Tonalist rates slight edge in star-studded Met Mile
ELMONT, N.Y. – If it wasn’t for American Pharoah going for the Triple Crown in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, the Grade 1, $1.25 million Metropolitan Handicap would be the race of the day on Belmont’s 13-race card.
The 10-horse field includes Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Bayern, 2014 Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist, three-time Grade 1 winner Private Zone as well as Grade 1 winner Wicked Strong, Grade 2 winner Honor Code, and the Dubai-based Tamarkuz, making his North American debut.
Tonalist may rate a slight edge given his affinity for Belmont Park, where he has won four graded stakes, including last year’s Belmont and Jockey Club Gold Cup. In his 4-year-old debut, Tonalist won the Grade 3 Westchester by 3 3/4 lengths, earning a career-best 111 Beyer Speed Figure.
On Thursday, Tonalist blew out a swift three furlongs in 34.90 seconds over the main track.
“I think the horse has trained great; I loved his last two works going long. This was to sharpen him up, to wake him up,” trainer Christophe Clement said after Thursday’s move.
Tonalist will attempt to join an elite list of horses who won the Belmont at 3 and the Met Mile at 4. Palace Malice completed the double last year. Others to do it include The Finn (1915-16), Native Dancer (1953-54), High Gun (1954-55), and Gallant Man (1957-58). Grey Lag won the 1921 Belmont and the 1923 Met Mile. Bowling Brook (1898), Sword Dancer (1959), Arts and Letters (1969), and Conquistador Cielo (1982) won both races the same year.
Tonalist, like Honor Code, Wicked Strong, and Tamarkuz, would benefit from a contested pace. Private Zone, who breaks from the rail, will most undoubtedly be on the lead. Arguably the fastest horse in the country going six or seven furlongs, Private Zone could be vulnerable at a mile if pressed early by Bayern or Bay of Plenty.
“At a mile, somebody pressing him is a different story,” said Jorge Navarro, the trainer of Private Zone. “If by any chance Bayern stays in the gate or doesn’t leave the gate, they’re in trouble. If we both go head to head, it’s going to be a tough one.”
Metropolitan Handicap, race 9
KEY CONTENDERS
Tonalist (Last 3 Beyers: 111-106-106)
◗ Ran in the Westchester to see how he would perform at a mile, and he ran one of his best races, rallying from last in a field of four to win going away.
“I think he’s a fitter horse. He looks very healthy; he’s very sound,” Clement said. “He’s given me no sign of regressing whatsoever. The blowout this morning was no sign of regressing to me.”
◗ John Velazquez rides Tonalist for the first time.
Private Zone (Last 3 Beyers: 100-103-110)
◗ Is undefeated in New York, winning two editions of the Grade 1 Vosburgh at Belmont and last year’s Cigar Mile at Aqueduct. In the Cigar Mile, he benefitted from having the rail as the track was favoring inside speed, and he won by five.
“I feel like we’re going to set the race up for somebody else,” said Navarro, concerned about a pace battle. “I know he’s the fastest of them all. Believe me, the way he’s training, he’s going to come out of there absolutely rocking.”
Honor Code (Last 3 Beyers: 92-104-106)
◗ Returns to Belmont Park after running a dull fifth in the Grade 2 Alysheba going two turns at Churchill Downs. In his only previous start at Belmont, he was beaten a neck after enduring a wide trip in the Grade 1 Champagne.
◗ In his last start at a mile, he won the Gulfstream Park Handicap, beating Private Zone and Wicked Strong.
“I don’t know whether he’ll win or not, but they’re going to know he’s in there,” trainer Shug McGaughey said.
Bayern (Last 3 Beyers: 74-113-110)
◗ Reigning Breeders’ Cup Classic winner was a dud in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs, finishing last of six.
“I think he’ll run well,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “He really needed that race badly.”
◗ He bounced back from previous dreadful efforts to win the Grade 2 Woody Stephens and Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby.
Tamarkuz (North American debut)
◗ Makes his North American debut after winning four consecutive one-mile races in Dubai, including the Group 2 Godolphin Mile.
◗ Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has worked with the 5-year-old at the gate, which had been an issue for the horse in the past.
“We don’t want him to come out there and go 22, 44 [seconds]; there’s a couple in there that will be doing that,” McLaughlin said. “It should work out perfect. He’ll stalk or be midpack.”