Metropolitan Handicap Picks – Horse Racing Odds, Betting Preview, and Predictions (Jun 6)

• When: Saturday, June 6, 2026 @ 5:32 PM ET
• Where: Saratoga, New York
• How to Watch: FOX/FanDuel TV

One of the key races for the remainder of the season on the Belmont Stakes undercard comes in the form of the G1 Metropolitan Handicap. However, if you’re looking for our picks for the final leg of the Triple Crown race, you can find them here. 

Talented older horses will also be involved in the Met Mile, including last season’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile victor Nysos. You can find the odds and our Metropolitan Handicap picks here.

Metropolitan Handicap Odds

Race Information & Records

ALSO SEE: World Cup 2026: Our Experts Share Their World Cup Picks

Metropolitan Handicap: Recent Winners

• 2025: Raging Torrent (Frankie Dettori/Doug O’Neill)
• 2024: National Treasure (Flavien Prat/Bob Baffert)
• 2023: Cody’s Wish (Junior Alvarado/William Mott)
• 2022: Flightline (Flavien Prat/John Sadler)
• 2021: Silver State (Ricardo Santana Jr/Steve Asmussen)

Metropolitan Handicap: Betting Preview

A stacked undercard of races is set for Belmont Stakes day at Saratoga this weekend, but few could be as interesting as the 2026 Metropolitan Handicap. The Met Mile has attracted a dazzling field of entrants, including former Breeders’ Cup champions and a winner of a Triple Crown race from 2025.

Nysos is the obvious starting point when considering the leading contenders. The five-year-old showcased his ability to finish second behind Forever Young in the G1 Saudi Cup, and this drop back to a mile poses few questions after rallying to win the G1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile last November. Unbeaten over this trip, and Flavien Prat retains the ride.

Journalism landed the Preakness Stakes just over a year ago, but he has typically been frustrating to follow since then. After finishing second in the Belmont Stakes, he was subsequently placed in the G1 Pacific Classic, G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic, and the G2 Oaklawn Handicap. Drops back down to a mile, but whether he has the speed will be a major concern.

Knightbridge looked like a potential superstar before losing his way when sixth in the G1 Churchill Downs Stakes. He didn’t look comfortable back over seven furlongs, and this return to a mile is a key green flag after winning three of his last four starts over the distance.

Saudi Crown and Vibe add very interesting alternatives to the market leader. The latter looks to be rapidly progressing for Todd Pletcher, and looked very professional over a mile at Churchill Downs at the start of last month when beating Bullard by three lengths.

Metropolitan Handicap Picks

I’m very sweet on Antiquarian this weekend for the Todd Pletcher yard. The five-year-old has run some huge races at Saratoga, including when beating Sierra Leone in last year’s G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup. Back down to a mile, he looked electric on return, pushing the very talented Bishops Bay out of the way to win by a yawning five-length margin. Track prowess and back class make him overpriced at +900.

Free Pick:

• Antiquarian (+900)