Social Paranoia matched a career-best 100 Beyer Speed Figure for his wide-rallying score in Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Poker, a one-turn mile on the Widener turf course at Belmont Park.
Trained by Todd Pletcher and reunited with Jose Ortiz, who guided the colt to victory in the Grade 3 Appleton in his seasonal debut at Gulfstream, Social Paranoia made a four-wide move at the three-eighths following the runs of Seismic Wave and Value Proposition.
With a clear run from the top of the lane, Social Paranoia picked off his rivals one-by-one as he won by a single length.
“It was good to see him get back in the winner’s circle. I think he enjoyed the mile distance and being off the pace a little bit,” said Pletcher. “I think Jose sensed a slow pace and wanted to get him out in plenty of time to get his run together. It worked out well.”
