Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview.com

ARCADIA, Calif., — Albertus Maximus and jockey Garrett Gomez were content to let Two Step Salsa and Lewis Michael wing it on the front end, and then come storming down the stretch to win the Dirt Mile on Saturday at Santa Anita Park.

Albertus Maximus was second-last as the quarter- and half-miles went in :22.54 and :45.02 seconds. Lewis Michael was trying to apply pressure to Two Step Salsa, but he could get no closer than a length going up the backstretch. The field did bunch up rounding the second turn and Albertus Maximus found a seam in the middle of the track and came through.

Gomez kept busy on the son of Albert the Great to hold off Rebellion by a length and a half at the wire. Two Step Salsa held on for third by a head over My Pal Charlie.

Gomez had no complaints after the first turn. “I was having a fairly good trip. He wanted to get out a bit on the first turn. He’s just a horse who hasn’t been back in traffic much. He’s almost like riding a green horse back in the pack. Once I lined up down the backstretch, and got him into a kind of rhythm, he was traveling really well for me.                       

“Actually, I had to move before I wanted to at the three-eighths pole. I was waiting to see what was happening with Well Armed, hoping he’d get shoved down inside and I could swoop around him. Johnny Murtagh (on Lord Admiral) started making a run on my hip. When he started making his run, I had to go with him and he had me down inside. I had to wait on (My Pal Charlie). He found a hole and I followed him in there and it worked out perfectly.”

Trainer Vladimir Cerin praised the ride by Gomez had him in a perfect position on the first turn. I was a little concerned when he went inside, but the red sea parted. It was a superlative performance by a superlative athlete. It feels great; unbelievable to win my first Breeders’ Cup.”

Edgar Prado, who was on Rebellion, said his start wasn’t good. “The horse lunged out of the gate, so it wasn’t a good start, but there was a lot of speed in the race and I sat back and took my time. I thought maybe he would have some finish to him. I was very proud of the way he tried.”

Rebellion’s trainer Graham Motion was proud of his horse. “He ran huge. That’s how we hoped he’d run. He just couldn’t quite get there, but how could you be disappointed when second in the Breeders’ Cup. This horse is unbelievably consistent and he’s probably going a distance that is not his best. I’m thrilled. I’d rather win, though.”