Whereas the Belmont Stakes introduced by NYRA Bets is the headliner of the Saturday, June 8 card at Saratoga Race Course, the Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap instructions loads of consideration by itself because the million-dollar secondary characteristic.
Generally referred to as the Met Mile, the race has been contested for greater than a century since first run at Morris Park in 1891. Historically held on Memorial Day, the race was moved to the Belmont Stakes undercard in 2014. The Met Mile carries a handbag of $1 million and the race is a part of the Breeders’ Cup Problem “Win and You’re In” Collection. The winner will obtain a spot within the beginning gate for the Huge Ass Followers Breeders’ Cup Grime Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 2, however chance at all times exists that the winner of this race will as a substitute go for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional. The winners of final two runnings of the Met Mile – Flightline in 2022 and Cody’s Want in 2023 – each went on to win Horse of the 12 months.
1. Fort Chaos (20-1 morning-line odds): Has but to win a stakes in his 16-race profession up to now and this definitely gained’t be a straightforward spot to get it accomplished. On the plus facet, two of his career-best races have taken place in his final three outings, together with an in depth nostril loss within the Grade 3 Fred Hooper Stakes Offered by Whispering Angel at one mile at Gulfstream Park three races in the past and a second by a head final time behind Publish Time within the Grade 2 Carter Stakes Offered by NYRA Bets at seven furlongs at Aqueduct. For those who like Publish Time at 7-2 morning line odds on this spot, you definitely shouldn’t draw back from Fort Chaos right here at 20-1.
Jockey: Dylan Davis; Coach: Robert Falcone Jr.
2. Nationwide Treasure (8-5): Two-time Grade 1 winner of the 2023 Preakness Stakes and the 2024 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Offered by Baccarat is ready to be a premier participant within the handicap division this 12 months and might transfer proper to the highest of the heap with in Met Mile victory. Maybe his finest race of the final calendar 12 months wasn’t even in considered one of his wins, however as a substitute got here in defeat when he gave Horse of the 12 months Cody’s Want all he might deal with within the BigAss Followers Breeders’ Cup Grime Mile solely to complete second by a nostril in one of the vital thrilling races of 2023. Has the velocity to steer if he needs to, however he might additionally find yourself urgent Hoist the Gold or battling it out with that rival up entrance. He’ll be harmful both means as a result of this mile distance appears proper squarely in his wheelhouse.
Jockey: Flavien Prat; Coach: Bob Baffert
3. Publish Time (7-2): Gained back-to-back graded stakes at seven furlongs as part of a three-race profitable streak to start 2024. These wins got here in Maryland’s Grade 3 Basic George Stakes again in February and within the Grade 2 Carter Stakes Offered by NYRA Bets at Aqueduct in April (previously a Grade 1 race till this 12 months). Each have been good wins however neither got here in opposition to the likes of horses like Nationwide Treasure, Blazing Sevens, and White Abarrio in Saturday’s discipline. Exits a disappointing loss within the Might 3 Grade 3 Westchester Stakes at this one-mile distance at Belmont on the Huge A, and whereas he does have the look of a severe participant this season on the center distances, he’ll be up in opposition to the hardest competitors he’s ever confronted within the Met Mile.
Jockey: Sheldon Russell; Coach: Brittany Russell
4. Blazing Sevens (8-1): Blazing Sevens has cobbled collectively a strong profession since profitable the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes as a 2-year-old in 2022 however he has been unable to match that early stakes-winning success at ages 3 and into his 4-year-old season. May this be the race for his re-emergence? Blazing Sevens is maybe most well-known for this second-place end by a head within the 2023 Preakness Stakes behind Nationwide Treasure, who was allowed to have full management of the tempo that day. Within the Met Mile, Blazing Sevens needs to be sitting in a major stalking place whereas Nationwide Treasure might have his fingers full up entrance with Hoist the Gold offering the tempo. If that situation unfolds on the lead, then it might set the stage for a turning of the tables. Blazing Sevens was sidelined with an damage for the second half of 2023, however he appeared to serve correct discover that he’s again at his finest once more and able to roll along with his high quality mile win final day trip versus a salty discipline at Aqueduct. This discipline can be harder, however Blazing Sevens might be as much as the duty with anticipated second-off-the-layoff enchancment for coach Chad Brown.
Jockey: Manny Franco; Coach: Chad Brown
5. Hoist the Gold (15-1): Greatest identified for his win in NYRA’s different signature mile stakes race on the annual calendar, the Grade 2 2023 Cigar Mile Handicap final fall. That occurred when jockey John Velazquez took the initiative and despatched Hoist the Gold to the lead, leading to a wire-to-wire upset at 8.70-1 odds. He additionally gained the Grade 2 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes at six furlongs in what was a breakout season for him in 2023. Sadly, this runner has not gained any profession momentum since profitable the Cigar Mile, and has had three begins since then, all versus Grade 1 or Group 1 competitors, which haven’t resulted in any in-the-money finishes. Owns harmful velocity at this distance as confirmed within the Cigar Mile, however the presence of Nationwide Treasure within the discipline signifies that he in all probability gained’t see quite a lot of daylight alone on the lead on this race.
Jockey: John Velazquez; Coach: Dallas Stewart
6. White Abarrio (6-5): Made his first begin for the barn of coach Rick Dutrow on this race final 12 months and completed third behind Horse of the 12 months Cody’s Want. Notably, he did make up for it in an enormous means in his subsequent begin when he turned the tables on Cody’s Want to win the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes by 6 ¼ lengths at 1 1/8 miles. He then went on to win the Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional to spherical out a stellar 2023 beneath Dutrow’s tutelage. Based mostly on final 12 months’s outcomes it’s potential at this level in his profession that he’s higher going longer than he’s at a mile. He raced simply as soon as for the reason that Breeders’ Cup win, and it was a complete flop midway all over the world when he completed 10th within the $20 million Saudi Cup. Actually he has the expertise and credentials to rebound, and this spot is a sensible place to do it, however if you’re betting to win you’ll have to take low odds on him because the possible post-time favourite within the race.
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.; Coach: Richard Dutrow Jr.
THE PICK: Blazing Sevens
LIVE LONGSHOT: Blazing Sevens
SUPERFECTA: 4-6-2-5
