True Metropolitan starts outside in Mile

AUBURN, Wash. - Millionaire True Metropolitan, the 122-pound highweight for Sunday's 73rd running of the Grade 3, $300,000 Longacres Mile, drew post 11 in a field of 12 at Wednesday's prerace breakfast.

While the connections of most entrants were hoping to avoid a wide post, trainer Terry Jordan was unconcerned regarding True Metropolitan's draw.

"For a horse like him, it might be a good thing to draw outside," Jordan said. "He'll get to load late, he won't get trapped along the inside, and he has enough speed to avoid losing too much ground. As long as he is only two or three lanes wide around the first turn, he'll be fine."

True Metropolitan, a 6-year-old son of Proud and True who races for Bahadur Cheema, has won 18 of 37 starts, including 15 stakes, for $1,040,056 in earnings. He won Sovereign Awards as Canada's top older horse in each of the past two years. The Hastings-based True Metropolitan will be ridden by Woodbine regular James McAleney.

The inside three posts went to California invaders Southern Africa (Russell Baze, 113 pounds), Tropic Storm (Aaron Gryder, 118), and Luhuk's Dancer (Kevin Radke, 115). Local star Wasserman will start from post 4, with Jennifer Whitaker up, and to his outside will be Schoolin You (Gallyn Mitchell, 110), Diligent Prospect (Kate Repp, 112), Nationhood (Seth Martinez, 119), Flamethrowintexan (Gary Baze, 116), Honour the West (Leslie Mawing, 113), and Assessment (Juan Gutierrez, 113). The outside post went to Call on Carson (Ricky Frazier, 115).

Thirteen horses were entered for Sunday's Mile, so the connections of Schoolin You and Maxey Boy, both weighted at 110 pounds, drew for the last spot in the gate. Maxey Boy was eliminated by that draw.

The Longacres Mile is a Breeders' Cup Win and You're In race, with the winner earning a berth in the BC Dirt Mile.

Posts also were drawn for Sunday's $100,000 Emerald Distaff at nine furlongs, which drew a field of 10 older fillies and mares.

Highweighted Shampoo will break from post 3, with Martinez up at 121 pounds. Shampoo, a five-time stakes winner from the barn of trainer Doris Harwood, is coming off an authoritative win in the 1 1/16-mile Boeing Handicap on July 27.

From the inside out, the rest of the field is Rivoltella, Beaulena, Kissntheboysgoodby, Lady Raj, Lemon Kiss, Eclatante, Pat of Gold, Mirror Pond, and She's All Silk.