The Grade 1 Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap is a “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series race with the 127th edition held at Belmont Park on the Fourth of July. Widely known as the Met Mile, the one-mile race is for 3-year-olds and up and carries a reduced purse of $500,000 in 2020.
The Met Mile is Race 9 on Saturday at 5:47 p.m. ET and televised nationally by NBC from 5 to 6 p.m. The race is also livestreamed on NBCSports.com and on the NBC Sports app.
The winner of the Met Mile receives an automatic fees-paid entry into the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (Grade 1) on Nov. 7 at Keeneland.
Met Mile Post Positions and Odds 2020
The 2020 Metropolitan Handicap came up strong with eight starters combining for 20 Grade 1 wins headlined by McKinzie (four) and Code of Honor (two). McKinzie finished second in last year’s Met Mile.
| Post | Horse | Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Network Effect | 8/1 | I. Ortiz, Jr. | C. Brown |
| 2 | Vekoma | 5/2 | J. Castellano | G. Weaver |
| 3 | McKinzie | 2/1 | M. Smith | B. Baffert |
| 4 | Hog Creek Hustle | 30/1 | J. Ortiz | V. Foley |
| 5 | Code of Honor | 3/1 | J. Velazquez | C. McGaughey |
| 6 | Endorsed | 10/1 | J. Rosario | W. Mott |
| 7 | Mr Freeze | 8/1 | M. Franco | D. Romans |
| 8 | Warrior's Charge | 12/1 | F. Geroux | B. Cox |
Met Mile Schedule and Race Details
The Metropolitan Handicap was moved back to July this year with the COVID-19 health crisis causing delays in race tracks reopening.
- Date: Saturday, July 4, 2020
- Time: 5:47 p.m. ET
- TV: NBC 5-6 p.m. ET
- Tablet, online, mobile: NBC Sports app and streamed live on NBCsports.com/live and FuboTV
- Track and location: Belmont Park in Elmont, New York
- Distance: 1 mile (8 furlongs)
- Surface: Dirt
- Horses: 3-year-olds and up
- Track Record: Frosted (2016) in 1:32.75
Five graded stakes are on the Independence Day card at Belmont Park. Along with the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap, the other graded stakes races include:
- $400,000 Manhattan (G1) for 4-year-olds and up going 1 1/4 miles on turf
- $200,000 Suburban (G2), for 4-year-olds and up going 1 1/4 miles
- $150,000 Poker (G3), for older horses at 1 mile on turf
- $100,000 Victory Ride (G3) for 3-year-old fillies sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs
Met Mile History and Records
The Met Mile was first run in 1891 at Morris Park Racetrack and moved to Belmont Park in 1904. The race was not run for three years more than a century ago, and it was also held at Aqueduct Racetrack for eight years during the 1960s.
The Met Mile track record was set in 2016 by Frosted (1:32.73), and he also won by a record 14 ½ lengths. The 2018 Met Mile winner Mitole just missed the track record by .02 of a second. Jockey John Velazquez has won the race a record five times (1996-2014) and trainer John Gaver, Sr. won it a record six times (1940-1963).
The Met Mile post time favorite has won six of the last 10 editions and finished in the money all 10 races. Three of the last 10 races have been decided by a nose (N).
| Year | Winner/Margin | Odds | Payout | Time | Style | Favorite |
| 2019 | Mitole | 7–2 | $9.00 | 01:32.75 | Pace presser | 2nd |
| 2018 | Bee Jersey | 3–1 | $8.50 | 01:33.1 | Front runner (N) | 1st |
| 2017 | Mor Spirit | 5–2 | $7.10 | 01:33.7 | Pace presser | 1st |
| 2016 | Frosted | 2–1 | $6.70 | 01:32.73 | Stalking | 1st |
| 2015 | Honor Code | 7–1 | $16.20 | 01:33.2 | Deep closer | 2nd |
| 2014 | Palace Malice | 6–5 | $4.70 | 01:33.6 | Stalking | 1st |
| 2013 | Sahara Sky | 9–2 | $11.60 | 01:34.1 | Off pace, closer (N) | 3rd |
| 2012 | Shackleford | 7–2 | $8.80 | 01:33.3 | Front runner (N) | 3rd |
| 2012 | Tizway | 3–1 | $8.20 | 01:32.9 | Pace presser | 1st |
| 2011 | Quality Road | 2–5 | $2.50 | 01:33.1 | Front runner | 1st |
