McKinzie takes it slow in first work back after Met Mile

ARCADIA, Calif. – McKinzie, a troubled second in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Stakes at Belmont Park on June 8, worked a half-mile in 51 seconds on Sunday at Santa Anita for a scheduled start in the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 3.

The $1 million Whitney Stakes is run at 1 1/8 miles. The winner receives a fees-paid berth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 2.

The slow half-mile workout was McKinzie’s first since the Metropolitan Stakes in which he finished three-quarters of a length behind Mitole after racing in traffic and being forced to steady under jockey Mike Smith.

Trained by Bob Baffert for Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, McKinzie has won 6 of 11 starts and has earned $1,703,560. McKinzie was the easy winner of the Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 3.