Preview: Gr.1 Met mile (Race Info, Race Video, Race Result 2018)
Mitole, Thunder Snow, Firenze Fire and Mckinzie Go Head To Head In The Gr.1 Met Mile
The homebred Firenze Fire is the third choice in a field of nine Gr.1 Met Mile hopefuls featuring 6 Group One winners and mind-boggling combined lifetime earnings of more than US$25 million. The bulk of the $25 million belongs to Godolphin's Thunder Snow, a two-time Dubai World Cup winner, who won by a nose over Gronkowski in his last start. He has contributed US$16,391,476 to the kitty and is just US$1,031,124 behind the all-time earnings record of Arrogate , who was trained by Baffert.
However, the son of Helmet however is the fourth favourite in the line-up which is headlined by Bob Baffert trained McKinzie. who is coming off a victory in the Gr.2 Alysheba Stakes which was contested at 1 1/16 miles around two turns. However Karl Watson, Mike Pegram and Paul Weitman owned-McKinzie faces imposing one-turn Belmont Stakes race.
The Steve Asmussen trained-Mitole prefers the distance of a mile. For him the mile and half distance is uncharted territory. The son of Eskendereya is owned by William and Corinne Heiligbrodthas. He is undefeated in his last six starts.
His last win (Gr.1 Churchill Downs Stakes) was at the 7 Furlongs distance which is not a lot less than the 8 furlongs of the Met Mile.
The 4YO was purchased for US$140,000 at the 2017 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training from Grassroots Training and Sales, and will be carrying 122 pounds. He originally was bought for US$20,000 by Chestnut Valley Farm from Eaton Sales' consignment at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Three others to race on the 2019 Dubai World Cup card are entered, led by Group 2 Godolphin Mile winner Coal Front, who carries 122 pounds for trainer Todd Pletcher. Jose Ortiz will guide Coal Front from the inside post.
Pletcher will also saddle multiple graded stakes winner Prince Lucky in the Gr.1 Met Mile. The Pennsylvania-bred son of Corinthian captured the Grade 3 Hal's Hope and Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile over the winter at Gulfstream Park
He will be piloted by Hall of Famer John Velazquez from post 9.
Robert J. Baron owned 2018 Jerkens winner Promises Fulfilled and Reddam Racing's Stephen Foster victor Pavel must improve after each finishing fourth at Meydan, while also seeking their respective first victories since last summer.
And finally, last year's winning owner, Charles E. Fipke, returns with Barclay Tagg-trained Tale of Silence to round out the field. who will be piloted by Julien Leparoux.
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Race Info:
Distance: 1 mile (8 furlongs), Surface: Dirt, Track: left-handed, Qualification: Three-year-olds & up, Weight: Handicap,Purse: $1,250,000 (since 2014)