Sahara Sky to bypass Met Mile in favor of Triple Bend Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Sahara Sky will not seek a second consecutive win in the $1,250,000 Metropolitan Handicap on Saturday at Belmont Park, co-owner Kim Lloyd said on Sunday.

Lloyd said that Sahara Sky will be pointed for the $300,000 Triple Bend Stakes over seven furlongs on June 28 at Santa Anita. Trained and co-owned by Jerry Hollendorfer, Sahara Sky finished seventh in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes on May 3 in his last start.

“This will give him another three weeks,” Lloyd said. “This will keep him fresh for the summer.”

Last week, Hollendorfer said he planned to make a decision over the weekend on Sahara Sky’s next start, with the Met Mile and the Triple Bend the primary options.

A 6-year-old, Sahara Sky won the 2013 Met Mile in his final start last year, and the most prestigious win of his career. Earlier this year, Sahara Sky won the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes at Santa Anita and was second in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct and fifth in the Grade 2 Palos Verdes Stakes at Santa Anita.

Sahara Sky has won 8 of 20 starts and earned $1,145,328.