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After the Wire - Met Mile and Sahara Sky

Evan Hammonds recaps the Metropolitan Handicap, Ogden Phipps Handicap, and Acorn Stakes.

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Sahara Sky Nabs Metropolitan 'Cap at Wire

Sahara Sky, invading from Southern California for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, needed every inch of the long Belmont Park stretch run to catch pacesetting Cross Traffic in a heart-pounding finish to the Metropolitan Handicap.

Met Mile: Flat Out Faces Pletcher Pair

The Met Mile (gr. I) at Belmont Park traditionally has been one of the most prestigious races in the country, and all you have to do is go down this year's list of entries to understand why.

NYRA Registers Strong Handle Growth for Year

In its first full year receiving added money for purses from the Resorts World Casino New York City at Aqueduct Racetrack, the New York Racing Association registered strong pari-mutuel handle in 2012.

Shackleford to Miss Forego

Multiple grade I winner Shackleford will not run in the $500,000 Forego Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course Sept. 1, trainer Dale Romans said the morning of the race.

Shackleford Pedigree Influenced by Dr. Fager

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Shackleford became the first horse to win the Preakness at 3 and the Met Mile at 4 since Carry Back in 1961-1962.

No Pushovers in Strong Metropolitan Handicap

Experience and previous success on the Belmont Park dirt surface could be the deciding factor when a short but strong field gathers for the $750,000 Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) at one mile May 28.

Castanon Off Mounts After Churchill Fall

Jockey Jesus Castanon, who broke his left hand in a fall at Churchill Downs in the 10th race May 18, will miss all of his scheduled mounts for the remainder of the weekend.

Shackleford Headed for Metropolitan Handicap

After recording his first win since last spring's Preakness (gr. I), Shackleford is being groomed for a start in the $750,000 Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) at Belmont Park May 28.

Caleb's Posse Works, Met Mile the Early Goal

Just a few days short of a year since he began his 3-year-old campaign that may result in an Eclipse Award, Caleb's Posse returned to the work tab Jan. 12 at Oaklawn Park.

Tizway Out of Breeders' Cup Classic, Retired

Tizway, one of the top contenders for the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), will miss the race with a ligament injury. Trainer Jim Bond confirmed the 6-year-old horse has been retired.

2011 Met Mile - Predict the Order of Finish

This year's Met Mile features a deep field of 11. Can you predict the order of finish from first to last?

Predict the Order

No Standout in Wide-Open Met Mile

A large and evenly-matched field of 11 was drawn for the Met Mile, which headlines Belmont Park's Memorial Day lineup that also includes the Sands Point (gr. IIT).

Fresh Quality Road Tops Met Mile Lineup

Freshened up since his sensational 12 3/4-length length triumph in the Donn Handicap (gr. I) nearly four months ago, Quality Road is the one to beat in the $500,000 Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) at Belmont Park May 31.

Bribon Uses Late Kick to Score Met Mile Win

Marc Keller's 6-year-old gelding Bribon came five-wide into the lane and outran a trio of rivals to take the $600,000 Shadwell Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) by a half-length over Smooth Air May 25 at Belmont Park.

Full Field Drawn For Wide-Open Met Mile

West Point Thoroughbreds and partners' Mr. Fantasy and Sequoia Racing's Imperial Council will each try to become the first 3-year-old to win the Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) since Honour and Glory did it back in 1996, but will have to conquer a full field of older horses on May 25 at Belmont Park to make it happen.

Commentator Takes on Met Mile

In January, Tracy Farmer's Commentator blistered to a new track record at Gulfstream Park as he trounced an outclassed field of five allowance competitors by 14 lengths. In March, he demolished six Richter Scale Sprint Handicap (gr. II) contenders while drawing off to win by 13 3/4 lengths. But the 7-year-old Distorted Humor gelding faces his steepest test of the season this Memorial Day, when he heads a field of nine in the $600,000 Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) at Belmont Park.

Divine Park Strolls to Westchester Win

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin thought odds-on choice Grasshopper could be vulnerable running a one-turn mile in the $109,100 Westchester Handicap (gr. III) to open Belmont Park's spring/summer meet April 30, and he was proved correct when his Divine Park swept to a five-length victory.

Christmas Kid, Cotton Blossom Chase Acorn Victory

Eighty minutes or so before the sport's top 3-year-olds battle it out in Saturday's Belmont Stakes, some of racing's fastest and classiest three-year-old fillies - including Christmas Kid, Cotton Blossom, and Boca Grande - will meet in the 77th running of the Acorn Stakes (gr. I).

Jerkenses Post Met Mile Upset

Jimmy Jerkens and his Hall of Fame trainer father Allen pulled off a 1-2 upset in Monday's Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) at Belmont Park.

Pletcher Pins Hopes on Talented Duo in Met Mile

Leading trainer Todd Petcher, still in search of his first victory in the Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I), sends out a pair of talented colts in Lawyer Ron and Half Ours for Monday's $600,000 Memorial Day event at Belmont Park.

Silver Wagon Works Toward Metropolitan

Four Roses Thoroughbreds' Silver Wagon worked four furlongs in a bullet :47.81 handily Thursday morning at Aqueduct as he prepares for Monday's 114th running of the $600,000 Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I)--Belmont Park's traditional Memorial Day feature race

Tawqeet Gives Kingmambo First Aussie GI Win

Kingmambo sired his first Southern Hemisphere grade I winner as the U.S. bred Tawqeet won the $600,000 (Australian) Metropolitan Handicap (Aus-I) at Randwick on Oct 7.

Pletcher Seeks Change of Luck in Met Mile

Todd Pletcher's career has been filled with sparkling highlights, but the prestigious $600,000 Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) has been a frustration to him. The two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer sends out Bandini in Monday's renewal of the popular "Met Mile" at Belmont Park.

Sir Greeley Collars 'Money in Westchester Win

Sir Greeley overtook tiring pacesetter Love of Money to win the $108,800 Westchester Handicap (gr. III) for 3-year-olds and up at a mile on opening day of Belmont Park's 59-day spring/summer meet.

Ghostzapper Likely to Pass On Suburban

Trainer Bobby Frankel said that reigning Horse of the Year and Metropolitan Mile (gr. I) winner Ghostzapper would likely pass on the Suburban Handicap (gr. I) July 2.

'Horse of the World' Ghostzapper Returns

Defending Horse of the Year Ghostzapper will make his first start of 2005 Monday when he goes off the favorite in Belmont Park's traditional Memorial Day feature, the $750,000 Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I).

Forest Danger Breezes for Met Mile Showdown

The Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) -bound Forest Danger breezed five furlongs over Belmont Park's main track Wednesday morning in 1:00 3/5 for trainer Todd Pletcher, who also said champion filly Ashado could run in the Shuvee Handicap (gr. II) May 21.

Ghostzapper Breezes at Palm Meadows

Horse of the Year Ghostzapper breezed an easy half-mile at Palm Meadows Friday morning in :49 3/5 in his first workout since an authorative win in the Breeders' Cup Classic - powered by Dodge (gr. I) Oct. 30.

Azeri Faces Most Difficult Test in Met Mile

Monday's Memorial Day $750,000 Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) kicks off Belmont Stakes week with an outstanding cast, including 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri, last year's 3-year-old champion Funny Cide and Pico Central and Strong Hope, the 1-2 finishers of Aqueduct's Carter Handicap (gr. I).

Metropolitan Mile Could be Next for Azeri

Azeri could next race against males in the $750,000 Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) at Belmont Park on May 31, trainer D. Wayne Lukas said from his Churchill Downs stable Friday.

Met Mile Could be Next for Southern Image

Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) winner Southern Image could make his next start in the $750,000 Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) at Belmont Park on May 31.

Aldebaran Holds off Determined Saarland in Met Mile

Flaxman Holding's homebred Aldebaran swept past the leaders entering the stretch and then held off a determined Saarland for a game victory in the Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) on the Memorial Day card at Belmont Park.

Congaree Can Join NY Legends in Met Mile

Congaree, who can join an elite group to win both the Carter and Metropolitan handicaps in the same year, is hard to ignore in Monday's Memorial Day feature at Belmont Park.

Preakness-Bound Peace Rules, Kissin Saint Drill

Two Preakness-bound starters, Peace Rules and Kissin Saint, turned in workouts over Belmont's main track this morning. Derby Trial (gr. III) Midas Eyes, recorded his first workout since winning at Churchill Downs.

Affirmed Success, Left Bank to Battle in Tom Fool

Eight-year-old millionaire Affirmed Success and beaten Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) favorite Left Bank are scheduled to square off in the July 4 Tom Fool Handicap (gr. II) at seven furlongs for 3-year-olds and up at Belmont Park.

Belmont Park Race Report: Swept Clean

Swept Overboard overcomes obstacles to win Met Mile as Sunday Break wins Peter Pan and pepares to challenge War Emblem.

Belmont Park Gears Up For Third Leg of Triple Crown

With the countdown on for War Emblem's possible date with history in the June 8 Belmont Stakes (gr. I), the New York Racing Association has set up a strong stakes schedule that will keep everyone happy with a parade of top-quality racing until the big day arrives. In all, 13 stakes will be run between Saturday and the Belmont Stakes.

Trio of Horses Work Toward Possible Met Mile Starts

Three horses under consideration for the $750,000 Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) were on track at Belmont Park Wednesday morning in preparation for the prestigious one-turn mile race. Affirmed Success, Aldebaran, and Burning Roma each put in works, with Affirmed Success running his seven furlongs on the training track.

Mitchell Pointing Caughnawaga to Met Mile

Trainer Philip Mitchell, who brought Running Stag to America on repeated occasions, is planning to run French-bred 4-year-old Caughnawaga in this year's renewal of the Metropolitan Handicap on May 27 at Belmont Park.

Brahms Under Consideration for Met Mile

Elliot Walden-trained Brahms finished third in the 1 1/8-mile Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (gr. IT) in his most recent start and will race next in a one-mile, grade I race. Walden is considering either the Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) on the main track at Belmont Park, or the Shoemaker Mile on the Hollywood Park turf course for Brahm's next start. Others under consideration for the Met Mile include Bobby Hurley's 3-year-old Songandaprayer, the Todd Pletcher-trained pair of Trippi and Left Bank, Oaklawn Park Handicap (gr. I) winner Traditionally, and Carter Handicap (gr. I) winner Peeping Tom.

Metropolitan Winner Yankee Victor Retired

Yankee Victor, who won this year's Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park, has been retired from racing after suffering a slight injury to his right front ankle during the June 25 Hanshin Handicap at Arlington International Racecourse.

Met Mile Winner Yankee Victor Retired

Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) winner Yankee Victor has been retired.