He finally made his 2005 debut on May 30 in the Metropolitan Handicap (more commonly known as the Met Mile) at Belmont Park. After settling into third place in the early running, he moved to the lead on the far turn and pulled away to win by lengths. His time of 1:33.29 was just two-fifths of a second off the stakes record. "I know you dream of winning the Kentucky Derby, but the best dream is to know you have the best horse", said Frankel. "I'm very emotional right now. He's a great horse, let's just put it that way", Frankel said. "He's an amazing horse. He's probably the best sprinter in the country, and I think he can win going a mile and a half on the turf – I really do. (Castellano) never moved on him. He just took a hold of him in the stretch."