Masen takes Poker, points to Fourstardave
Masen won his second straight stakes at Belmont Park on Saturday when he shuttled to a length victory over Wolfie’s Dynaghost in the Grade 3, $250,000 Poker.
It was a nose back in third to Public Sector.
The Poker was a mile race for 4-year-olds and up and it was run over a firm Widener turf course.
Masen ($2.60) was the 1-5 favorite Saturday following his victory in the Seek Again on May 22 at Belmont. He broke from the rail with pacesetter Wolfie’s Dynaghost and, shortly into the race, jockey Flavien Prat took Masen back and situated him just outside of the leader.
Masen tracked in second as Wolfie’s Dynaghost set fractions of 24.05 seconds for the opening quarter, 48.26 for the half-mile and 1:11.28 for six furlongs. The eventual winner took over in the stretch and covered the distance in 1:34.16.
“He has a great turn of foot, so I wasn’t so worried about the slow pace,” winning rider Flavien Prat told the New York Racing Association publicity department. “It was only a matter of getting him to switch off. After that, I was fine.”
Masen gave winning trainer Chad Brown his first victory in the Poker. Brown said the race would send Masen to the Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave on Aug. 13 at Saratoga.
“He ran back just inside a month, which is a little tight for him, but I wanted to get another race between now and the Fourstardave,” Brown told NYRA. “It worked out.”
Brown also trains third-place finisher Public Sector.
“He needs a little more pace to run at,” the trainer said.
Masen is a son of Kingman who was bred in England by his owner, Juddmonte Farms. He has now won 5 of 9 starts and earned $426,298. Masen started his career in Ireland, and has made three starts in North America.