The Metropolitan Handicap – Grade I [BC]
1 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $1,200.000 Open 3 Year Olds And Up.

1st   Spring Lover  Mb Stables  Velazquez J R

Well i guess i can say i told you so with atleast one race on this big weekend of racing from BEL. 3lbs at HRP is like carrying an extra bus and somehow Mb Stables managed to manipulate this runner into this race with bottom weight and in a finish of heads and noses that was enough to see this sprinter home. The last time this horse won a grade one it was also a handicap and he was carrying a pound more than today so the writing as they say was on the wall. Running from a wide gate he didnt get on the speed that quickly but when he got to the front he was very game in holding on.

2nd   Edwin Drood  Night Rider Stables  Maragh R

The old favourite ran home strongly just failing under top weight to beat Spring Lover. He still has yet to win a grade one but you cant get much closer than this and i am sure we will see him winning one for his new owner eventually.

3rd   State Police  Smokey Stover  Alvarado J

Bought for 1K recently he flew home from a long way back to be third in an effort that will have pleased his new owner.

4th   Silver Dancer  Night Rider Stables  Bridgmohan S X

Ran much closer to the pace today but couldnt quicken down the stretch and just held on for fourth. The fast early pace wouldnt have helped him as this race was one of the few that favoured closers but he ran well and will be fighting out graded stakes for a while yet.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES