The Metropolitan Handicap (BC) (Grade 1)- $1,000.000 Purse
BEL- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile on the Dirt
June 10, 2023
Last year, Sexy Back finished sixth in the BC Dirt Mile. Now, we know that he will get a chance to do better this year, as the six-year-old gelding was not hindered by his outside post and took care of business in The Metropolitan Handicap with a strong stretch run, getting up for the win just in time. Sexy Back was not part of our picks in the preview, but that was a case of simply preferring others more rather than doubting his ability to step up here. If you throw out the OP Handicap, which we now know that we can safely do, Sexy Back is clearly on great form. Night Rider Stables is the winning trainer, and with Sexy Back, he went to back-to-back with the Manhattan and the Metropolitan. Congratulations on that! It is his second win in this race, having also won previously in 2017 with the late Silver Dancer. L Dettori is the winning jockey, his first in the race. The race was won in a time of 1:34.09, which is in line with many past editions. Let’s take a look at it!
(1/4 Mile- :22.64)- Several horses break well out of the gate, but the most determined one to get to the front was smokey Stover’s Gigabyte, though he will have some company on the lead as Maxmillion Farm’s Strong Kommand runs to his inside and with half a length. Leading the rest of the pack, it is Arindel’s Mr Pancake who has a clear third and then the pack tightens up. It is four wide right behind him, and part of this group includes our eventual winner from Night Rider Stables, Sexy Back. Right now, he is running in the fourth lane with nothing but daylight in front of him. King Ranch (South Shore Stables) and Tehran (Mb Stables) are side by side, and in the third lane, we have A Born Dancer (Maxmillion Farm), then it’s a length to Crack Stone (Mb Stables) with Pluckzy (Gdp Inc) nearby. Behind him, there is a gap of two lengths to another four wide group. This consists of, from inside to outside, King Pigeon (Delta Farms), Hard To Forgive (D J C Racing Stables), Home Spirit (Night Rider Stables), and Cioppino (TwinTowersRacing). Valvano (Royalty Stables) is by himself at the back.
(1/2 Mile- :45.85)- We do not see much change in the running order as the field completes the backstretch, but just prior to entering the turn and officially reaching the half mile point, Strong Kommand makes a push, and takes over the top spot. He is a head in front of Gigabyte now, and these two have about two lengths on the rest of the field. Mr Pancake continues to lead the rest of them, and if the leaders would tire out, he would be in a great position. Sexy Back is still with the next group of four wide and will have to stay in the fourth lane for the turn, but the good news is that there is still nothing in the lane in front of him.
(Top of Stretch, 1.8F To Go)- Within the turn, Gigabyte reclaims the top spot as a product of Strong Kommand simply being unable to keep up the pace that he was running and backing out of it. Even Gigabyte was looking vulnerable, and for the moment his biggest challengers appeared to be Tehran and King Ranch as each of them closed to within a length. Sexy Back had a steady run while rounding the turn while running wide, and he has a reasonable two length deficit on Gigabyte, but the more noteworthy gap is that to the likes of Tehran. Mr Pancake, a horse that seemed to be in the driver’s seat, also showed signs of fatigue and began to drop back. A Born Dancer was preparing to go by in the stretch, with Crack Stone and the six wide Pluckzy to become the next ones to go by. The rest of the field had a lot of work to at this point if they were going to make a bid.
(Finish0 1:34.09)- An entertaining stretch run ensues as Gigabyte tries to hang on, but challengers are coming from everywhere on the track now. Tehran was the closest to him, and Sexy Back was in great stride. King Ranch was still in the thick of it, and from the far inside, Pluckzy was coming on. We even had Crack Stone trying to squeeze through on the rail to the inside of the leg weary Strong Kommand. Approaching the wire, Sexy Back would take the lead, but the run of Pluckzy on the outside was becoming very interesting. Would he have enough? Not quite. At the end, it’s Sexy Back, completing the Manhattan-Metropolitan double for Night Rider Stables. It was a tight photo for second, and Tehran holds off Pluckzy and the resilient Gigabyte who tried hard to hang on. A Born Dancer and Crack Stone were close to the front but get nothing with the purse to show for it. King Ranch was next, then came Home Spirit, Valvano, Hard To Forgive, Cioppino, Mr Pancake, King Piegeon, and Strong Kommand.
About The Winner- Sexy Back, trained by Night Rider Stables and ridden to victory by L Dettori, is a six-year-old gelding by Aggravation and out of the late Sexy School Marm. He was bred in New York as a yearling by Night Rider Stables, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his eighth in 41 starts, his sixth stake win and fourth graded win. Interestingly, three of his graded wins have come this year! His career earnings are now $1,705.200.
Track: Fast
Time: :223 :454 1:093 1:34
$2 Mutuel Prices:
$1 Exacta: 13 – 8 Paid 61.50
$1 Trifecta: 13 – 8 – 14 Paid 1,602.20
Scratched: None
— NS
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
