2008 Breeders Cup Dirt Mile

Race Comments: ALBERTUS MAXIMUS was reserved while well back for a half, moved out a bit midway on the turn, steadied slightly in traffic leaving the turn, split horses while angling five wide into the stretch, closed the gap to challenge inside the furlong marker and edged clear under strong left hand encouragement. REBELLION (GB) steadied after breaking poorly, trailed the field for nearly six furlongs, split horses leaving the quarter pole, angled out in upper stretch and rallied belatedly from outside to gain the place. TWO STEP SALSA sprinted clear soon after the start, set the pace along the inside for five furlongs, extended his lead a bit on the turn, dug in when challenged in upper stretch, battled heads apart leaving the furlong marker, fought gamely into deep stretch and yielded grudgingly. MY PAL CHARLIE settled in good position along the rail, saved ground along the backstretch, rapidly closed the gap while splitting horses on the turn, made a run to challenge nearing the furlong marker, battled into deep stretch and weakened late. MAST TRACK checked slightly and angled to the rail on the first turn, was well placed while saving ground along the backstretch, waited briefly for room along the rail nearing the quarter pole, angled out at the three-sixteenths pole then lacked a strong closing response. PYRO was outrun early after breaking a bit slowly, raced well back along the inside for five furlongs, angled three wide entering the stretch and lacked a late response while finishing evenly. LEWIS MICHAEL moved up along the rail to contest the early pace, angled outside the lead on the first turn, pressed the issue in the two path to the top of the stretch and steadily tired thereafter. LORD ADMIRAL was outrun for a half in the three path, angled six wide leaving the quarter pole and never reached contention. WELL ARMED was strung out five wide on the first turn, raced well off the rail between horses along the backstretch, continued in midpack leaving the far turn, failed to gain when asked for run midway on the turn, steadied between horses at the top of the stretch and again when bothered by the runner-up at the three-sixteenths pole and failed to menace thereafter. SLEW'S TIZNOW was carried six wide on the first turn, raced just off the pace while continuing wide for five furlongs, circled eight wide into the stretch and faded in the drive. SLEW'S TIZZY pressed four wide to the far turn and gave way. SURF CAT steadied between horses while in tight leaving the first turn, raced up close three wide for five furlongs, checked in traffic on the turn and gave way.