Peter Brant's MGISW Raging Bull (Dark Angel {Ire}) looms the one to beat in Sunday's GIII Poker S. at Belmont. The late-running 6-year-old has scored at the highest level a trio of times–in the GI Hollywood Derby in 2018, GI Shoemaker Mile last May and last out in Keeneland's GI Maker's Mark Mile Apr. 9. He was forced to skip a Shoemaker Mile defense due to travel complications. The pace fell apart in the Maker's Mark, and Raging Bull's connections seem to be taking matters into their own hands here to ensure another good set up for Raging Bull here. French import Veronesi (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) makes his first appearance since setting the table for Brant's eventual G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the 2019 G2 Prix Niel at Longchamp.
Brown's third chance at a first-ever Poker title is Klaravich Stables's lightly raced Front Run the Fed (Fed Biz), who was most recently a neck second to subsequent GI Jaipur S. upsetter Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) in the seven-furlong Elusive Quality S. here Apr. 24. Narrow third finisher Value Proposition (GB) (Dansili {GB}), also trained by Brown, returned to take an optional claimer with a 100 Beyer Speed Figure.
Overachiever Get Smokin (Got Stormy) was eighth when part of that hot pace in the Maker's Mark, but he's won three of his last five, including the GII Hill Prince S. in October and GIII Tampa Bay S. in February. He was last seen running off with the Seek Again S. here May 22, two spots ahead of savvy $40,000 claim Tell Your Daddy (Scat Daddy).
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