Met Mile field?
 

I know it is almost 3 weeks away still, but any ideas on who is pointing to this race?

Certainly Sun King and Silver Wagon. I imagine the other two from the Westchester, Utopia and Political Force, would go. Latent Heat or maybe the Frankel horse that won at Churchill Saturday. I had heard Silent Name but he may be going in a Hollywood sprint instead. I would guess Half Ours perhaps, maybe Keyed Entry, but the fact that he failed to show up in the Westchester or Churchill sprint is cause for pause. I wish Pletcher would run Circular Quay as it seems like a perfect spot.

I'm assuming that Discreet Cat won't be anywhere near... What about Sweetnorthernsaint?

what was the general reaction to Utopia's win on his US debut??

Speaking of Frankel, is High Limit back to being retired? I thought they were trying to bring him back.

My understanding is he's still in training, pointing for the Met Mile.

I have a feeling that a one-turn mile might end up being the perfect spot for Circular Quay, Any Given Saturday, and Scat Daddy.

NT

Ennui.

Interesting, for some reason I thought you would have had a little bit of intrest in a horse that has won some major races from around the globe, and is now competing here in the United States.

I would be happy to see him stay in the States this year. Obviously Darley is looking to increase his value as a stallion, and still racing at 7 years of age and being competative in graded stakes here is a plus.

Do you find his accomplishments to be unworthy of attention in the racing community? Just curious...

I will be interested to see how he can compete against what will hopefull be a good Met field, and hopefully see him further down the road this year.

First of all, aside from my post being for a laugh, would you describe the general reaction differently? Were there any threads or discussions of this horse here or really anywhere?

He was a mediocre talent from the Far East, that Godolphin purchased and promptly laid up for 14 months. He set a dawdling pace and hung on while racing on a strong rail.

I predict if he runs in the Met Mile he will be much closer to last than first.

And, finally, I stand by my original opinion......the general reaction to his win was in fact ennui.

I was actually half-jokingly goign to suggest CQ in the Met Mile.
Have any 3-year olds had any luck in this race? Seems a bit lofty to face older for the first time in such a tough spot, but then again, there aren't any Ghostzappers pointing to it, either.

Only Conquistador Cielo, Holy Bull, Honour and Glory and Dixie Brass immediately come to mind.

Sorry I missed the joke.

I was just taken aback by the lack of intrest. I found it interesting that he is the first horse bred in Japan to win a graded stakes in the US since 2002. I thought that at least was something that should bring some intrest.

No, I don't believe there any real discussions of his last race, but then again I didn't look for any. I, however, wouldn't use a word such as "ennui" to describe it. Obviously there was some sense of intrest in Utopia, as he was brought up in this thread.

While the pace may have been dawdling in the Westchester, he did show some fight after being headed. After a 14 month layoff, you don't think he may show some improvement in his next race?

It is fine that you believe there was a total lack of intrest in his running and winning a graded stakes, I just thought it deserved would be more then a one word answer. Again, I missed the humour.

The last three-year old to win it was Honour and Glory in 1996 wearing the colors of Michael Tabor. Don't ask me who the last three-year old was to run in it though, I think it's been a while. Before him there were two 3 year old winners in three years, as Dixie Brass took it in 1992 and Holy Bull in 1994.

NT

That is sort of interesting about him being a Japan bred.

He ran OK, and perhaps the race got lost amid Derby hysteria, but as of now I see nothing to get particularly excited about....not that you implied that.

The bottom line, to me, is that he's a 7YO with little to recommend in his pps.

Gulch also won it as a 3YO....between the Preakness and Belmont while he also competed in all three Triple Crown races.

Here's a list of winners
http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/RaceRes...anHandicap.htm

That would have been something to get excited about. ;)

who trained that horse, jamie sanders ;)

Yeah, and he beat a good field. Broad Brush and I believe King's Swan to name a couple.

He was a damn good horse.

Hahaha! Nice one!

Actually, it could not have been, that horse could actually compete in the races he was placed in!

I agree!

A real racehorse:
Gulch, by Mr. Prospector.

At 2: Won the Hopeful, Futurity, Saratoga Special, Tremont, and 2nd in the Norfolk
At 3: Won the Wood, Bay Shore (they were run on different days back then), Met Mile, was 2nd in the Woodward, Whitney, Jamaica (on turf), 3rd in the Belmont, Gotham, and 4th in the Travers, Marlboro Cup, and Preakness
At 4: Won the BC Sprint, Met Mile, Carter, Potrero Grande, was 2nd in the Cal, Whitney, Vosburgh, Tom Fool, and 3rd in the Iselin and Oaklawn Handicaps

Not only did he do that he came back and won it again the next year... what's the probability that a horse (with a good pedigree) that wins the Met Mile at 3 comes back at 4 these days???

Leroy Jolley trained him through his 3YO season and Lukas had him as a 4YO.

I saw a LOT of those races. He lost the Gotham in the mud to, I believe, Gone West and the Whitney to Java Gold. He lost the Whitney the following year to Personal Ensign.

Of course, if Afleet had a competent rider, he would have beaten Gulch in both the Met Mile ( as 4YOs ) and the BC Sprint.

Do you remember the 1988 Met Mile? Afleet had him beat and Stahlbaum hit Afleet in the head with the whip and he propped.

No... I tried to find a youtube of it a while back and couldn't.

The only time I know I saw him live was the '88 Whitney, because Personal Ensign beat him.

Group 1 winner (albeit local G1s) at 2,3,4 and 5.. no mean acheivement.. i mentioned him last year as a horse to look out for.. He doesnt seem to run well two races in a row so he wouldnt seem a good bet whatever the race next time out..

I'm pretty sure Chatain is being pointed there. . .

Yeah, thanks, I knew I was missing someone interesting.

You think he's interesting here, too? A mile is perfect for this horse. . . I think he has a chance to be a top contender in the BC mile unless Discreet Cat is 100% by then. . .

I would also have to think that Diabolical is a likely candidate for this race.

As for 3YOs that ran well in the Met Mile, Housebuster was beaten a neck by eventual Horse of the Year Criminal Type in the 1990 Met, with Easy Goer third.

You do mean the BC 1m70y, right?

The race would be a dream setup for CQ and a much better option than the Belmont. Of the contenders mentioned, none entice me other than Silver Wagon who I love as a racehorse but question if he will have the same kick at 1M as 7F. Latent Heat possibley, but I am not on board for anyone out of Westchester. As a longshot perhaps Ramsgate if Frankel ships him as its possible he just did not like Keeneland Poly in Commonwealth even though he was 3 for 3 over Poly at Holywood

I think that Pletcher said that Lawyer Ron was pointed to this race if I can remember correctly. High Limit is a very talented horse, and I heard that Frankel was going to run him on the east coast this year even though he had been working at Hollywood Park, but he's not showing any works since mid-March.

Circular Quay would get trounced by real race horses at this stage in his career. The runners up front in the Met Mile aren't the quitters that CQ would need to finish in the money against elders in a graded race.

I disagree. I think that when analyzing this years Met Mile field there are no super horses ala a Gulch that at this point at least, we will be extolling their virtues down the line. Not going to bore by going over every horse but you have alot of horses that are distance challenged(Latent Heat) and/or have shown a lack of propensity to win races (Sun King). WHile either of the two mentioned above could win I cannot see where this is a spot that CQ would get "trounced", as I am a firm believer that a one-turn mile is exactly what he needs and the prospective pace scenario when dealing with the horses mentioned in this thread would be to his liking

Honour and Glory wired the field I believe.