Metaboss Working Toward Spiral Start
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El Camino Real Derby (gr. III) winner Metaboss will remain on a synthetic surface for his next Triple Crown prep race.
After a five-furlong workout in 1:00 4/5 March 5 at Santa Anita Park, trainer Jeff Bonde said the 3-year-old colt by Street Boss is scheduled to race next in the $550,000 Spiral Stakes (gr. III) March 21 going 1 1/8 miles on Turfway Park's all-weather track.
"He seems to adapt to any surface," Bonde said of the Kentucky-bred colt, who claimed his first stakes win in the El Camino Real at Golden Gate Fields Feb. 14 after breaking his maiden in his previous start at Santa Anita. "We're hopeful he's going to take that next step forward again."
Racing for the ownership group of Michael Arndt, Chuck Azcarate, Mersad Metanovic, Milan McFetridge, and Daniel Preiss, Metaboss has worked twice since the El Camino Real victory. His first breeze was five furlongs in 1:02 4/5 Feb. 26 at Santa Anita.
"He went easy early and finished strong," Bonde said of Thursday morning's drill. "He galloped out strong."
Out of the Free House mare Spinning Yarns, Metaboss is in an eight-way tie for 14th place in the Road to the Kentucky Derby standings with 10 points. A win in the Spiral would net him 20 more toward a potential Derby spot.
Bonde also said the colt could get a work over the Turfway main track if the timing of his travel arrangements allow it.