Powerhouse fields assemble for Met Mile, True North, Woody Stephens

Saratoga has been the scene of some of the best moments in the racing careers of Fierceness and White Abarrio, who highlight a small but very select field in the $1 million Metropolitan H. (G1) on Saturday.

Fierceness, who was made the even-money favorite in the field of five, is 3-for-3 at "The Spa," including a head score in the Travers (G1) last summer over eventual Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna. Further back was Sierra Leone, whose victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) over Fierceness secured him the three-year-old title.

Fierceness recouped over the winter and came out running in his season debut, the May 2 Alysheba (G2) at Churchill Downs, which he won by 1 1/2 lengths while establishing a new track record for 1 1/16 miles.

"He won the Jim Dandy (G2) and the Travers and broke his maiden over this track, so we know he seems to like it here," trainer Todd Pletcher said. "My biggest concern really is just the Wilson Chute and the way they run a mile here, it can become a bit tricky. You've just got to hope that you draw well and break alertly."

White Abarrio was a dominant winner of the 2023 Whitney (G1) en route to Breeders' Cup Classic success, but the gray's 2024 season got off to a slow start with poor runs in both the Saudi Cup (G1) and Met Mile. He's looked like his old self this term, though, with powerful wins in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) and Ghostzapper (G3) at Gulfstream.

"I feel distance-wise it's fine for him. The key with him is just making sure he comes into the race in top form. We feel like he is in top form and don't think the distance will be a problem," trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. "He showed that in his last work, and the race can't some soon enough."

White Abarrio will tote 126 pounds, one more than Fierceness.

Raging Torrent is the most accomplished of the other three entries, entering off back-to-back wins in the Malibu (G1) and Godolphin Mile (G2). Just a Touch, though, is Grade 1-placed and re-enters stakes company after toying with allowance rivals in Louisiana and Kentucky this spring. The rank outsider of the group is Castle Chaos.

The $400,000 True North (G3) for older horses over 6 1/2 furlongs has attracted the three Grade 1 male sprint winners from last summer's Saratoga meeting: Forego (G1) hero Mullikin, Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G1) scorer Nakatomi, and Woody Stephens (G1) winner Book'em Danno.

Nakatomi missed by a neck in the Dubai Golden Shaheen in his season debut two months ago, while Book'em Danno and Mullikin were a close fourth and fifth, respectively, in last month's Churchill Downs (G1).

Others in the True North would likely need lifetime bests, but Crazy Mason is in career form following a come-from-behind win in the Carter (G2), while Concrete Glory has more speed than most if he can get out of the gate better than he did three weeks ago in the Maryland Sprint (G3).

The 2025 edition of the seven-furlong Woody Stephens, worth $500,000, has attracted last year's juvenile champion Citizen Bull as well as Chancer McPatrick, who landed the Hopeful (G1) and Champagne (G1) last season. Both turn back in distance after failing to convincingly stretch out in either the Kentucky Derby (G1) or its associated preps.

Colloquial might be the horse to beat if the Lafayette S. winner reproduces the speed of his maiden win at Aqueduct in early February. Macho Music and Madaket Road enter off a one-two finish in the Pat Day Mile (G2), while Gate to Wire and Gunmetal can benefit from a hot pace.