Race Details
Event: Poker Stakes (Grade III)
Date: Thursday, June 5, 2025
Time: 5:12 PM ET
Venue: Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY
Distance: 1 mile (Inner Turf)
Purse: $300,000
Broadcast: TVG, FanDuel Racing
Recent Performance:
Major Dude won the Ft. Lauderdale Stakes (G2T) at Gulfstream Park.
Filo Di Arianna finished second in the King Edward Stakes (G2T) at Woodbine.
Intellect placed third in the Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) at Churchill Downs.
Top Horses, Jockeys & Trainers
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Pedigree |
| Major Dude | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Todd Pletcher | Sired by Bolt d’Oro, out of Mary Rita |
| Filo Di Arianna | Jose Ortiz | Mark Casse | Sired by Drosselmeyer, out of Principessa Capri |
| Intellect (FR) | Flavien Prat | Chad Brown | Sired by Intello (GER), out of Caldera (IRE) |
| Cameo Performance | Manuel Franco | Brendan Walsh | Sired by Oscar Performance, out of La Moneda |
| Mischievous Angel | Paco Lopez | Jorge Abreu | Sired by Into Mischief, out of Sabrina’s Angel |
| Sherlock’s Jewel | Dylan Davis | Claude McGaughey III | Sired by Lea, out of Jewel Kat |
| Depiction | John Velazquez | Cherie DeVaux | Sired by More Than Ready, out of Trensita |
| Donegal Momentum | Javier Castellano | Thomas Morley | Sired by Uncle Mo, out of Moon Dash |
Race Analysis & Prediction
The Poker Stakes is a premier turf mile for four-year-olds and up, featuring a competitive field of graded stakes winners and rising stars. This year’s lineup includes several proven turf specialists, setting up a thrilling showdown.
Major Dude enters as the morning-line favorite, having secured a Grade II victory at Gulfstream Park. His Bolt d’Oro pedigree suggests elite turf ability, and with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, he’s a strong contender.
Filo Di Arianna, trained by Mark Casse, has shown explosive late speed and could capitalize if the pace is fast.
Intellect (FR) is the wild card, having shown strong closing ability in his last race. If the frontrunners tire, he could surge late.
Best Bets & Predictions
Win Bet: Major Dude (5-2) – Strong pedigree and top jockey.
Exacta Box: Major Dude / Filo Di Arianna – Speed duel potential.
Longshot Play: Intellect (4-1) – Late-running threat.
