Bay Of Plenty Steps Up To Met Mile
Bay Of Plenty is out to maintain his unbeaten record at Belmont Park, USA, on his Group One debut in the mile nyra.com Metropolitan Handicap on Saturday, June 6.
Time/Date - 16.49hrs local time/Saturday, June 6, 2015
Racecourse/Country - Belmont Park/USA
Surface/Distance - Dirt/1m
Bay Of Plenty is out to maintain his unbeaten record at Belmont Park, USA, on his Group One debut in the mile nyra.com Metropolitan Handicap on Saturday, June 6.
The Kiaran McLaughlin-trained four-year-old has won on each of his three starts at the New York course, and made all to take an allowance optional claimer over a mile by two lengths on his seasonal return on April 29.
He also scored over a mile at Belmont Park in an another allowance optional claimer in October and in an allowance race in May, 2014, when he cantered to a nine and a quarter length verdict.
On his only previous Pattern race appearance, Bay Of Plenty rallied to take second in the Grade Three Discovery Handicap over nine furlongs at Aqueduct in November.
Mike Smith has his first ride on the Medaglia d'Oro colt, who has been allotted 8st 2lb.
Kiaran McLaughlin said: "This is a tough race for Bay Of Plenty but he has never been better.
"He should work out a trip from post two and this is a very important race, so we thought that we would give him a try.
"We are not sure that he is up to this level, but we hope so."
Bay Of Plenty tackles nine rivals headed by last year's Belmont Stakes victor Tonalist, Breeders' Cup Classic winner Bayern and dual Vosburgh Stakes scorer Private Zone.
Bay Of Plenty © Adam Coglianese
