Silver State brings five-race win streak into Met Mile

ELMONT, NY. – Trainer Steve Asmussen will seek his third victory in the Grade 1, $1 million Metropolitan Handicap in the last four years when he runs the streaking Silver State in the prestigious one-mile race on Saturday’s Belmont Stakes undercard.

Silver State, a son of Hard Spun, returned from a seven-month layoff last October to win a first-level allowance race by seven lengths on Oct. 22 at Keeneland. He won a second-level allowance at Churchill Downs before wintering at Oaklawn Park and winning three stakes, all around two turns, topped by the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap.

“We feel that he is worthy of this opportunity off his five-race win streak,” said Asmussen, who won this race in 2018 with Bee Jersey and 2019 with Mitole.

The Met Mile is expected to draw a six-horse field topped by Grade 1 winners Knicks Go and Mischevious Alex, and multiple graded winner By My Standards, Lexitonian, and Dr Post.

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Asmussen is also planning to send multiple Grade 1 winner Jackie’s Warrior for Saturday’s Grade 1 Woody Stephens, a seven-furlong race that is expected to attract Caddo River, Drain the Clock, Dream Shake, Nova Rags, and Tulane Tryst.