June 9, 2015

From top to bottom, the field assembled for the Grade I Met Mile was impressive with five Grade I winners and more than half the field above $1000.000 in earnings. So it was only fitting that a true star took down victory going a flat-mile and that star was Mister Major, who used a huge win in the Grade II Alysheba last time at CD as a catalyst to his second Grade I win. From the same dam as Grade I winning turf female Warbling, he was the BC Marathon winner of 2013 and a $150.000 purchase by his current connections and while long in the tooth at the age of seven, still going strong with another triple digit speed rating and seasonal purse earnings that are nearly $1,000.000, from only three starts.

A field of 11 broke almost in tandem from the gate at the start of the Met Mile but Super Sexy Sanny (11.85) was fastest into stride and he took the lead in the opening furlong with K T (26.20) out wide and Nile Warrior (*2.80) solid to the middle of the pack. The leader was able to get down to the rail in the blink of an eye while others were not so lucky, including highweight Masterpiece Five (5.00), and an opening quarter-mile in 23.02 put the entire field into battle mode from the very beginning. K T battled Super Sexy Sanny up front with Masterpiece Five tucked in nicely behind them and Lythrum Salicaria (37.50) in a good position from the outside gate and around the towering far turn, everyone seemed to be biding their time, especially with a wicked half-mile in 46.00 rung up. Kavorka (6.30) inched up between rivals in midpack as K T took a very brief lead and with Nile Warrior stalling inside, the clear choice spinning out of the turn looked to be a surprising Lythrum Salicaria, who had dead aim and plenty of run. Masterpiece Five got into the game past six-furlongs in 1:09.50 and while the longshot made his charge, new on the scene were both Visa Vice (5.10) and Mister Major (5.25) and the latter strolled up to the leaders with a resolute rally. Eight across the track with a furlong to go, K T was still holding on for everything he had with Masterpiece Five at his neck and Visa Vice coming between rivals but Mister Major had all the forward momentum from the back of the pack and stretched his lead to the wire en route to a win by just over a length, with Lythrum Salicaria hanging on for second over Grade I winner Visa Vice. Masterpiece Five might have found that final furlong too taxing but he still got a minor award over a tiring K T while Texas Sky Hawk (12.50) appeared way too late and way too wide to make any major ground. Nile Warrior and Kavorka both stalled in bids amongst rivals, Super Sexy Sanny failed to hold any late ground, Impending Decision (34.75) was wide throughout and El Avaro (19.85) disappointed despite a perfect trip along the rail.

Cutting back to a flat-mile, and facing the best of the best in Grade I company once again, Mister Major was clearly up to the task under new jockey J R Leparoux and found an outside path to victory in the Grade I Metropolitan Handicap, despite carrying the highest weight in the field. There are numerous places to go next but time off between races does not seem to faze him so awaiting the Grade I Whitney Handicap might be the best option, even though this win might increase his impost to a much tougher level.

Congratulations goes out to owner Sanny Village and their seven-year-old gelding Mister Major, a wide but wonderful winner of the Grade I Metropolitan Handicap at BEL!

Prediction                      Mister Major / Nile Warrior / Visa Vice

Winner                           Mister Major

                                          Seven-year-old chestnut gelding

                                         Mr Feelgood-Major Barbara (Hennessy)

Owner                            Sanny Village

Time                                23.02, 46.00, 1:09.50, 1:34.11

Overall

Mister Major                 5.25 far back early, eight-wide, driving

Lythrum Salicaria        37.50 angled inside early, held well in lane

Visa Vice                         5.10 between rivals, just up for minor share

Masterpiece Five           5.00 caught in final furlong

K T                                     26.20 pressed, tired only late

Texas Sky Hawk            12.50 way too late

Nile Warrior                   *2.80 even effort

Kavorka                            6.30 menaced, flat when asked

Super Sexy Sanny          11.85 set pace, faded

Impending Decision     34.75 no threat

El Avaro                           19.85 outrun

Triple T Racing 🙂

Categories: Grade I