Stretch-running Sir Bear took advantage of a brutal early pace to win yesterday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park by two lengths over longshot Crafty Friend.
Liberty Gold was third in the field of eight older horses, with Affirmed Success fourth.
Ridden by Johnny Velazquez, Sir Bear sat several lengths off the early pace set by Lil’s Lad, who was pushed along by Cat Thief to his inside and 8-5 favorite Affirmed Success to his outside through a first quarter-mile in :22.2 and a half in :44.3.
Affirmed Success took the lead turning for home after six furlongs in 1:09, but he began to tire in midstretch as 24-1 Crafty Friend surged to the lead. But Sir Bear had him measured and drove past in the final sixteenth, running the mile in 1:34.2.
Sir Bear paid $14.60 to top a $162 exacta.
The Met Mile was the third time in the last 13 months Sir Bear, a 6-year-old gelding by Sir Leon, shipped to New York from his Florida headquarters to win a major stakes. In April of last year he won the Grade 3 Excelsior at Aqueduct and last November he captured the Grade 1 Cigar Mile at the Big A.