JC / Railbird

Bribon

Bribon Wins Met Mile

The winner’s circle after the Met Mile this afternoon felt like a flashback to Saratoga last summer, and it wasn’t just the warm summery air or the festive track crowd. The same delighted connections who gathered then for a photo with Grand Couturier — winner of back-to-back Sword Dancer Stakes — were smiling at Belmont after Bribon — winner of the Westchester Handicap last month — won the Met Mile by a half-length over 3-1 co-favorite Smooth Air.

Trainer Robert Ribaudo said after the race that the 6-year-old gelding may get some time off before returning to race upstate. “There’s not a lot in the near future, but he deserves a little break,” said Ribaudo. “Maybe we’ll come back in Saratoga at seven-eighths.”

Final time for the Met Mile was 1:34.15 (with the final quarter in :25.6) after quick early fractions of :22.70, :45.20, 1:08.55 set by third-place finisher Driven by Success. Smooth Air, whose handler was persistently imploring, “Come on, Smoothie!”, well before the field turned into the stretch, became a millionaire with his $120,000 share of the purse. The win on Bribon was jockey Alan Garcia’s second in the race; the rider won on Divine Park in 2008.

Posted in Racing on May 25, 2009 / Tagged Belmont Park, Bribon, Met Mile, Photos, Winner's Circle