Last season this top trainer walked into the winners circle with chestnut five year old Spring Lover. Here at Belmont on Saturday he made that momentus walk once again, this time leading six year old Compress around the enclosure.

• The Metropolitan Handicap ( Gr. I ) Purse $1,200.000
• Belmont Park- Foe Three year olds and Up
• One Mile Dirt track
• June 8th, 2019

Undoubtedly the most dominate trainer in the game today, Dan from Mb Stables has taken another outside purchased horse, one that looked like its Graded company career was starting to fade, and breath new life and soul back into its heart. Compress posted the first sub 1:34 time in a long time for this mile event, something that has only been done four other times, the last coming in 2012.

I can almost guarantee that Compress caught the eye of this trainer way back in 2016 when he got a glimpse of him in that years Belmont Stakes. Following that event, he would go on to capture three Grade I titles, doubling up in the WO Mile, and also capturing the HOL Derby, a race where he posted his best SRF figure of 104. But all those came on the grass, so why the switch back to the dirt. Like I said, Dan is a visionary when it comes to race horses. How else do you explain the fact that following Saturday’s races he sits just two shy of 600 total Graded Stakes victories in his eleven year career here at HRP. I may not like the fact that he loves his PATS, but I respect the man and his ability to win. This victory solidifies his place in the BC Dirt Mile.

Finishing second would be Creepy Palace for Dom and D J C Racing Stables with Centeno aboard. I remember covering this one back last month when he competed in the Grade I CD, a race that was looking like there was going to be a big stop in the winners circle, but was beaten in the final steps to the wire in the slop. This event just proved the confidence his trainer had not only in him, but his rider as well. Be interesting to see if he takes it one step further and adds a little more distance.

Rounding out the trifecta for the event would be Commanding Bee ( John Henry ) ,a sophomore that the betting public had doubts about letting him go at 19-1. I felt that in my review that he still needed time to find his fit, it looks like he is progressing nicely towards that goal with his effort here. His trainer also managed to take home the Jaiper earlier on in the card with The Grandmaster.

The minor share of purse money went to Our Athletes Man Childe, who i particularly didn’t place much hopes on coming through the ropes as well as he did. Its obvious from his efforts here that he may want to step out on the town and go just a little bit longer. His trainer always seems to send out one who likes to surprise.

Duffer

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES