Litfin's preview: Three stakes

Monday, May 26 preview

STAKES TRIPLEHEADER

While the Met Mile has been moved from its traditional spot on Memorial Day and will be part of the Belmont Stakes Day program, there are three progressively richer stakes sprinkled through the holiday card – the $100,000 Jersey Girl (race 2), the $200,000 Pennine Ridge (race 4), and the $300,000 Poker (race 8).

PLETCHER TRIO

Todd Pletcher sends out 50 percent of the field in this six-furlong dash for 3-year-old fillies, and his trio of Our Amazing Rose (even-money), Elena Strikes (3-1) and Red Velvet (4-1) are the first three choices on the morning line.

Looking to break up a Todd Trifecta are Aibhilin; Size, who is 2 for 2; and Sustainable, the runner-up in the Cicada and Dearly Precious.

MR SPEAKER TOPS PENNNINE RIDGE

Five 3-year-old turf runners entered the 1 1/8-mile Pennine Ridge, a stepping-stone to the $1.25 million Belmont Derby Invitational on Saturday, July 5.

Flamboyant (90), Gala Award (90) and Mr Speaker (91) have virtually identical peak Beyers, and all three have run well at the distance.

Gala Award (sixth from post 14 in the Blue Grass) and Mr Speaker (Lexington winner) switch back to turf after racing on Keeneland’s synthetic.

Trainhed by Shug McGaughey, Mr Speaker has an edge in terms of experience over the inner course, as he posted a front-running maiden win at 1 1/16 miles here last fall, earning what was then a new top Beyer.

“We think he’ll really like this turf course here, with the wider turns,” said McGaughey. “I don’t think soft turf will help him, but hopefully the weather will straighten out and we won’t have soft turf.”

Wish granted. The turf is labeled firm. “I know it will probably have a little give in it,” said McGaughey. “But he has done awfully well, and his breezes have been terrific.”

IS ZA APPROVAL BLUFFING IN POKER?

Already a $1 million earner, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile runner-up Za Approval is easily the most accomplished horse in the Poker. That being said, he is coming off a rather disappointing fourth in the Maker’s 46 Mile behind Wise Dan, the dual Horse of the Year who beat him by less than a length at Santa Anita two starts earlier.

“As long as the ground is not too soft, he will run,” said Christophe Clement. “He loves it firm.”

While the Widener course is indeed labeled firm, it won’t be the kind of “firm-firm” that can only result from a stretch of warm, dry weather.

The pace promises to be hotly contested, as Peace and Justice (post 1) and Plainview (post 3) are both run-and-gun types.