Aikenite, Tackleberry top weighted in wide-open Met Mile

Last updated: 5/27/11 4:48 PM

Aikenite enters the Met Mile off two stakes scores in Kentucky

(Alex Evers/EquiSport Photos)

Despite the late withdrawal of potential favorite Morning Line
(Tiznow) from Monday’s $500,000

Metropolitan H. (G1), the traditional one-mile Memorial Day feature
at Belmont Park attracted a field of 11 in what is annually one of the
best betting races of the season. And this year’s edition is unusually
tough as a case could be made for just about everyone.

Entering on a hot streak is AIKENITE (Yes It’s True), whose past
record of futility in graded stakes is quickly being relegated to memory
after back-to-back scores in the Churchill Downs S. (G2) and
Commonwealth S. (G2). Trainer Todd Pletcher hopes to have the Dogwood
Stable colorbearer ready for either the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) or
Dirt Mile (G1) in November.

TACKLEBERRY (Montbrook) has won eight of 13 lifetime, including three
straight during the Gulfstream Park meeting over the winter. The skein
included the Sunshine Millions Classic, Gulfstream Park Sprint
Championship (G2) and Gulfstream Park H. (G2), but the Florida-bred
gelding weakened to fourth when taking his show on the road to West
Virginia for the Charles Town Classic (G3) last time. The Luis Olivares
owned-and-trained four-year-old will add Lasix for the first time in the
Met Mile.

HAYNESFIELD (Speightstown), victorious last year in the Jockey Club Gold Cup
(G1) and runner-up in the Cigar Mile H. (G1), tracked a fast pace in last
month’s Westchester S. (G3) and wound up fourth in his worst finish in seven
tries over Belmont’s main strip. Hero of that hour, by a comfortable three
lengths, was CAIXA ELETRONICA (Arromanches), claimed for $62,500 in his previous
start by Pletcher for owner Mike Repole. Scratched from the Westchester was
SOARING EMPIRE (Empire Maker), winner of the Hal’s Hope S. (G3) in early January
before runner-up finishes to Tackleberry in the Gulfstream Park Sprint
Championship and Gulfstream Park ‘Cap.

Not to be overlooked is TIZWAY (Tiznow), third to Quality Road in last year’s
Met Mile and later winner of the course-and-distance Kelso H. (G2) during the
fall meet. The James Bond charge quietly earned third money in both the
Gulfstream Park H. and Charles Town Classic to begin the year, and could be
sitting on a strong race following several strong drills at Saratoga. Grade 3
winner RODMAN (Malibu Moon) emerged from a 14-month layoff in February and won
second time back in the April 14 Irish Tower S. at Aqueduct.

Expected to go off at longer odds are IBBOYEE (Medallist), whose late
surge in the Churchill Downs fell a half-length short; Discovery H. (G3)
winner STORMY’S MAJESTY (Stormy Atlantic), winner of the Noble Nashua S.
for New York-breds in his season debut; and the capable veterans YAWANNA
TWIST (Yonaguska) and KENSEI (Mr. Greeley), third and fourth,
respectively, in the April 9 Carter H. (G1) at the Big A most recently.

Winter Memories took the Appalachian with a cleverly-timed rally

(Keeneland/Coady Photography)

The gray WINTER MEMORIES (El Prado [Ire]) will be a strong favorite
to win for a fourth time in five lifetime outings in the $150,000

Sands Point S. (G2), a 1 1/16-mile test for three-year-old fillies
over the inner turf. Up in time to take the Appalachian S. (G3)
by a neck in her 2011 debut last month at Keeneland, the Jim Toner pupil
took the Miss Grillo S. (G3) on the Widener turf last fall before
suffering her lone setback in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
(G2).

Appalachian third-placer PARTING WORDS (Artie Schiller) and
Herecomesthebride S. (G3) runner-up MYSTICAL STAR (Ghostzapper) look the
toughest of her Winter Memories’ five rivals entered for turf, though
the Christophe Clement-trained NAPLES BAY (Giant’s Causeway) has won
both career starts including an allowance over subsequent Edgewood S.
winner Diva Ash (Tapit).