First Look: Met Mile and undercard probables lineup

Courtesy of the Belmont Park racing office, probables for the Saturday, July 4 card, which include five graded stakes races were released on Sunday.

Headlining the blockbuster program are the the Metropolitan Handicap and Manhattan, both Grade 1's. Supporting stakes include the Suburban (G2), Victory Ride (G3) and Poker Stakes (G3). 

Here is an early look at the probable fields for the five graded stakes races for next Saturday's card in New York.

Metropolitan (G1)

The Met Mile is always one of the more exciting stakes races of the Belmont Spring/Summer meet and this edition looks like it will be no exception. Grade 1 winners Code of Honor, McKinzie and Vekoma are all expected along with a stellar supporting cast.

Chad Brown's Network Effect will look to turn the tables on Vekoma, as the 4-year-old colt by Mark Valeski finished second to Vekoma in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap earlier this month.

Brad Cox-trained Warrior's Charge and Bill Mott's Endorsed will also be coming in off of second-place finishes in graded stakes races. Vickie Foley looks to saddle Hog Creek Hustle and Dale Romans has pointed Mr Freeze to the Metropolitan.

Manhattan (G1)

Slated for 1 1/4 miles on the turf, the Manhattan field may come up a bit light in numbers this year.

Instilled Regard won the Fort Marcy (G2) at Belmont Park earlier this month for trainer Chad Brown, who is also slated to saddle Rockemporer in the Manhattan.

Veterans Sadler's Joy, Desert Stone from the Richard Baltas barn, and Cross Border, trained by Michael Maker, round out the probables.

Suburban (G2)

Multiple graded stakes winner Tacitus and 2019 Belmont Stakes winner Sir Winston headline the probables for the Suburban, a mile and a quarter route on the main Belmont Park track.

It's been over a year since Tacitus has won a race, but he is always well-backed at the betting windows. He will come in off a fourth in the May 2 Oaklawn Handicap (G2).

Sir Winston won his seasonal bow at Aqueduct and came back to be second in the June 11 Flat Out Stakes at Belmont.

Moretti won the Flat Out, which was contested at 1 3/8 miles on the Belmont Park main track.

Joevia, Forewarned and Just Whistle complete the probables.

Poker (G3)

Got Stormy was scratched from Saturday's Just a Game Stakes (G1) and heads the probables for the Poker Stakes, where she will face the boys.

The Grade 1 winner has a win going the Poker's one mile on the Belmont turf in her career.

Got Stormy will face two charges from the Pletcher barn in Social Paranoia and Sombeyay.

George Weaver's Majestic Dunhill enters this race off an impressive second-place finish in the First Defense Stakes.

It's a turf stakes race at Belmont, so Chad Brown is required to have a runner, and he will saddle Valid Point.

Hawkish, Hembree and Eons round out the probables for the Poker Stakes.

Nearly every probable runner in the Victory Ride is coming into the race off a win. Only Chad Brown's Center Aisle and Gary Gullo's Miss Peppina did not find the winner's circle last time out.

Weaver's Game Face and Jerry O'Dwyer's Cruise and Danze won stakes races last out. Frank's Rockette looks to get a graded stakes win, and should be well-regarded by handicappers against this field.