Mitole

Mitole’s seven-win streak was crowned by victories in the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) on the Kentucky Derby undercard and the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at one mile on Belmont Stakes day, the race that some experts deemed to showcase the most talented field on the card and others touted as the race of the year. 

Distinguishing himself in his earlier wins as a sprinter, he stretched out for the Met Mile, finished half a second off the track record and earned a place in the Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile. 

Speaking of the time leading up to the Met Mile, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen said, "I was scared to death to talk about him all week because I was so confident in him. I didn't want to anger the racing gods."

After the Met Mile, the bay colt returned to his roots as a sprinter, but interrupted his string of victories with a third-place finish in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga. Imperial Hint, who won the race last year, again claimed the trophy, this time breaking the track record. 

However, it didn’t take long for Mitole to get back to his winning ways in his very next start, the Grade 1 Forego Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 24, where he galloped to an impressive three-length victory.

Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt own Mitole and teaming with Asmussen they have won more than 1,000 races together. Bill Heiligbrodt described the 4-year-old as a calm and relaxed horse. 

Mitole’s connections must decide between the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and the Dirt Mile. 

"We might look at both races and see what the competition looks like in each race,” Heiligbrodt said. “I have an expert named Steve Asmussen. He's lined out the path for this horse. We've done well together, and I'm going to defer to him on that."

Heiligbrodt stated Mitole will probably be retired to stud at the end of the year unless something major changes. 

Regular rider Ricardo Santana Jr. currently ranks in the top ten of North American jockeys by earnings, and he is looking for his first Breeders’ Cup win. 

"This is really a special horse," Santana said. "I can't explain how happy I am with this horse."

Mitole’s original purchase price was $20,000. He now has lifetime earnings of over $2 million.