Tizway Impressive Winning a Loaded Grade I Metropolitan Mile

Tizway turned in an impressive performance capturing his first Grade I victory on a talent-loaded field of the 118th edition Grade 1, $500,000 Metropolitan Handicap, run at Belmont Park today. The six-year-old son of Tizway, was ridden by Rajiv Maragh, is trained by James Bond and owned by William L. Clifton Jr. Tizway broke alertly and briefly challenged Tackleberry for the lead on the early going, before settling on stalking mode right behind him on the outside following the first furlong.

Tackleberry, with Javier Santiago aboard, took the early fractions on 23.17, and 45.57, followed by Tizway, while Stormy's Majesty ran third, followed alongside by Caixa Electronica and Haynesfield, settling nicely placed on the outside. Yawanna Twist and Aikenite followed very near them.

During the final turn, Maragh started to put pressure on the leader Tackleberry and passed by him at the three-quarter pole with a fast 1:08.66 fractional. At the top of the home stretch, Haynesfield followed him strongly on the outside as they both passed a tired Tackleberry with Caixa Electronica, also making a move behind them, while Rodman started a mad dash as well on the inside running fifth.

But they were running for second and didn't have anything to do with Tizway who was running away from the field, while longshot Rodman passed both Haynesfield and Caixa Electronica to finish a game second, two-and-three-fourths of a length behind the winner Tizway who stopped the teletimer at 1:32.90. Tizway’s final time was the second-fastest in Met Mile history, just missing Honour and Glory’s stakes record by 0.09 seconds.

The Met Mile was the first Breeders Cup "Win-and-You-are-In" race of 2011, securing Tizway, providing he remains healthy, a spot in the Breeders Cup Mile.  The final order of arrival with the payouts was as follows:

1. Tizway                                 $8.20                 $5.00               $3.90

2. Rodman                                                       $28.60             $18.00

3. Caixa Electronica                                                                  $5.20

4. Aikenite

5. Haynesfield

6. Stormy’s Majesty

7. Soaring Empire

8. Ibboyee

9. Tackleberry

10. Yawanna Twist

11. Kensei