Knicks Go resurfaces as Met Mile highweight on loaded Belmont Stakes undercard
The Belmont Stakes undercard usually features top-shelf horses battling for divisional supremacy. The 2021 program Saturday is no exception. Besides the main event, there are eight other graded races worth $4.45 million in purses. Seven are Grade 1 events.
Knicks Go drew post 6 as the 126-pound highweight in the Grade 1, $1 million Metropolitan Handicap at one mile. The gray son of Paynter won four races in a row, including the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and Pegasus World Cup, after being transferred to Brad Cox. He finished fourth in his most recent race, the $20 million Saudi Cup.
Mischevious Alex is the other prior Grade 1 winner in this year's Metropolitan, a Win and You're In qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. The Into Mischief colt earned a 109 Beyer when dominating the competition in the Carter Handicap at Aqueduct. He is perfect from three starts sprinting this year.
By My Standards, a four-time Grade 2 winner, bypassed Monday's Steve Sexton Mile at Lone Star Park to run in the Metropolitan. The 5-year-old son of Goldencents won his lone start of 2021, the $400,000 Oaklawn Mile.
Silver State, a winner of five consecutive races, including the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap, goes out for trainer Steve Asmussen. The Asmussen barn won consecutive editions of the Metropolitan with Bee Jersey and Mitole in 2018 and 2019.
Grade 3 winners Dr Post and Lexitonian complete the field.
* Letruska and Swiss Skydiver head an absolutely loaded edition of the Grade 1, $500,000 Ogden Phipps Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles. The Ogden Phipps is a Win and You're In for the Breeders' Cup Distaff.
Letruska enters the Phipps after denying multiple champion Monomoy Girl in a thrilling edition of the Grade 1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn. Swiss Skydiver, third in the Apple Blossom, won last year's Preakness Stakes en route to being named champion 3-year-old filly.
Cox sends out multiple Grade 1 winner Shedaresthedevil and Grade 2 winner Bonny South. Shedaresthedevil, last year's Kentucky Oaks heroine, is unbeaten from two starts this year. She grabbed the La Troienne at Churchill Downs in her most recent appearance. Bonny South prepped for the Phipps with a gritty victory in the Doubledogdare at Keeneland.
Grade 1 winner Valiance makes her first start since the Breeders' Cup Distaff. The Todd Pletcher-trained mare completes the stellar field along with speedy Queen Nekia and Water White.
* Search Results had her three-race undefeated streak snapped when a close second to Malathaat in the Kentucky Oaks. She’ll likely start as the favorite in the Grade 1, $500,000 Acorn for 3-year-old fillies at one mile. She'll have to deny Travel Column, who faded to fifth in the Oaks, but should appreciate cutting back in distance, and Grade 1 winner Dayoutoftheoffice, a strong runner-up in the Eight Belles Stakes. Other contenders include Eight Belles winner Obligatory and the speedy Miss Brazil.
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* The camera couldn't separate Colonel Liam and Domestic Spending, arguably the best older turf horses in the country, in last month's Turf Classic at Churchill Downs. They square off again as the marquee names in the Grade 1, $750,000 Manhattan at 1 1/4 miles on the inner turf.
Grade 1 winners Gufo and Channel Cat look to upset the apple cart. Chad Brown not only sends out Domestic Spending, but he trains uncoupled stablemates Master Piece, Rockemperor, and Tribhuvan.
* This year’s renewal of the Grade 1, $500,000 Just a Game Stakes for fillies and mares at one mile on the Widener turf has an international flair. The Godolphin owned, Charlie Appleby-trained duo of Summer Romance and Althiqa, the one-three finishers of the Group 2 Balanchine Stakes at Meydan on Feb. 18, tackle a home team led by Brown-trained Blowout, Tamahere, Pocket Square, and Regal Glory.
Consistent performers such as Zofelle, New York Girl, and Always Shopping can’t be counted out.
* Jackie's Warrior and Dream Shake, the one-two finishers in the Pat Day Mile at Churchill, cut back slightly in distance to face the formidable sprinter Drain the Clock in the Grade 1, $400,000 Woody Stephens for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs.
Two intriguing turnback candidates are the Cox-trained Caddo River, recently second in the Arkansas Derby, and Nova Rags, who finished second in the Peter Pan here last month for trainer Bill Mott.
* Nine-time stakes-winner Got Stormy has beaten males in the past and she’ll try to do it again in the Grade 1, $400,000 Jaipur at six furlongs on the Widener turf. Sixth last time out in the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile, she is a proven turf sprinter. Bound for Nowhere, game winner of the Grade 2 Shakertown at Keeneland on April 3, looms one of the logical betting choices for trainer Wesley Ward.
Oleksandra defeated males to win this race last year and would benefit from a fast pace. Fast Boat enters in razor-sharp form for trainer Joe Sharp after winning two consecutive turf sprints. Casa Creed, a graded winner going two turns, may have found his niche sprinting after winning the seven-furlong Elusive Quality on April 24.
Gregorian Chant, a winner of three consecutive turf sprints in Southern California, steps up in class for trainer Phil D'Amato. The Jaipur is a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
* Tizamagician showed his affinity for longer-distance racing with a nine-length score in the Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup at Santa Anita. The Tiznow colt will try to transfer that form to Belmont in the Grade 2, $400,000 Brooklyn Stakes for older horses at 1 1/2 miles.
Lone Rock, reclaimed for $40,000 by trainer Robertino Diodoro last fall at Churchill, transformed into a top-class marathoner over the winter at Oaklawn. The Majestic Warrior gelding won his last two starts at 12 furlongs and seems like a nice fit. Moretti, unraced since winning the Birdstone Stakes going 1 5/8 miles at Saratoga, looms a strong factor as does Flat Out Stakes winner Musical Heart.
- additional reporting by David Grening