Ward Is Poised for a Big Day

Before Smarty Jones tries to make history in the Belmont Stakes, owner-trainer Wesley Ward has an opportunity to win two races on the card.

In the first, a $58,000 allowance at 1 1/16 miles, Lifestyle, who has won his first two starts by a combined 23 1/4 lengths, will try to remain unbeaten. Five races later, Bear Fan will aim for her fourth consecutive victory in the $150,000 Vagrancy Handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs. The Vagrancy is the first leg of a pick six with a guaranteed pool of $1 million.

Co-owned by Ward and Roger King, Lifestyle -- originally purchased as a yearling for $1.1 million by the Thoroughbred Corp. -- broke his maiden by 9 3/4 lengths March 12 at Gulfstream Park, then came to Belmont Park and won by 13 1/2 lengths against a solid field of allowance horses. Both of those victories came at seven furlongs.

The son of Indian Charlie will break from the outside post in the field of 10 and will again be ridden by Joe Bravo.

Bear Fan, who is owned by Ward and Peter Fan, won the Genuine Risk Handicap by five lengths in her Belmont debut May 9 and will be a short price.

Besides the Belmont and Vagrancy, the other races in the pick six are the $200,000 True North Breeders’ Cup Handicap, the $250,000 Just A Game Breeders’ Cup Handicap, the $200,000 Riva Ridge Breeders’ Cup and the $400,000 Manhattan Handicap.

One for the road: Pohave has shown the ability to stalk, and he could get the right trip in his New York debut in the True North Breeders’ Cup at six furlongs. Jon Court, who was aboard for the gray gelding’s victory in the L.A. Times Handicap on May 8 at Hollywood Park, will ride again for trainer Doug O’Neill.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Macaneo in the sixth, Sensational Guy, Bull Headed Harry and Winthrop Joe in the seventh and Ticker Tape, Amorama and Western Hemisphere in the eighth.

Winners (through Thursday): Previous day/meet total: 2/69. Money: Previous day/meet total: $11.60/$383. Total money bet: $550.