King Kreesa wins Belmont's Poker Stakes

By foxsports
Published

NEW YORK (AP) King Kreesa led all the way to pull a 17-1 upset Saturday in the $300,000 Poker Stakes on the turf at Belmont Park.

It was a generous price on a horse that won this race in 2013 using the same tactics.

The 6-year-old gelding and jockey Jose Ortiz got the early jump on the field and had enough left to hold off Vyjack by three quarters of a length.

King Kreesa, a New York bred trained by David Donk, got his eighth win in 24 starts, paying $36.80, $15 and $8.10. Vyjack returned $9.40 and $7.20, while Il Campione paid $3.40 to show.

The time was 1:33.48 for the mile.