Noble Bird joins field for Met Mile

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Mark Casse said Monday he was satisfied with how Noble Bird came out of his most recent workout and that he will make his next start in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Metropolitan Handicap.

Casse said the Met Mile had been a race he thought about for Noble Bird even before his monster 11 1/4-length victory in the Pimlico Special three weeks ago. The other option for Noble Bird would have been the Grade 1 Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs on June 18, a race he won last year.

“He already won the Stephen Foster once,” Casse said. “Our thoughts are that the Met Mile is the Met Mile, and we feel like we have a shot to win it and that would be a big feather in his cap.”

Noble Bird, who worked a half-mile in 48 seconds Friday at Churchill, has competed in eight consecutive two-turn races dating back to March 2014. The Met Mile is run around one turn.

“I may end up being wrong, but this type of race sets up nice for him,” Casse said. “We were having a real problem with Lexie Lou this year –she wouldn’t rate. We were running her a little farther, and she wouldn’t rate. We said let’s shorten her up, which will make her easier to rate, and it worked.”

Noble Bird was expected to ship to Belmont from Churchill Downs on Tuesday.

At least 11 horses are expected to be entered Wednesday for the Met Mile. They include Ami’s Flatter, Anchor Down, Calculator, Frosted, Marking, Noble Bird, Sloane Avenue, Stanford, Tamarkuz, and Upstart. El Kabeir will be entered, but he could pass the race and wait for the Stephen Foster, according to Justin Zayat, stable manager for Zayat Stables.