Wicked Strong sharpens for Met Mile

ELMONT, N.Y. – Wicked Strong, looking to regain his Grade 1 form from a year ago, worked a sharp five furlongs Thursday over the Belmont Park main track in preparation for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Metropolitan Handicap here June 6.

Working after the renovation break under Kelvin Pahal, Wicked Strong went five furlongs from the half-mile pole in 1:00.42 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.42. He went off in splits of 12.81 seconds, 24.49, and 48.31. He wore blinkers, equipment he has worn in his last five races but in which he only sometimes works.

“I thought he did that pretty much on his own,” trainer Jimmy Jerkens said. “I think we’re in good shape.”

In two starts this year, Wicked Strong finished fourth, beaten one length, in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap at a mile, and third, beaten three lengths, in the Grade 3 Excelsior at 1 1/4 miles. Jerkens said the Met Mile isn’t the ideal race for Wicked Strong’s next start, but he preferred that to shipping to Churchill Downs for the Grade 1 Stephen Foster at 1 1/8 miles on June 13.

“Nothing’s ideal right at the moment, but I think it’s a big race,” Jerkens said. “If he gets a good check in it, that’ll be good, and I think it’ll set him up for Saratoga good.”

The Met Mile is expected to include 2014 Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist, 2013 Belmont Stakes and defending Met Mile winner Palace Malice, Cigar Mile winner Private Zone, Honor Code, Tamarkuz, and possibly Bayern and Competitive Edge.

Jerkens’s other stakes-winning older males are expected to run June 6 as well. Effinex, who won the Grade 3 Excelsior, and V. E. Day, the winner of last year’s Travers, are both being pointed to the Grade 2, $400,000 Brooklyn Invitational at 1 1/2 miles.

Effinex has won both of his starts this year and, as most progeny of Mineshaft are wont to do, is improving with age. V. E. Day will return to the dirt after running sixth, beaten 3 1/2 lengths, in the Fort Marcy on the turf May 2, his first race of the year.

“I didn’t think he ran bad the other day,” Jerkens said. “He lost a bit of ground.”

The previous two times V. E. Day ran on dirt after racing on turf, he won a maiden race at Belmont and the Curlin Stakes at Saratoga.

Jerkens added that Classic Point, the winner of the Grade 2 Inside Information Stakes in her lone start this year, has been turned out for a few months.

“She just wasn’t doing that good,” Jerkens said.