Field set for the Met Mile
DiscreetCat
Moderator
from Brisnet:
The lack of a standout in the older male ranks was reflected when entries were taken for Monday's $600,000 Metropolitan H. (G1), the traditional one-mile Memorial Day fixture at Belmont Park. A field of 13, including a pair of three-year-olds, will line up with slight favoritism likely to go to SMOOTH AIR (Smooth Jazz), the 118-pound highweight. A multiple Grade 2 winner for trainer Bennie Stutts Jr., Smooth Air prevailed in the Gulfstream Park H. (G2), now a one-turn mile, in his most recent start, but missed his intended prep for the Metropolitan when coming down with colic prior to last month's Texas Mile (G3). Paco Lopez will again be in the saddle.
BRIBON (Fr) (Mark of Esteem [Ire]), a non-threatening fourth in the Gulfstream Park H., rebounded to take the April 29 Westchester S. (G3), a course-and-distance prep for Monday's heat. Making a bold move into the teeth of a blistering pace around the far turn, Bribon dug in gamely through the stretch to post a one-length victory under Alan Garcia, who will get a lift aboard the six-year-old gelding from trainer Robert Ribaudo.
The top three finishers from the May 2 Churchill Downs S. (G2) will lock horns again. ACCREDIT (E Dubai) led throughout to take the honors in the slop, just two races after trainer Mike Maker claimed the four-year-old from Kiaran McLaughlin for $75,000. Churchill Downs runner-up MY PAL CHARLIE (Indian Charlie) ran his best race since taking the Super Derby (G2) last September, while THE ROUNDHOUSE (Fusaichi Pegasus) did well to grab show honors after trailing the field of nine turning for home.
The regally-bred and lightly-raced MR. SIDNEY (Storm Cat) will make just his second career start on dirt in the Met Mile. Third in his career debut on the surface, the Bill Mott charge is undefeated in three starts at the distance on turf. He enters off a half-length score in a moderate renewal of the Maker's Mark Mile (G1) over the Keeneland lawn.
Mr. Fantasy is one of two three-year-olds in the Met Mile, along with Imperial Council (Adam Coglianese/NYRA)
Though the Met Mile's history is sprinkled with the occasional three-year-old winner, more often than not it takes a sophomore of championship caliber to upstage the older set. Sword Dancer, Arts and Letters, Conquistador Cielo, Gulch and Holy Bull are among the select few to join the exclusive club in the past half-century, and nearly all had to concede some weight on the scale. This year's three-year-old representatives, IMPERIAL COUNCIL (Empire Maker) and MR. FANTASY (E Dubai), are entitled to a 14-pound concession under the Jockey Club scale of weights, but will be getting far less from all of their older foes. Mr. Fantasy, who has won three-of-four, should be the more popular of the two following a victory in the Withers S. (G3). Imperial Council, who has a history of leaving his race in the paddock or post parade, was runner-up in the Peter Pan S. (G2) a little more than two weeks ago.
Finishing out the Met Mile field are the multiple Grade 2-placed RILEY TUCKER (Harlan's Holiday), who cruised by 6 1/4 lengths in winning a Churchill allowance on the Kentucky Derby (G1) undercard; FAMOUS PATRIOT (Repent), who is undefeated in two starts over a mile at Belmont; READY'S ECHO (More Than Ready), who finished in a dead heat for third in last year's Belmont S. (G1) and won his seasonal debut at Keeneland last month; Carter H. (G1) third-placer DRIVEN BY SUCCESS (Precise End); and RUNFORTHEDOE (Brz) (Our Emblem), a Group 1 winner in Argentina who was a distant second in the Oaklawn H. (G2) in his most recent start.
The lack of a standout in the older male ranks was reflected when entries were taken for Monday's $600,000 Metropolitan H. (G1), the traditional one-mile Memorial Day fixture at Belmont Park. A field of 13, including a pair of three-year-olds, will line up with slight favoritism likely to go to SMOOTH AIR (Smooth Jazz), the 118-pound highweight. A multiple Grade 2 winner for trainer Bennie Stutts Jr., Smooth Air prevailed in the Gulfstream Park H. (G2), now a one-turn mile, in his most recent start, but missed his intended prep for the Metropolitan when coming down with colic prior to last month's Texas Mile (G3). Paco Lopez will again be in the saddle.
BRIBON (Fr) (Mark of Esteem [Ire]), a non-threatening fourth in the Gulfstream Park H., rebounded to take the April 29 Westchester S. (G3), a course-and-distance prep for Monday's heat. Making a bold move into the teeth of a blistering pace around the far turn, Bribon dug in gamely through the stretch to post a one-length victory under Alan Garcia, who will get a lift aboard the six-year-old gelding from trainer Robert Ribaudo.
The top three finishers from the May 2 Churchill Downs S. (G2) will lock horns again. ACCREDIT (E Dubai) led throughout to take the honors in the slop, just two races after trainer Mike Maker claimed the four-year-old from Kiaran McLaughlin for $75,000. Churchill Downs runner-up MY PAL CHARLIE (Indian Charlie) ran his best race since taking the Super Derby (G2) last September, while THE ROUNDHOUSE (Fusaichi Pegasus) did well to grab show honors after trailing the field of nine turning for home.
The regally-bred and lightly-raced MR. SIDNEY (Storm Cat) will make just his second career start on dirt in the Met Mile. Third in his career debut on the surface, the Bill Mott charge is undefeated in three starts at the distance on turf. He enters off a half-length score in a moderate renewal of the Maker's Mark Mile (G1) over the Keeneland lawn.
Mr. Fantasy is one of two three-year-olds in the Met Mile, along with Imperial Council (Adam Coglianese/NYRA)
Though the Met Mile's history is sprinkled with the occasional three-year-old winner, more often than not it takes a sophomore of championship caliber to upstage the older set. Sword Dancer, Arts and Letters, Conquistador Cielo, Gulch and Holy Bull are among the select few to join the exclusive club in the past half-century, and nearly all had to concede some weight on the scale. This year's three-year-old representatives, IMPERIAL COUNCIL (Empire Maker) and MR. FANTASY (E Dubai), are entitled to a 14-pound concession under the Jockey Club scale of weights, but will be getting far less from all of their older foes. Mr. Fantasy, who has won three-of-four, should be the more popular of the two following a victory in the Withers S. (G3). Imperial Council, who has a history of leaving his race in the paddock or post parade, was runner-up in the Peter Pan S. (G2) a little more than two weeks ago.
Finishing out the Met Mile field are the multiple Grade 2-placed RILEY TUCKER (Harlan's Holiday), who cruised by 6 1/4 lengths in winning a Churchill allowance on the Kentucky Derby (G1) undercard; FAMOUS PATRIOT (Repent), who is undefeated in two starts over a mile at Belmont; READY'S ECHO (More Than Ready), who finished in a dead heat for third in last year's Belmont S. (G1) and won his seasonal debut at Keeneland last month; Carter H. (G1) third-placer DRIVEN BY SUCCESS (Precise End); and RUNFORTHEDOE (Brz) (Our Emblem), a Group 1 winner in Argentina who was a distant second in the Oaklawn H. (G2) in his most recent start.
Comments
Mr. Sidney a recent G1 winner on turf moves over to dirt and could be a handfull. Smooth Air already has a Graded Stakes win at the distance but did have an illness. 3 recent works says he is ok but you have to question if he is ready and Bribon has the most experience at the distance and he too has a Graded Stakes win at the distance.
My pick ? I am going with Smooth Air. There is plenty of early speed in this race and early speed doesn't win this race it will be someone from off the pace and that sets things up for Smooth Air. Bribon appears to be the main competition and Imperial Council is coming off a huge race and took second to a hard charging Charitable Man who could win the Belmont if RA doesn't show.
1. Smooth Air
2. Bribon
3. Imperial Council