Race Preview: Metropolitan Handicap

Formally run on Memorial Day, the Metropolitan Handicap was moved this year to create what is a "mini Breeders' Cup" type card for the Belmont Stakes. This is a WAYI race for the Dirt Mile.

The field:
9th Race - Belmont Park - Saturday, June 7th, 2014 STAKES. 1 Mile Dirt. Purse $1,250,000. Metropolitan H. (Grade 1). A HANDICAP FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD. (04:48 PM) (13)
 PP Horse A/S M/E Wgt Jockey Trainer
1 Palace Malice 4 C L 124 Velazquez John R. Pletcher Todd A.
2 Vyjack 4 G L 116 Ortiz, Jr. Irad Rodriguez Rudy R.
3 Scarly Charly 5 G L 110 Franco Manuel Hushion Michael E.
4 Goldencents 4 C L 121 Smith Mike E. O'Neill Doug F.
5 Moreno 4 G L o 118 Rosario Joel Guillot Eric J.
6 Central Banker 4 C L 119 Nakatani Corey S. Stall, Jr. Albert M.
7 Capo Bastone 4 C L 115 Espinoza Victor Pletcher Todd A.
8 Declan's Warrior 4 C L 114 Bravo Joe Zito Nicholas P.
9 Normandy Invasion 4 C L 116 Castellano Javier Brown Chad C.
10 Clearly Now 4 C L 117 Lezcano Jose Lynch Brian A.
11 Broadway Empire 4 G L 115 Stevens Scott A. Diodoro Robertino
12 Romansh 4 C L 115 Ortiz Jose L. Albertrani Thomas
13 Shakin It Up 4 C L 120 Napravnik Rosie Baffert Bob

Picks:

Win- Goldencents: This was going to be Palace Malice, but neither Todd nor his owners are happy with the one hole. Golden is making his first start in NY since the Cigar Mile where he finished up track, but he did win the BC Dirt Mile. He might need a race coming off a layoff though.

Place- Palace Malice: He is the best horse in this race, but his connections are not happy with his post. This is a case where I'm hoping that I'm actually wrong and he does win, but this is a case where he's being placed here because of the rail. Won the Westchester in his prep for the Met Mile.

Show- Shakin It Up: There are some great horses I could put in this spot: Capo Bastone, Vyjack, Normandy Invasion, Romansh actually I wouldn't be surprised if any of those horses hits the top three at all. However, he might have the best shot. After winning the now two legs of the Strub series, Shakin finished 5th in his first official start against older horses. He rebounded to finish second in the Churchill Downs Sprint in his last.