Peeping Tom comes out of Met Mile with bruise

ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer Pat Reynolds endured some anxious moments Monday after Peeping Tom finished second, beaten less than a length, behind longshot Exciting Story in the $750,000 Metropolitan Mile.

Reynolds said Peeping Tom, who was the second choice in the Grade 1 Met Mile, was sore in the test barn after the race in his left foreleg. A set of X-rays revealed no broken bones.

"It was a stone bruise," a relieved Reynolds said Tuesday outside his Belmont Park barn. "He was really sore after the race - borderline lame - and was stabbing his toe into the ground because it was stinging him pretty good."

Reynolds said jockey Shaun Bridgmohan told him Peeping Tom saw the winner, Exciting Story, on the rail, but didn't offer any resistance when that rival grabbed the lead from Peeping Tom late in the stretch.

"[The foot] was probably stinging him a little bit because Shaun said when he saw the other horse, he didn't give a second effort," Reynolds said. "When he pulled up, Peeping Tom was hardly blowing."

Reynolds said he would remove Peeping Tom's glue-on shoes to draw out some of the tenderness in the hoof and to allow the foot to grow.

The trainer said he has no immediate plans for Peeping Tom, but said he doesn't anticipate the bruise would be a major setback.

Peeping Tom's loss was his first since finishing second in last November's Grade 1 Cigar Mile. Before Monday, Peeping Tom had won four races, including the Grade 1 Carter, this year.

Traditionally, who finished ninth as the Met Mile favorite, came out of the race in good shape, according to trainer Shug McGaughey, who said his colt probably didn't handle the muddy track.

Albert the Great, A P Valentine breeze

On Tuesday over Belmont's main track, Albert the Great worked a bullet five furlongs in 59.02 seconds, breezing, about 20 minutes after stablemate A P Valentine worked five furlongs in 59.56, breezing, for the Belmont Stakes.

Albert the Great, the Pimlico Special runner-up, is nominated to the $250,000 Brooklyn on June 10. Trainer Nick Zito said while the $500,000 Surburban is the main target on July 1, the Grade 2 Brooklyn is also possible. Zito said he would discuss Albert the Great's next start with owner Tracy Farmer on Tuesday.

* A small field is likely for Saturday's $150,000 Sheepshead Bay Handicap. California shipper Janet (118 pounds), Playact (117), and Aiglonne (115) are listed as probable. Offtheturf (112), who is entered in an allowance race Thursday, Critical Eye (114), and Unbridled Waters (111) are also possible for the 1 3/8-mile Grade 2 on the grass.

* An overnight stakes, carrying black type, will be offered on Belmont Stakes Day, June 9. The WNBC Stakes is for fillies and mares, 4 and up, who have never won a sweepstakes. The mile race carries a $65,000 purse and requires a $50 entry fee, with an additional $50 to start, and no nomination fee.

* Trainer Jimmy Jerkens said Dat You Miz Blue, who won a six-furlong allowance race on Saturday, will be pointed to the $100,000, Grade 3 Vagrancy Handicap on June 16. Her final time of 1:07.92 over a muddy track Saturday was just .26 seconds off the track record set by Artax in the 1999 Forest Hills Handicap.

* About 90 minutes earlier, Jimmy's father, Allen, unveiled a good-looking 3-year-old colt named Sing It Out, who won his maiden race by 13 1/2 lengths. Sing It Out, a half-brother to the stakes-winning Limit Out by Dixieland Band, covered six furlongs in 1:09.33. Jerkens said he would run next in an allowance race.

"I don't get excited about them until they win at least three," Jerkens said.

- additional reporting by David Grening