Raging Torrent likely starter in Metropolitan Mile

Raging Torrent, winner of the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita in December and the Group 2 Godolphin Mile in Dubai on April 5, is on schedule for a possible start in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Mile Handicap at Saratoga on June 7.

On Sunday at Santa Anita, Raging Torrent worked five furlongs in 1:01.80, his third workout since the $1 million Godolphin Mile.

Trainer Doug O’Neill said the $1 million Met Mile is a “tentative plan” for Raging Torrent, who races for Great Friends Stable and Zhang Yuesheng.

“We’re playing it week by week,” O’Neill said. “He’s been training well. He came out of Dubai in good shape.”

O’Neill took three runners to Dubai, finishing second and 10th in the $12 million Dubai World Cup at 1 1/4 miles with Mixto and Katonah. On Friday, Katonah finished last of six in the Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs. The race was won by Fierceness, the champion 2-year-old male of 2023 and the winner of the Florida Derby and Travers Stakes last year.

Mixto has not worked since returning from Dubai. O’Neill said the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 1 is a long-range goal with Mixto.

“We’re in no hurry with him,” O’Neill said.

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