Met Mile J

AMERICAN GRADED STAKES
PREVIEWS

A dozen will go postward in the Memorial Day feature at Belmont Park,
Monday’s $600,000 Metropolitan H. (G1), following trainer Kiaran McLaughlin’s announcement Sunday that MR. FANTASY (E Dubai)
developed a temperature over the weekend and would be
withdrawn.

Grade 1 turf winner MR. SIDNEY (Storm
Cat) is being aggressively spotted in here and we love it, as the sole North
American Grade 1 winner in the group should not be ignored. Trained by Bill
Mott, the five-year-old bay is bred as well as one can be and had drilled
consecutive :47 4/5 half-miles over this oval in advance of this. The
Kentucky-bred has some tactical speed on the green and we expect a monstrous
showing from him under Kent Desormeaux, and the price should be square.

THE ROUNDHOUSE (Fusaichi Pegasus) has looked good in 2009 after having
skipped his three-year-old season for Todd Pletcher, closing from the clouds to
get third in the Churchill Downs S. (G2) last out. The steadily improving colt
has nothing to offer in the early going but possesses a potent late kick, which
should vault him into a money slot at the wire. Edgar Prado will ride.

The classy SMOOTH AIR (Smooth Jazz) has earned BRIS Speed figures of 100 or
more in six of his last eight, including wins in the Ohio Derby (G2) and
Gulfstream Park H. (G2). The four-year-old Florida-bred has it all — tactical
speed, a big late kick and heart — and he would be a logical contender to earn
his first Grade 1 win. Pascacio Lopez retains the mount.

The sometimes temperamental IMPERIAL COUNCIL (Empire Maker) has a ton of
talent for Shug McGaughey and gets in this race under a feathery 108 pounds
including Raymundo Fuentes. The well-bred sophomore has run into some serious
three-year-olds of late, most recently finishing second to Charitable Man (Lemon
Drop Kid) in the Peter Pan S. (G2). Imperial Council isn’t facing the strongest
field ever assembled for this storied event, so we consider him a threat from
midpack. Reigning Super Derby (G2) winner MY PAL CHARLIE (Indian Charlie) has
not quite lived up to our lofty expectations so far this year. Conditioned by
Albert Stall Jr., the Kentucky-bred closed for second in the Churchill Downs S.
in his last and is still a logical top-three threat under Cornelio Valesquez.

BRIBON (Fr) (Mark of Esteem [Ire]) was a big, if troubled, third versus
better in the Cigar Mile H. (G1) in the fall and comes in winning two of his
last three for Robert Ribaudo. The impressive six-year-old sports a sharp
6-2-3-1 mark over this strip, including a victory in the Westchester S. (G3) at
this distance last time out. Bribon has also turned in a pair of nice
maintenance breezes while readying for this test. Alan Garcia retains the mount.

DRIVEN BY SUCCESS (Precise End) has responded to the trainer switch to Bruce
Levine last summer like a different animal, posting three routs with a
third-place finish in the Carter H. (G1) in his latest venture. The New
York-bred has registered BRIS Speed numbers of 107, 106, 100 and 103 in his last
four and has good early zip, but drawing the 12 post going longer than he might
prefer could lead to his undoing. We’ll still use the smart gelding beneath
Ramon Dominguez.

Drawn widest of all is RUNFORTHEDOE (Brz) (Our Emblem), who comes off a
closing second in the Oaklawn H. (G2) for Paulo Lobo. The Group 1 hero has yet
to win in three U.S. starts, however. We really like Lobo and acknowledge that
his colt has a good deal of ability, but he looks in deep under Rajiv Maragh.
RILEY TUCKER (Harlan’s Holiday) was awesome last out, drilling an allowance
group at Churchill Downs while earning a lifetime-best 106 Speed figure for Bob
Baffert. The four-year-old has won two of his three starts this campaign and
smoked a bullet five-eighths leading up to this, so he’s another we’ll add to
the exotics party.

READY’S ECHO (More Than Ready) might be ready to step up at this level, as
the Pletcher colt looked the part in his latest allowance win. On the other
hand, he’s not even the best one-run closer in his own barn. We’ll take a stand
against the dark bay. ACCREDIT (E Dubai) was easily best in the Churchill Downs
S. last out and turned out to be an excellent claim for Mike Maker, who grabbed
this one for $75,000 in March. The speedy dark bay had the misfortune of drawing
the rail in here, which will likely force the hand of Eibar Coa to send early.
On the positive side, there isn’t a whole lot of blazing speed in here, but the
Florida-bred is still not our favorite in this spot. FAMOUS PATRIOT (Repent)
outran his odds when third in the Hal’s Hope H. (G3) three back and won his prep
for this race, but the bay colt could only be suggested for the exotics against
these.