Pletcher sends three sharp ones in Met Mile
ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Todd Pletcher’s trio of Blofeld, Stanford, and Anchor Down crossed the wire one-two-three in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap three months ago. A repeat of that finish would be quite the feat in Saturday’s wildly competitive Grade 1, $1.25 million Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park.
Those three were among 13 horses entered for the prestigious Met Mile, the second-richest race behind only the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes on Saturday’s 13-race extravaganza. The Met Mile is also a Win and You’re In race for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, to be run in November at Santa Anita.
Blofeld rallied along the rail to nip Stanford in the Gulfstream Park Handicap. At 9-1, he was the most lowly regarded of the Pletcher trio and likely will be so again Saturday. He drew post 2 but could move to the rail if the connections of El Kabeir scratch to run in next weekend’s Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs, as they were pondering Thursday.
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Stanford came out of the Gulfstream Park Handicap to win the Grade 2, $1.25 million Charles Town Classic on April 23. He was scratched from the Pimlico Special on May 21 to point for this spot.
“We just felt like running there and running back in three weeks might compromise his best chance in the Met,” Pletcher said.
Though Anchor Down finished third in the Gulfstream Park Handicap, he was disqualified and placed fourth for interfering with Valid in the stretch. Anchor Down came back to win the Grade 3 Westchester by 6 3/4 lengths in the slop here May 7.
“His last race was arguably his best,” Pletcher said. “Since then, his two works have arguably been the best he’s trained.”
Anchor Down figures to be forwardly placed from post 12. Marking, one of three horses entered by trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, is another speedy sort, and he breaks from post 13. McLaughlin also entered Frosted, the 2015 Belmont Stakes runner-up, and Tamarkuz, fourth in this race last year.
Upstart is getting blinkers, and his rapid work with that equipment on May 21 signals he’ll likely be forwardly placed.
Noble Bird is coming off an 11 1/4-length victory in the Grade 3 Pimlico Special three weeks ago. Trainer Mark Casse said he has not seen any signs of regression from the 5-year-old.
“We could have run him the next day,” Casse said.
Donworth, Ami’s Flatter, Sloane Avenue, and Calculator complete the field.
KEY CONTENDERS
Stanford, by Malibu Moon
Last 3 Beyers: 104-102-97
◗ When last seen at Belmont Park, he was beaten by Japan as the 2-5 favorite in the Easy Goer on Belmont Stakes Day last year.
“He’s definitely a better horse this year than he was at this time last year,” Pletcher said.
◗ With Anchor Down and Marking in field, Pletcher hopes Stanford is “sitting in a stalking-type position” under Javier Castellano.
Anchor Down, by Tapit
Last 3 Beyers: 105-96-100
◗ His two best Beyer Speed Figures have been recorded at Belmont Park, and his last two breezes have been excellent.
◗ The biggest negative is he’s not the most consistent performer.
◗ He is drawn inside of Marking, one of the other speeds in the race.
Noble Bird, by Birdstone
Last 3 Beyers: 110-81-99
◗ After romping in a weak 1 3/16-mile Pimlico Special, he’s back in Grade 1 company while shortening up to a one-turn mile.
“I actually think it’ll be better for him,” Casse said. “If he breaks, I think we have as good a shot as anybody.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Noble Bird. Trainer Mark Casse is 57-3-6-6 with a $0.21 ROI over the past five years in dirt races on the NYRA circuit. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Calculator, by In Summation
Last 3 Beyers: 103-102-94
◗ Has finished second in a pair of seven-furlong graded stakes in his last two starts, including a head loss in the Grade 1 Carter, where he drifted out badly in the stretch.
◗ Trainer Peter Miller said he was altering the blinkers and changing bits, hoping the colt will relax and giving the rider more maneuverability.
Blofeld, by Quality Road
Last 3 Beyers: 99-103-93
◗ He is a two-time winner at a mile, including a narrow victory over Stanford in the Gulfstream Park Handicap.
◗ Cuts back from a fourth-place finish in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap at 1 1/8 miles, a race in which Pletcher felt jockey John Velazquez “had to fight with him to get him back and settled and kind of took away his run late.”
“It wasn’t a bad effort,” Pletcher said. “He won the Nashua and Gulfstream Park Handicap; you could argue a mile is a better distance for him.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Frosted and No. 13 Marking. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin is 23-7-3-3 with a $2.24 ROI over the past five years in dirt graded stakes following a layoff of between 60 and 120 days. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan