True Metropolitan sets six-furlong track record

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - True Metropolitan ($2.40), the champion older horse in Canada for the past two years, set a track record of 109.87 for six furlongs in the $52,262 George Royal Stakes at Hastings.

Under a confident ride by Mario Gutierrez, True Metropolitan broke sharply and then settled into a perfect stalking position behind Lord Nelson and Spaghetti Mouse. He took the lead at the top of the stretch and then drew off to post a 2 3/4 length margin over Spaghetti Mouse over a track rated good.

"I was just along for the ride," said Gutierrez, who rode True Metropolitan for the first time. "He really did it all on his own."

Trainer Terry Jordan said that True Metropolitan would be pointed to the Grade 3, $200,000 Dominion Day Handicap at Woodbine on July 1.

"I would like to run him one more time at Hastings before we go to Woodbine," said Jordan.