Metaboss Returns Under Care of Dickinson

Grade III stakes winner Metaboss, who underwent surgery last spring to remove an ankle chip, is scheduled to make his first start in 13 months for new trainer Michael Dickinson in an April 29 allowance race on the Laurel Park turf.

Owned by a partnership that includes California-based bloodstock agent Mersad Metanovic and Nevada-based Daniel Preiss, Metaboss was injured while training up to the 2015 American Turf Stakes (gr. IIT) at Churchill Downs. He previously finished sixth in the Horseshoe Cincinnati Casino Spiral Stakes and before that won the El Camino Real Derby (both gr. III) for trainer Jeff Bonde.

Purchased by Metanovic for $10,000 at the 2012 Keeneland November breeding stock sale, Metaboss, a 4-year-old colt by Street Boss   out of the Free House mare Spinning Yarns, has been in training at Dickinson's Tapeta Farm in Maryland since last November.

"He was always going to come back; it was just a matter of finding the right fit for him," Metanovic said. "The right fit for him was in a place like Michael has. Michael treats every horse like an individual, not like a factory where most trainers train every horse the same.

"If anybody is going to bring a horse back off an injury, he's the man. He is a lot of fun to deal with. He does things differently, definitely."

Dickinson, 66, last year announced his return to training seven years after he announced his retirement. He has upgraded Tapeta Farm with equipment designed to improve the manner in which racehorses are trained.

Dickinson is known for successfully bringing horses back from lengthy layoffs.

"To win off a layoff you have to have the best horse in the race," he said. "It's that simple, really. If you've got the best horse, you've got a chance.

"(Metaboss) is a lovely horse. He's very competitive. He has got great character. We had to nurse him to begin with but recently he has been training very well and he's doing great. He's not 100% peak fit, but he's fit enough to win on Friday."

Dickinson won with his first starter since his retirement when George Strawbridge's Tide Is High won at Laurel April 2. Metaboss will be the second starter since his return to training.

Depending on how he performs Friday, Metaboss could resurface in stakes company in the Dixie Stakes (gr. IIT) at Pimlico Race Course in May. He has been working regularly at Tapeta Farm on turf and the synthetic Tapeta surface.

"I told Michael, I will not pressure him where to run the horse because I respect him too much as a trainer and what he has done for this horse," Metanovic said. "Believe me, I would love to be there but it's all up to Michael and how he thinks the horse is progressing and how the horse is coming into the race.

"We've just got to be smart about it. There are a lot of big races that we're looking forward to for the whole year."