6/11/22

  9   BEL   The Metropolitan Hcp (GI)  [BC]

           $1,000.000   3yo&Up     1m Dirt       Hcp Weights

It was bombs-away at BEL on Saturday and the Met Mile Hcp (GI) was no different as Buck, sent off at 21/1 odds showed that if you want someone to go to the Auction with, Big Jd Racing may be your guide… purchased for just $3.120, the 5yo stallion won this one by a length in a final time of 1:34.07 on the fast BEL main track.  And it didn’t stop there as Jigokudani, sent off at 70/1 odds closed well to take the runner-up spot, then Night Creature, an 18/1 underdog was third.  Sexy Back, a mere 13/1, took home the minor money. 

They loaded into the gate on the backside here at Big Sandy and away in go order… Quality Art almost seemed to time the break and was on the early lead  with Howl Of The Hound on his inside and Aerialist on his outside.  On The Turning Away just in behind that trio, then a gap to Night Creature, Buck on his outside, Sunderland Til I Die on the rail and out widest for Splash Mountain.  Sexy Back was next, then a gap to Jigokudani, Higher Drifter next to that one, then the trailing trio of Ronaldo Chop, Full Brass and Junior. 

Down the backside and into the far turn with three and a half furlongs to run, Quality Art in front by a half length with Howl Of The Hound continuing to apply pressure from the rai and Aerialist on his outside.  On The Turning Away tracking them, then a length th Night Creature still hugging the rail, Buck next to him.  Sexy Back a length off of that one, down to the rail for Sunderland Til I Die, Jigokudani three wide and Splash Mountain four wide just behind that one.  Another length to the trailing foursome of Ronaldo Chop, Junior from the rail, Full Brass from the outside and Higher Drift. 

Around the far turn an moving past the quarter pole, this one was changing complexion very quickly as Buck moved up in the blink of an eye to take the lead from Quality Art.  Howl Of The Hound looking spent along the rail, Night Creature moving up quickly three wide as Aerialis and On The Turning Away were trying to find more.  Sexy Back along the inside looking for racing room as Jigokudani was not full of run and moving widest for the drive.  The rest had a lot to do and needed to get going. 

Now inside the final sixteenth and to the finish, this was all about Buck as he opened up a clear lead… the rest was a story of the pace colapsing as the closers were coming for dinner.  Jigokudani down the outside full of run, Night Creature trying to fight back down the inside, then a gap to a calvary charge trying to gain anything to get a check…

Inside the final 150-yards, this was all about Buck as he cruised under the wire, clear by daylight.  Jigokudani ran a huge, troubled race to be second with Night Creature a half length back in third.  It was another length to Sexy Back in fourth, On The Turning Away in fifth, Sunderland Til I Die sixth, Higher Drift in seventh, Junior eighth, Quality Art tiring to be ninth, Splash Mountain tenth, post time favorite Howl Of The Hound tiring to be eleventh, Ronaldo Chop twelfth, Full Brass thirteenth and Aerialist closed this one out.

Buck is a 5yo entire by What Have You Done – Ellon, by Take A Million, and he was bred in Cal by Jediminds Stable.  As mentioned, he was purchased from the Dec 2021 Auction for just $3.120, and the rest is a story book.  He now has four wins from sixteen starts and lifetime earnings of $717.180.  Congrats to the Connections!     

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Owner: Big Jd Racing          Breeder: Jediminds Stable (Cal)
Track: Fast             Time: :23   :46¹  1:09⁴  1:34
$1 Exacta: 9 – 11 Paid 260.10           $1 Trifecta: 9 – 11 – 6 Paid 1,417.10
Scratched: None

Buck raced mid-pack 4p, taken to 6p on the turn due to traffic, up quickly to take the lead with a quarter mile to run, kept to task, won driving.  Jigokudani rated back off of the pace, raced 3p to the far turn, had to move wide for racing room, closed a late gap.  Night Creature raced just behind the pace saving ground, responded when asked moving to 3p for the drive, good late effort.  Sexy Back rated back after the break, moved up 2p into the far turn, lacked inside room in the lane, found gap, some late effort.  On The Turning Away just behind the pace racing 2p, moved to 4p for the drive, no excuse.  Sunderland Til I Die inside trip to the lane, moved to 3p for the drive. evenly.  Higher Drift was outrun.  Quality Art sharp break, set the pace to the top of the lane, wilted.  Splash Mountain wide trip, outrun.  Howl Of The Hound  head and head with the leader to the top of the lane, folded.  Ronaldo Chop was never involved.  Full Brass trailed throughout.  Aerialist forced pace 3p, drifted into the lane, stopped. 

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES