Mister Marti Gras' connections mull options

The millionaire gelding Mister Marti Gras will use his sharp closing turf allowance win June 21 as a springboard to one of three possible upcoming spots, all July 12, trainer Chris Block said. The Mystic Lake Mile at Canterbury and the Arlington Handicap and Stars and Stripes at Arlington are under consideration, said Block.

The 7-year-old Mister Marti Gras, bred and owned by Lothenbach Stables, is the rare horse who carries his form to all surfaces. He has three wins on fast dirt tracks, one on a wet dirt track, a 7-1-4-1 record on synthetics, and three wins and two seconds from seven turf starts.

Block has other stakes starters lined up for the July 12 Million Preview card here. Afortable runs in the American Derby, and Alette is probable for the Modesty Handicap.

** The Block-trained Sir Applesolutely has a chance in the featured fourth race on Sunday’s card, but he might have trouble catching Bet Seattle.

The six-furlong Polytrack race has multiple high-end allowance conditions and a $100,000 claiming option and is carded at six furlongs on Polytrack. Sir Applesolutely won under similar conditions going 6 1/2 furlongs during Keeneland’s spring meet in April, but Bet Seattle just won a similar six-furlong race June 1 at Arlington and has a tactical advantage Sunday over Sir Applesolutely.