Blockbuster Clash Looms in the Met Mile with Fierceness, White Abarrio and Raging Torrent

The storied race will be a key highlight of Saturday’s card at Saratoga

Fierceness returned in record-breaking fashion to capture the G2 Alysheba / CHURCHILL DOWNS

SARATOGA SPRINGS, New York (Special for Turf Diario).- With 15 stakes wins between them—eight at the Grade I level—and more than $12.5 million in combined earnings, White Abarrio (Race Day), Fierceness (City of Light), and Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief) are poised to square off in a blockbuster renewal of the GI Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap Saturday at Saratoga, part of the marquee Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.

The historic Met Mile, offering a $1-million purse and contested out of the Wilson Chute, again serves as a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar in November. A highlight of the five-day Festival running Wednesday through Sunday, the race is part of a blockbuster card topped by the 157th running of the GI Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 7. In total, the Festival will offer a record $11.2 million in purses across 27 stakes races—its richest edition since the event’s inception in 2014.

Owned by Gary Barber, C2 Racing Stable, and Antonio Pagnano, White Abarrio returns to the Met Mile after finishing third in 2023 behind Horse of the Year Cody’s Wish (Curlin) and fifth in last year’s Saratoga renewal behind National Treasure (Quality Road), both eventual Champion Older Dirt Males.

Transferred from Saffie Joseph Jr. to Rick Dutrow Jr. just before the 2023 edition, the gray thrived under his new trainer, capturing the GI Whitney and GI Breeders’ Cup Classic. He has since returned to Joseph following a disappointing run in the G1 Saudi Cup and a subsequent freshening.

“He’s doing as well as ever, and if everything stays on track through Saturday, we’re coming in with a big chance,” said Joseph. “We gave him the time he needed, and that was key. He’s been good at two, three, and with Rick. To come back from Saudi and perform the way he has shows what kind of horse he is.”

Since rejoining Joseph, White Abarrio has made four starts at Gulfstream Park: winning an optional claimer off a 168-day layoff, finishing second in the GIII Mr. Prospector, and romping in both the GI Pegasus World Cup by 6 1/4 lengths and the GIII Ghostzapper by 5 1/4.

“The Pegasus was spectacular. In the Ghostzapper, he was the favorite and pressured from the jump, and still delivered,” added Joseph.

A winner of 10 of 21 starts—including four Grade I races—White Abarrio has bankrolled nearly $7 million. He’ll break from post 2 under Irad Ortiz Jr., carrying 126 pounds.

Fierceness, bred by Repole Stable and campaigned in partnership with Coolmore’s Smith, Tabor & Magnier, returns to the scene of his debut win, GII Jim Dandy, and dominant GI Travers victory last year. The reigning Champion 2-Year-Old Colt has raced just once in 2024, breaking the track record in the GII Alysheba at Churchill Downs on May 2.

“It was remarkable,” said trainer Todd Pletcher, a two-time Met Mile winner. “To set a track record off such a moderate early pace speaks volumes about his ability.”

The son of City of Light seems to have turned the corner with three wins from his last four starts, including the Travers over eventual Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna). He’s earned over $4.3 million from six career wins. Fierceness will break from the rail under John Velazquez, who seeks his sixth Met Mile title, carrying 125 pounds.

“The biggest challenge will be the Wilson Chute start—it can be tricky,” said Pletcher. “But he knows this track and performs well over it.”

Like White Abarrio, Raging Torrent enters off back-to-back wins: he took the GI Malibu at Santa Anita in December and then dominated the G2 Godolphin Mile by 3 1/2 lengths at Meydan in April.

“We’ve had success in the Godolphin Mile before and knew it was a great setup for an American-style horse,” said trainer Doug O’Neill. “He traveled well and ran even better.”

Owned by Yuesheng Zhang and Great Friends Stable, the son of Maximus Mischief owns six wins from 13 starts, including the GII Pat O’Brien at Del Mar. Frankie Dettori, aboard for his last two scores, retains the mount from post 5 with 123 pounds.

“Frankie just gets him,” O’Neill said. “The horse has matured and really handles the distance now. The Met Mile is a special race, and we’re excited.”

Also entered is Just a Touch (Justify), who steps back into graded stakes company after two dominant allowance wins at Fair Grounds and Keeneland. He’ll be ridden by Florent Geroux from post 4, carrying 121 pounds.