Private Zone looking good for Met Mile

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Jorge Navarro was at Parx on Monday showing pictures of Private Zone to horsemen friends of his who are familiar with the horse.

“They said, ‘Wow, couldn’t believe it,’ ” said Navarro, who is based at Monmouth Park. “Different horse. He looks really good.”

Private Zone had been based at Parx for a couple of months last summer with Alfredo Velazquez. He won the Grade 1 Vosburgh off his training there before moving back to California for the Breeders’ Cup.

Navarro hopes Private Zone runs to his looks in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park, a race that is expected to draw a star-studded 10-horse field.

Private Zone, a 6-year-old gelding, likely will vie for favoritism in the Met Mile with last year’s Belmont Stakes winner, Tonalist, and last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, Bayern. Like those horses, Private Zone is undefeated at Belmont, having taken the last two runnings of the Vosburgh Invitational at six furlongs. Private Zone is coming off a 4 1/4-length victory in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs at seven furlongs.

Since then, Private Zone has worked twice at Monmouth Park, including a six-furlong move in 1:13 under Carlos Marquez last Saturday.

“I was disappointed,” Navarro said of his first reaction to the work. “I didn’t like the work at all. But then Carlos Marquez came back and said, ‘Believe me, he was doing everything on his own.’ ”

Private Zone is only 1 for 4 at the one-mile distance, with that win coming in last year’s Grade 1 Cigar Mile over a speed-biased Aqueduct track.

Navarro said the quirks Private Zone had that might have prevented him from being more effective at longer distances are behind him.

“I know this is his toughest test, but I expect him to run his race,” Navarro said.

Also expected to run in the Metropolitan are Wicked Strong, Tamarkuz, Sahara Sky, Kobe’s Back, Pants On Fire, and Bay of Plenty.