Nysos heads stellar cast for Met Mile

An undisputed highlight of Saturday's Belmont Stakes Day program at Saratoga, the $1 million Metropolitan H. (G1) over one mile, has attracted a stellar cast.

Nysos, the winner of last year's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), returns to action for the first time since February, when he ran a terrific second to Forever Young in the Saudi Cup (G1). The five-year-old has been a gem of consistency, winning seven of nine starts with two seconds.

The 126-pound top weight, Nysos concedes one pound to classic winner Journalism, who kicked off his season in the April 18 Oaklawn H. (G2), where he finished third behind White Abarrio and Horse of the Year Sovereignty.

Antiquarian, winner of last year's Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga, made a successful turn back in distance to a mile to win the Westchester (G3) at Aqueduct. Knightsbridge, meanwhile, was dominant at Gulfstream over the winter but is looking to bounce back off a puzzling sixth in the Churchill Downs (G1).

The progressive Vibe makes his stakes debut off three straight overnight wins, while Rated by Merit is looking to rebound off a defeat in the Carter (G2), his first in six starts. The veteran Saudi Crown completes the field.

The $500,000 Woody Stephens (G1), for three-year-olds at seven furlongs, is nearly as intriguing. Crude Velocity and Englishman enter off a one-two finish in the Pat Day Mile (G2), while Obliteration and Solitude Dude have both been successful several times over in stakes company. 

Cutting back in distance are Six Speed, 13th in the Kentucky Derby (G1), and the beaten Preakness (G1) favorite Taj Mahal.

The long-awaited first showdown between last season's top two sprinters, Book'em Danno and Bentornato, takes place in the $400,000 True North (G3) over 6 1/2 furlongs.

Book'em Danno, who was voted champion after sweeping Saratoga's series of sprints for older males, is the defending titlist, though exiting a narrow defeat in the Carter.

"He got blocked in a little bit on the turn. We'd also missed one big work going into it, but all in all, he gave it a good go, and we got one good race back into him. He's good to go now," trainer Derek Ryan said.

Bentornato, who dominated the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) in Book'em Danno's absence, was himself surprised in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1), his season debut in late March.

"We gave him 60 days after Breeders' Cup, so it was very impressive how he came off the layoff in that race. I know he needed that race," trainer Jose D'Angelo said.

The likely third choice is Imagination, the Breeders' Cup Sprint runner-up who landed the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) before finishing fourth in the Churchill Downs.