this spot either.
“I think it’ll actually suit her to try to ride her a little closer to the pace,” Walsh said. “The last time we were able to do that because there was no pace as well.”
Jose Lezcano rides Lake Lucerne from the rail.
Made In Italy, trained by Graham Motion, was supplemented to this race. She is winless in two starts in the United States.
Stand for the Flag, a 5-year-old daughter of Super Saver, would be making her first start on turf if she runs. Spice Is Nice is entered to run only if the race comes off the turf.