Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott secured his fifth victory in the $300,000 Poker Stakes (G3T) June 7 at Saratoga Race Course when Pin Oak Stud's Pass the Hat got the nod over his stablemate Capitol Hill in a thrilling fight to the wire.
The lightly-raced 5-year-old by Collected broke sharply underneath a patient John Velazquez, who tracked the pacesetting and heavily favored Zulu Kingdom, who led through opening splits of :23.92 and:47.60.
"We talked about it, and we thought if Zulu Kingdom wanted to be the speed, we could sit right off him," Velazquez said.
Turning for home, Pass the Hat turned up the pressure on Zulu Kingdom, while Mott's other runner, Capitol Hill, unleashed a late rally. The three of them fought to the wire in a dramatic finish, with Pass the Hat winning by a nose over Capitol Hill. Zulu Kingdom was third, with his stablemate Salamis finishing a flat fourth after being fractious in the starting gates before the race. Amo Racing and Resolute Racing's dual group winner Ridari finished fifth.
"Ran huge. Both two different types," Mott said. "Johnny (Velazquez) was on the horse with a little more speed. He stalked the leader, stalked the big favorite. Actually, Capitol Hill was a little closer today than what he's been in a few of his other races. He was actually a little sharper away from the gate, and they ran good. Capitol Hill actually put his nose in front a few jumps before the wire, but he did not get the nod today."
Junior Alvarado, who was aboard Capitol Hill, was happy with his horse's effort.
"He got a dirty nose down, but it's all you can ask (of) them—as long as they're giving the effort," Alvarado said. "I wish I would have ended up on the other side of the winner's circle, but he tried his hardest and gave me what I thought he had. We were just a little unlucky with the bob."
The final time for the 1-mile race was 1:32.92.
Pass the Hat broke his maiden in his second start at 2 in a maiden special weight at Ellis Park. He did not return to the racetrack until 2 years later as a 4-year-old, and did not visit the winner's circle again until his first race of 2026 when he took an allowance optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park by 2 3/4 lengths.
"He's been training well. He's come around good. It took us a while to figure out what he wanted to do," Mott said. "Last year when we started him out, we ran him the first time on the dirt, and he ran well; the second time, no good. So we switched him over to the grass. He's gradually gotten a little better and a little better."
Mott's runners were the two longest shots on the board at 10-1 and 12-1, respectively. Pass the Hat paid $22.78 to win.
Mott said the July 5 Kelso Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga is possible for Pass the Hat, and said a goal of getting the horse to the Aug. 8 Fourstardave Handicap (G1T), also at The Spa, "would be great." The winner of the race earns an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T), held this year at Keeneland.
