Bandini, Silver Train clash in Met Mile

Bandini made a name for himself in last year’s Blue Grass (Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com)

Monday’s 113th running of the $600,000 Metropolitan H. (G1) attracted a field
of seven that includes four Grade 1 winners, and BANDINI (Fusaichi Pegasus) is
among the top draws. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the 2005 Blue Grass S. (G1) hero
has won both starts since returning from a nearly 10-month layoff in early March,
including the Skip Away H. (G3) most recently. The 119-pound co-highweight will
likely be forwardly placed from the start under Garrett Gomez. Breeders’ Cup
Sprint (G1) conqueror SILVER TRAIN (Old Trieste) will also carry 119 pounds. The
Richard Dutrow trainee dropped his first two starts this year, but the
four-year-old colt is eligible to improve in his return to Belmont Park. He’s
won his last three starts over the Elmont, New York, oval, including an
impressive wire-to-wire score in the one-mile Jerome H. (G2) last September.
Edgar Prado rides.

“He’s going to have to show up, but I like the way he’s training,” Dutrow
said of Silver Train. “I wasn’t expecting him to make the lead the way he did in
the Jerome and he ran huge. I won’t be upset if he’s in front (on Monday).”

SUN KING (Charismatic) doesn’t own a Grade 1 victory, but the Nick Zito
runner merits serious respect off his 2 3/4-length win in the Commonwealth
Breeders’ Cup S. (G2) at Keeneland. His 118-pound weight assignment includes
Rafael Bejarano. WILKO (Awesome Again), who was elevated to second in the Dubai
World Cup (UAE-G1) due to disqualification, is now based with Jeremy Noseda in
England and has shipped in for the prestigious Memorial Day feature. While
hitting the board often, Wilko has endured a 10-race losing skein since
capturing the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). Forego S. (G1) victor MASS MEDIA
(Touch Gold) will represent Bobby Frankel in the Met Mile, and the James Jerkens-trained
SIR GREELEY (Mr. Greeley) enters off a sharp score in Belmont’s opening day
Westchester H. (G3).