After kicking off his 8-year-old campaign with a pair of narrow defeats at Santa Anita this winter, the speedy Obviously (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}) takes his show on the road to New York for Saturday's GIII Poker S. at Belmont Park.
The two-time GI Shoemaker Mile S. winner has faced the starter only four times while failing to get his picture taken the past two seasons, including a pair of heart-breaking runner-up finishes in the GII San Gabriel S. Jan. 2 and GII Arcadia S. Feb. 13. The 9-5 morning-line favorite is the clear-cut one to catch and figures to face only token pressure from two-time Poker winner King Kreesa (King Kugat), who was most recently second in the Kingston S. versus New York-breds here May 30.
Last term's narrow GI Shadwell Turf Mile S. hero and GI Breeders' Cup Mile third Grand Arch (Arch) began the season with a game third as the 2-1 favorite behind Takeover Target (Harlan's Holiday) in Pimlico's GII Dixie S. May 21. Force the Pass (Speightstown), third as the favorite in Gulfstream's GIII Appleton S. last out Apr. 2, returns to the scene of his 2015 GI Belmont Derby Invitational win.
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