BackTrack: Quality Road 'Phenomenal' in Met Mile

Was this Todd Pletcher talking? We all know the Pletcher with the textbook quotes where all the words spill out in precisely measured doses.


But when it came to expounding the virtues of Quality Road , following the colt's victory in the May 31 Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park, not even Pletcher could hide his feelings of admiration and pride.

"He's just a brilliant horse," Pletcher said. "He gave a very good horse in Musket Man seven pounds (124-117) coming off a four-month layoff. What's even more impressive than the way he did it was the fact he came back and hardly took a deep breath—phenomenal."

Yes, Pletcher used the words brilliant and phenomenal in the same thought and wasn't done.

"It just shows you how versatile he is," the trainer continued. "You're talking about a horse that set a track record at Saratoga that had stood for many years going 6 1/2 furlongs; set two track records at Gulfstream going a mile and an eighth; and runs a mile in 1:33 flat (1:33.11 to be precise) carrying 124 pounds. It's as good as it gets. You have to be impressed. If you're around horses all the time and are fortunate enough to get one as special as this, it causes a lot of anxiety leading up to the race. But when they perform like that, you have to enjoy it and respect it."

When Pletcher was asked if Quality Road is now the best horse in training, he replied quizzically, "Now? What was he before now?"

The final thought directed at Pletcher was that Quality Road could even get better. Pletcher didn't hesitate, responding with a single word: "Scary."

Yes, you can say Pletcher was downright effervescent in discussing Quality Road and his performance in the Met Mile.

Diana Baker, wife of Chris Baker, farm manager for Quality Road's owner and breeder Edward P. Evans, had seen a different side to Pletcher last year following the colt's brilliant score in the 6 1/2-furlong Amsterdam Stakes (G2) at Saratoga.

"After the race Todd called Chris and said, 'I just want to thank you for giving me this horse,'" she recalled.

So, it is safe to say, Pletcher not only is the trainer of Quality Road, but a fan and an admirer.

In the $500,000 Met Mile, Quality Road defeated a field of top-class horses that had won or placed in 27 graded stakes. The horse that topped the list with seven graded stakes wins or placings was Musket Man, who gave Quality Road's fans a brief scare by testing him in the stretch.

Sent off at 1-5 in the eight-horse field, Quality Road settled in second for a few strides following the break before taking over the lead from Westchester Stakes (G3) winner Le Grand Cru, setting fractions of :22.55 and :45.19.

"I had to use him just to get my position where I wanted to be," jockey John Velazquez said. "Once I got the position I wanted, I let him get into his rhythm."

Quality Road maintained a length lead for most of the early going, turned back challenges from Tizway and Warrior's Reward  at the top of the stretch, and drew clear to lead by two lengths at the eighth pole after getting the six furlongs in 1:08.57. When Pletcher saw Velazquez look back under his arm turning for home, he felt confident.

Just when it looked like Quality Road was home free, here came the hard-hitting Musket Man, who had come off the rail after racing seventh most of the way, split horses, and then flew by Warrior's Reward to take dead aim on Quality Road. Velazquez went to a couple of right-handed whips, and Quality Road responded to the challenge by holding Musket Man safe in the final sixteenth to win by 1 1/2 lengths. Tizway hung tough to finish third, another 1 1/2 lengths back.

"He just kept going," Velazquez said. "I encouraged him coming to the quarter pole, just to kind of get his mind on running. He was game today."

Quality Road, a son of Elusive Quality, out of Kobla, by Strawberry Road, has now won seven of his 10 starts, pushing his career earnings to more than $1.6 million.

Pletcher said the next major goal for Quality Road is the Aug. 7 Whitney Handicap (G1) at Saratoga, with a possible start before then July 3 in the Suburban Handicap (G2), depending on how the colt bounces out of this race and whether Pletcher feels he needs a start in between races.

Credit must be given to Musket Man, as consistent and game a colt as you want to see. The son of Yonaguska has finished in the money in all 12 of his career starts, while competing at seven different racetracks. Many remember him for his solid third-place finishes in last year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) and BlackBerry Preakness Stakes (G1).

Had Musket Man defeated Quality Road, it would have been an added blow to Evans. As he made his way to the track after the race, he said, "I'm glad he didn't get beat by a son of Yonaguska … I bred him."