ELMONT, N.Y. – Two significant factors played a role in trainer Brad Cox re-routing Knicks Go from last Monday’s Grade 3 Steve Sexton Mile at Lone Star Park to Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park. First, there was the defection from the Met Mile of Charlatan, a horse Cox readily admits Knicks Go is not as good as at a one-turn mile. Second, there is the recent training of Knicks Go, who will make his first start since February in the Met Mile. “As far as works go, he’s every bit as good now as he was leading up to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile,” Cox said. :: Bet the Belmont Stakes on DRF Bets! Join today with code DOUBLE and get a $250 Bonus.  Knicks Go, who won the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile by 3 1/2 lengths last November, heads a field of six entered in Saturday’s Met Mile, one of eight Grade 1 races to be contested on the 13-race Belmont Stakes program. As far as six-horse fields go, this is as solid as it gets. Mischevious Alex has won three in a row, including the Grade 1 Carter. Silver State has won five straight, including the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap. By My Standards, who scratched from the Steve Sexton Mile, won the Oaklawn Mile. Dr Post, second in last year’s Belmont, won the Grade 3 Westchester in his 4-year-old debut. Lexitonian is a nose and a head away from being a two-time Grade 1 winner. Knicks Go won four consecutive races around two turns. He has not run since finishing fourth in the $20 million Saudi Cup, a 1 1/8-mile race run around one turn, on Feb. 20. In that race, he sparred on the front end with Charlatan, who put away Knicks Go only to be caught by Mishriff. “There’s going to be some question marks if the one-turn mile is what he wants to do,” Cox said. “For a million dollars and a prestigious race like the Met Mile, we really feel like he deserves the opportunity.” Aiding his cause in the Met is the fact Knicks Go looks like the main speed in the field breaking from post 6 under Joel Rosario. Mischevious Alex has the rail. He has speed, but he is somewhat suspect at a mile. Yes, he won the Grade 3 Gotham at a mile in 2020, but this field is stronger. “The concern is there’s not much pace in the race,” said Saffie Joseph Jr, trainer of Mischevious Alex. “The only horse that could potentially go with Knicks Go is probably us. Ideally, you want to ride a horse that may have distance limitations with a little more patience.” Irad Ortiz Jr. has the call on Mischevious Alex from the rail. Steve Asmussen won the Met Mile in 2018 with Bee Jersey and 2019 with Mitole. In Silver State, he sends out a horse that has won five straight, including a pair of allowance races in one-turn races last fall in Kentucky. Asmussen said “how fast” those allowance wins were around one turn last fall make him feel like Silver State is a contender. Ricardo Santana Jr., aboard for Asmussen’s two previous Met Mile wins, has the call from post 3. The connections of By My Standards are chasing a Grade 1 victory for the four-time Grade 2 winner. Trainer Bret Calhoun said the mile is “less than his optimal distance” and his biggest concern is Knicks Go being the lone speed. “When he’s on his ‘A’ game, with the amount of speed he’s got, he’s pretty efficient,” Calhoun said. Dr Post, second in last year’s Belmont Stakes run around one turn, is coming off a career-best speed figure when he won the Grade 3 Westchester going a mile here May 1. Still, this field is significantly tougher than that one. “It was a good performance. Hopefully, it moves him forward,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He’ll have to step up another notch, but he’s one we always felt like is good enough to win a race. He’s gotten close a few times.” John Velazquez rides Dr Post from post 2. Lexitonian has gotten super close to winning a big race on two occasions. Last August, he was beaten a nose by Collusion Illusion in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby at Del Mar. Last month, he was beaten a head by Flagstaff in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs. Those races were at six and seven furlongs, respectively. He is 0 for 2 at a mile. “Going into it, I’m not going to make an excuse that he didn’t stay the mile,” trainer Jack Sisterson said. “He’s training like he will get the mile.” The Met Mile is a Win and You’re In race for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile this November at Del Mar.