Quality Road Tunes Up for Met Mile

Monday’s 118th running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Metropolitan Handicap is shaping up to be a stellar renewal, with Grade 1 Carter winner Warrior’s Reward, 2009 Dwyer and Jim Dandy winner Kensei, Gulfstream Park Handicap victor You and I Forever, and the 1-4 finishers in the Westchester – Le Grand Cru, Convocation, Ironman Jon and Honest Man – among those looking to line up against multiple Grade 1 winner Quality Road in the one-mile race.

Quality Road, who earned a 121 Beyer Speed Figure in his most recent start, February’s Grade 1 Donn Handicap, had his final tune-up for the Met Mile on Tuesday, covering five furlongs in 59.66.

“He came out of it in excellent shape,” reported trainer Todd Pletcher, who trains the 4-year-old son of Elusive Quality for Edward P. Evans. “We don’t want to over-train him, but sure, anything you haven’t run in a while you have a concern. You want to make sure they are ready to run. This is a tough spot, but we think we know him well enough and know that he’s run well fresh enough times that we have an idea of what he needs to be ready.”

Convocation is set to have his final work Thursday morning, said trainer Jimmy Jerkens, while prepping Wednesday for the Met Mile was Ironman Jon, who zipped five furlongs over the main track in a bullet 59.12 for trainer Mike Hushion.

On Tuesday, Le Grand Cru went seven furlongs on the main track in 1:28.65.

“He’s doing great this morning,” reported Fernando Abreu, assistant to Hall of Fame trainer H. Allen Jerkens. “It looks like it’s going to be a really tough race, but our horse is doing well.”