Met Mile J

A superbly competitive field of seven will go postward to contest the

prestigious $600,000 Metropolitan H. (G1) at Belmont Park this Memorial Day.

Although it appears to be a daunting handicapping challenge to pick the winner

of this bunch, we'll side with SIR GREELEY (Mr. Greeley) and James Jerkens for

the big prize. The gelded four-year-old is in tremendous form this year and is a

pair of necks shy of a four-race win streak, the last three in graded company

including the Carter H. (G1) two back.

With a 5-4-0-0 mark at this distance, a 4-2-0-0 record at Belmont and a dream

outside post, we see many things to like in the dark bay. Eibar Coa will pilot

the classy gelding.

Reigning Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) champion SILVER TRAIN (Old Trieste) is

winless in two starts since that conquer last fall, but we feel he is coming up to

a big race in here. Trained by the always dangerous Richard Dutrow, the

four-year-old colt had a very useful prep for this when second in a recent

allowance test, and is training like a horse on a mission since that one. With

the lack of true early speed in the race, we envision the colt being on or right

with the lead from the outset, and getting first run on the closers. A win is

not out of the question for the dark bay, who'll be guided by Edgar Prado.

WILKO (Awesome Again) seems to excel at nine furlongs or more, but cuts back

here to the one-turn mile for conditioner Jeremy Noseda, who has taken over

training duties since March. Winless since a score in the 2004 Breeders' Cup

Juvenile (G1), the gritty colt always shows up and has been facing some of the

better handicappers around the globe, leading us to believe he has a big shot to

hit the board in here. We love the fact that they will run Wilko 'off the

plane,' as much as we do that Kent Desormeaux will have riding duties aboard

the chestnut.

MASS MEDIA (Touch Gold) has had success over Big Sandy, evidenced by his

4-2-0-1 mark locally, and was a game second in the Cigar Mile H. (G1) at this

distance last fall. Conditioned by Bobby Frankel, the five-year-old drew the

rail and will likely have to sit off the leaders and try to pass them with one

late burst. We acknowledge the talent of the dark bay and respect the

connections, but we think he'd do quite well with a top three placing in this

one. An exotics must-use, nonetheless.

BANDINI (Fusaichi Pegasus), the likely post-time choice, is perfect from two

starts in 2006 and will look to add a second Grade 1 win to his resume. Trained

by Todd Pletcher, the colt was a pretty convincing winner of the Skip Away H.

(G3) at Gulfstream last out and has been training forwardly since that effort.

We can't see a scenario where the dark bay gets alone on the lead with a :48 1/5

half-mile like he did in his latest, but we do think he will be forwardly placed

beneath Garrett Gomez. Bandini seems better suited for two-turn racing, and we

don't like his chances to win against this chiseled bunch today.

SUN KING (Charismatic), yet another talented graded winner in this

field, is coming off arguably his most impressive effort when closing from last

to annex the Commonwealth Breeders' Cup S. (G2) at Keeneland. The Nick Zito

charge is a bit erratic and has not performed that well with the upper echelon

of racing, meaning a duplication of his latest may be needed to even earn a

paycheck. Zito's barn is always on fire at Keeneland, so we'll boldly dismiss

the last and the colt.

NEW YORK HERO (Partner's Hero) is exiting a nice allowance/optional claiming win in preparation

for this, his first start since switching to the barn of Richard Dutrow. Prior

to that, the horse hadn't won since 2004, and is winless at Belmont in four

career starts. As much as we respect the connections, we still can't back the

dark bay, who appears to be outclassed.