Horse Racing News
Met Mile attracts 10 on Memorial Day
May 26, 2007, 20:40 GMT
Elmont, NY - Ten of the country's top sprinters and handicap horses have been entered for Monday's $600,000 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park. Better known as the Met Mile, the race is a one turn competition on the 1 1/2 mile track.
Starting from the inside post will be Lawyer Ron, the expected post-time favorite. The four-year-old will be making his third start of the year and has won his first two races. Owned by Hines Racing, Lawyer Ron dominated last time out in winning the Oaklawn Handicap as the 1-2 favorite.
In his career Lawyer Ron has won 10 of 20 starts for $1.8 million. The chestnut colt will be ridden by Edgar Prado for trainer Todd Pletcher. Prado won this race last year with Silver Train.
Pletcher has also entered Half Ours in the Memorial Day race. The four-year- old will start next to his stablemate with John Velazquez in the saddle. Half Ours is owned by Aaron and Marie Jones, and has won five of six starts for $316,680. He was second earlier this month in the Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Back for another try in the Met Mile is Sun King. The five-year-old was beaten by a head in last year's running by Silver Train. Sun King has not been to the winner's circle since taking the Commonwealth Breeders' Cup at Keeneland in April of last year.
Owned by Tracy Farmer and trained by Nick Zito, Sun King has earned more than $2 million in 23 career starts with just six wins. He came within a nose of defeating Invasor in last year's Whitney Handicap. Sun King will be ridden by Eibar Coa from post 4.
Set to start from post 5 will be Carter Handicap winner Silver Wagon. The six- year-old is trained by Richard Dutrow, Jr. who won last year's Met Mile with Silver Train.
Dutrow believes Silver Wagon can give him two straight wins in this event.
'Going in, he's very, very live,' Dutrow said. 'If I were a handicapper, I would be betting on him. I've always loved this race, and it would be great to win it a second year.'
Javier Castellano will ride Silver Wagon for owner Four Roses Thoroughbreds. In 24 career starts Silver Wagon has earned better than $1.15 million with seven wins.
Completing the field for the Met Mile in position order are Mr. Umphrey, Accountforthegold, Latent Heat, Political Force, Corinthian and Silent Name.
The Met Mile has a scheduled post-time of 4:43 p.m. (et) on Monday.
In Belmont Stakes developments, an injury has knocked Great Hunter from the race. The colt has a bone chip in the right front ankle and will undergo surgery.
'He'll probably need 90 days off,' trainer Doug O'Neill said. 'He's a strong, solid horse, so we'll be in good shape when he comes back.'
Also expected to skip the race is Barbaro Stakes winner Chelokee. Trainer Michael Matz indicated that he is not interested in having his colt take on the top three horses from the first two Triple Crown races.
Hard Spun will have a new rider for the Belmont Stakes. Trainer Larry Jones announced that Garrett Gomez will replace Mario Pino in the saddle. Pino received criticism on his ride in the Preakness Stakes.
'Mario is a great rider,' Jones said, 'and he still is going to ride a lot of my other horses.'
© 2007 The Sports Network
