In what many billed as the best race in North America this year, Mitole, the only true stretch-out sprinter in the nine-horse field, proved best in the Grade 1, $1.2 million Metropolitan Handicap on the Belmont Stakes undercard.

Mitole pressed a strong pace somewhat surprisingly set by Coal Front, took over into the stretch, and resisted late rallies from McKinzie and Thunder Snow to score by three-quarters of a length.

McKinzie, the 8-5 favorite off a smashing win in last month’s Alysheba, closed from well off the pace to get second by a neck from two-time Dubai World Cup winner Thunder Snow. McKinzie had to steady in upper stretch, which was probably very costly, while Thunder Snow was unable to follow through on a threatening stretch move. It was another 3 ¼ lengths back to Promises Fulfilled in fourth.

Mitole, a 4-year-old colt by Eskendereya, is owned by L. William and Corrine Heiligbrodt, trained by Steve Asmussen, and was ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr. He completed the one mile in 1:32.75 and paid $9.00.

The Met Mile was the seventh straight victory for Mitole who, up until last month, had raced only in six-furlong races. But he fashioned a breakthrough of sorts in last month’s Grade 1, 7-furlong Churchill Downs Stakes, rating effectively just off the early lead (much like he did Saturday) before winning off.

A full recap will follow on drf.com.