California-based Dr. Schivel, a 5-year-old Violence bay trained by Mark Glatt, could stretch out beyond seven furlongs for the first time in the Grade 1, $1 million Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap on June 10 at Belmont Park.
The Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile in November at Santa Anita. Dr. Schivel is also nominated to the Grade 2, $250,000 True North at 6 1/2-furlongs on the same card.
“It's under consideration,” Glatt said of the Met Mile. “It's a one-turn mile, so it's a bit of a stretch out but not a two-turn stretch out. It depends how each race ultimately shapes up.”
Owned by Red Baron's Barn, Rancho Temescal, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and co-breeder William A. Branch, Dr. Schivel finished third in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen on March 26, 2022 at Meydan Racecourse but returned victorious off a 14-month layoff to win a six-furlong allowance sprint on May 13 at Santa Anita that garnered a career-best 105 Beyer Speed Figure.
With Juan Hernandez up, Dr. Schivel defeated fellow millionaire C Z Rocket – who finished second next out in the Grade 2 Triple Bend at Santa Anita – by 4 1/4 lengths.
Glatt said he was proud of the strong return effort and praised the bay's class and consistency which has produced a record of 11-6-2-2 for purse earnings in excess of $1.1 million.
“We were obviously happy with the return performance. He's been perfect [since],” Glatt said. “He usually shows up with his very best and he's just a class act to be around. When you lead him over there, you have confidence he's going to give you a top effort.”
Dr. Schivel was a Grade 1 winner at 2 and 3 at Del Mar when he captured the 2020 seven-furlong Del Mar Futurity and defeated older horses in the following year's six-furlong Bing Crosby. He was a close second to Aloha West in the 2021 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint, also at Del Mar.
Glatt noted the importance of the Metropolitan Handicap as a stallion-making race.
“We all know what the Met Mile does for potential stallions. It's a signature race that's very important if he should win it,” Glatt said. “If he should win either race, he'd be a graded stakes winner on both the East Coast and West Coast, so all of those things are important for him down the road eventually.”
Dr. Schivel is out of the Mining for Money mare Lil Nugget, who is a half-sister to Grade 1-winning millionaire Ultra Blend.
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