A compact but formidable field of five is set to contest this year’s renewal of the Grade 1, $1 million Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap at Saratoga.
The prestigious one-mile event will feature a compelling showdown between two horses in sensational current form: Fierceness, who is fresh off a track-record performance at Churchill Downs, and the reborn White Abarrio, who has been nearly untouchable since returning to his former trainer.
Fierceness has been installed as the morning-line favorite, bringing a perfect three-for-three record at Saratoga and a sky-high recent speed figure into the race.
His primary rival is White Abarrio, who has rattled off three wins in his last four starts, including the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup.
This battle between two supremely talented older horses, both at the peak of their game, sets the stage for a memorable edition of the Met Mile.
The Field
1. Fierceness (1-1) – Returning from a lengthy layoff this year, Fierceness put any doubts about his condition to rest with a breathtaking, track-record victory in the Grade 2 Alysheba at Churchill Downs last month. That performance earned him a field-best 111 Beyer Speed Figure.
Trained by Todd Pletcher, he returns to a Saratoga surface where he is a perfect 3-for-3. While some frustrating inconsistencies have marked his career, ignoring his brilliant current form and evident affinity for the Spa is impossible.
2. White Abarrio (9-5) – This five-year-old has been a completely different animal since returning to the barn of trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. late last year. He has three wins and a narrow second-place finish in four starts since the switch.
His 2025 campaign has been flawless, featuring powerful victories in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational and the Grade 3 Ghostzapper Stakes. He returns to Saratoga looking for redemption after a poor showing in this race last year, but his spectacular recent form makes him a massive threat.
3. Castle Chaos (20-1) – This seven-year-old gelding looks to be in deep water against this level of competition. He finished a non-threatening fourth in this same race last year and enters off a string of losses in lesser stakes events. While he is a hard-trying veteran, he would need to produce a lifetime-best performance to challenge the top contenders here.
4. Just a Touch (4-1) – A lightly raced four-year-old from the powerful Brad Cox barn, Just a Touch has flashed considerable potential, hitting the board in six of his seven career starts. He enters this race off a visually impressive allowance victory at Keeneland, where he earned a triple-digit Beyer figure.
He was Grade 1-placed as a three-year-old and has the tactical speed to be a factor, but this is by far his toughest test to date against seasoned, in-form older horses.
5. Raging Torrent (5-1) – The speed of the speed, this Doug O’Neill trainee ships in from the West Coast and is the undisputed one to catch. This past March, he showcased his quality with a decisive front-running score in the Grade 2 Godolphin Mile in Dubai.
The primary concern is the “Dubai bounce”—the tendency for horses to regress in their first start back from an arduous international trip. His raw speed makes him a legitimate danger on the lead if he can avoid that pitfall.
Win, Place, Show, Wildcard, and Longshot
Win: (1) Fierceness (1-1) – It’s tough to bet against an undefeated horse on the local surface and coming off a track-record performance. His current form is impeccable, and he’s simply the horse for the course. If he brings his “A” game, he should be able to handle this field.
Place: (2) White Abarrio (9-5) – His rejuvenation under Saffie Joseph Jr. has been remarkable, and he is arguably the sharpest horse in the country right now. He is the biggest threat to the top pick, but Fierceness’s home-track advantage is the tiebreaker. Expect him to be breathing fire down the stretch.
Show: (4) Just a Touch (4-1) – This colt is on an upward trajectory and possesses the tactical speed to sit a perfect trip just off the pacesetter. He seems poised to make a good account of himself and is a logical choice to round out the trifecta.
Wildcard: (5) Raging Torrent (5-1) – He could forget to stop if he gets an uncontested lead and can set comfortable fractions. The first quarter-mile will tell the tale; if he’s alone on the lead, he could take them all the way.
Longshot: (3) Castle Chaos (20-1) – A pace meltdown is always possible in a race loaded with front-running and tactical speed. While a win is highly improbable, Castle Chaos is the only true closer in the field and could pass tired horses late to clunk up for a minor award.
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