Army Mule takes aim at Metropolitan Handicap
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - In New York, as in Southern California, there were rave reviews for a horse that remained undefeated after winning a Grade 1 in just his third career start.
While the 4-year-old Army Mule won’t get as much publicity nationally as will the 3-year-old Kentucky Derby-bound Justify, his performance in winning Saturday’s Grade 1, $400,000 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct was other-worldly. Stepping into graded stakes company against 10 rivals in his third lifetime start and second in just over 11 months, Army Mule galloped to a four-length victory in the Carter. His final time of 1:20.94 was exceptionally good and earned him an eye-catching 114 Beyer Speed Figure.
“He’s a special talent, for sure,” trainer Todd Pletcher said Sunday. “We were taking a calculated risk jumping from a one-other-than to a Grade 1. We were doing it because he had shown us he had what it took to compete in a race like that.”
Pletcher trains Army Mule for Vinnie Viola, who also is part owner of Vino Rosso, who won the Wood Memorial a short time later on Saturday. While Vino Rosso is headed to the Kentucky Derby and a meeting with Santa Anita Derby winner Justify, Army Mule will be pointed to the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap, the prestigious one-mile race run on the June 9 Belmont Stakes program.
Army Mule won his career debut last April 30 - six days before Always Dreaming won the Kentucky Derby for Viola and Pletcher - but he was sidelined shortly thereafter when a knee flared up, according to Pletcher. While he has yet to run beyond seven furlongs, Pletcher said it’s not inconceivable that Army Mule could get the opportunity to stretch out later in the year.
“He’s so gifted, he’s kind, he’s rateable, so I think the interesting thing is to see how he handles added distance,” Pletcher said. “I’ve never seen anything to indicate he won’t go farther.”
Pletcher planned to ship Army Mule back to South Florida and have him train at the Palm Beach Downs training center for the next few weeks.
