OCEANPORT, N.J. - Proving he belongs in any championship discussions, Kinross Farm's Sur La Tete manhandled Tres Touche and five others in the $75,000 Metcalf Memorial at Monmouth Park Sunday.
Trained by Neil Morris and ridden by Chris Read, Sur La Tete let Tres Touche take a controlling early lead and was content to sit fourth for most of the race. With 7 furlongs to go, the pace quickened noticeably and Tres Touche felt pressure from Santenay. At the final fence on the backstretch, Sur La Tete shifted gears and ranged alongside the leader on the final turn. Though Tres Touch was game, the fight was short-lived as Sur La Tete powered away to win by 11 1/2 lengths. Tres Touche, sent off a slight favorite over the winner, held on for second with Santenay third and longshot Popular Gigalo fourth.
Sur La Tete earned $45,000 with the win to lift his 2004 bankroll to $179,560. The win came in the 6-year-old son of Sky Classic's first try vs.
open company and set up a showdown in next month's Breeders' Cup Steeplechase. Sur La Tete figures to meet 2003 champion McDynamo and 2004 spring star Hirapour in the Oct. 23 Breeders' Cup at Far Hills, N.J.