Mitole, McKinzie, Thunder Snow all likely to race at Saratoga

ELMONT, N.Y. - Mitole, McKinzie, and Thunder Snow, the first three finishers from Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.2 million Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park, were all scheduled to return to their home bases by the beginning of the week, but all three could very well make their next starts in Saratoga this summer.

Mitole, who won his seventh straight race by beating McKinzie by three-quarters of a length in the Met Mile, came out of his race in good order and was scheduled to ship back to Churchill Downs on Monday, according to trainer Steve Asmussen. Aside from saying that Mitole would be based in Saratoga for the summer, Asmussen was non-committal on when he would run next. Races that make sense for him include the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt going six furlongs on July 27 and/or the Grade 1 Forego going seven furlongs on Aug. 24.

“We’ll take him back to Churchill, evaluate his condition, see how the much the Met took out of him and what we should do with him next,” said Asmussen, who trains Mitole for William and Corrine Heiligbrodt, on Sunday morning. “I do plan on sending him to Saratoga.”

In the Met, Mitole chased Coal Front for the first half-mile, poked a head in front at the three-eighths pole then held McKinzie and Thunder Snow at bay late. McKinzie, who was stalled in traffic, did get second by a neck.

Mitole ran a mile in 1:32.75 - just .02 off the stakes record set by Frosted in 2016 - and earned a 108 Beyer Speed Figure.

Trainer Bob Baffert admitted to being frustrated with the trip McKinzie had as he was stymied behind horses under Mike Smith and couldn’t find running room until too late.

“If he got the right trip, he could win that race,” Baffert said Sunday. “I knew we had to beat Mitole and damn if he didn’t beat us. It’s just frustrating. You couldn’t make a mistake and beat that horse.”

Baffert said the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on Aug. 3 at Saratoga was a possible next start for McKinzie.

Thunder Snow returned to England on Sunday but is scheduled to return for the Whitney, according to trainer Saeed bin Suroor.

“He ran well, [the mile] is not his trip, but we had to start him somewhere,” Suroor said Saturday after the race. “He ran a huge race, the race was fast. Now, we’ll take him to Saratoga.”

No plans for Midnight Bisou

Like Mitole, Grade 1 Ogden Phipps winner Midnight Bisou was scheduled to return to Churchill Downs on Monday where she will be based before moving up to Saratoga in about month, trainer Steve Asmussen said.

Midnight Bisou won her fourth consecutive stakes of the year, taking the Phipps by 3 1/2 lengths over Come Dancing. Midnight Bisou ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:39.69 and earned a 103 Beyer Speed Figure for the performance.

“Freakishly proud of her, obviously the style in which she’s running this year is inspirational,” Asmussen said.

While Asmussen said the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita is the year-end goal for Midnight Bisou, he is less sure how to get there. The biggest race of the meet for older fillies and mare at Saratoga is the Grade 1 Personal Ensign on Aug. 24 at 1 1/8 miles. Asmussen did not seem concerned that while Midnight Bisou is 8 for 8 at 1 1/16 miles, she is 0 for 3 in races at 1 1/8 miles.

“The difference in her now is she went from an extremely talented filly to a horse that expects to win,” Asmussen said. “We’ll take her to Saratoga late June, first of July and map out a second half schedule that culminates in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.”

Carlos Martin, the trainer of Come Dancing, who was favored over Midnight Bisou, said his mare would likely shorten up in distance for the Grade 1 Ballerina at seven furlongs at Saratoga on Aug. 24.

World of options for World of Trouble

World of Trouble, now a Grade 1 winner on turf and dirt after his victory in Saturday’s Grade 1 Jaipur Invitational on turf, has plenty of options for his next start.

He could return to the dirt - and a possible showdown with Mitole? - in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt on July 27. If not, he could run in the $200,000 Troy Stakes, a 5 1/2-furlong turf stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 3.

Owner Michael Dubb said World of Trouble made - and won - the three races he and trainer Jason Servis targeted for him during the first half of the year. That included the Grade 1 Carter on dirt at Aqueduct, the Grade 2 Turf Sprint at Churchill, and the Jaipur.

“I don’t know that Jason and I really studied the stakes book for the rest of the year,” Dubb said.

Dubb did say that the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita in early November is the year-end objective.

“I don’t want to overexert this horse, he’s been so good to us,” Dubb said. “I really want to give Jason carte blanche on when and where and how.”

World of Trouble, who improved his record 9-2-1 from 13 starts, earned a 106 Beyer Speed Figure.

Majid to step up in class

Majid, the one-length winner of Saturday’s Easy Goer Stakes for his fourth consecutive victory, will be considered for a graded stakes opportunity for his next start, according to Justin Zayat, racing manager for his family’s Zayat Stables.

Zayat said the Dwyer (July 6 at Belmont), the Haskell (July 20 at Monmouth) and Jim Dandy (July 27) at Saratoga are among the races under consideration.

“He’s 4 for 4 this year, he keeps improving with distance, [Saturday] was a good class test for him,” Zayat said.

Zayat said Majid was considered the stable’s best 2-year-old last year but was well-beaten in two starts at age 2.

“I think he needed time to mature,” Zayat said. “He’s by Shackleford. Once we put him on the lead, he seemed to show the toughness of his dad.”