Gomez hits milestone aboard Hyperbaric

ARCADIA, Calif. - Hyperbaric gave jockey Garrett Gomez the 3,000th winner of his career Sunday in the $200,000 Oak Tree Mile Stakes. Another career milestone could await Gomez if Hyperbaric starts in the Breeders' Cup Mile here on Oct. 25, a race that Gomez won at Belmont Park in 2005 with Artie Schiller.

Hyperbaric won his first graded stakes in the Grade 2 Oak Tree Mile, wearing down pacesetter Tropic Storm in early stretch and holding off a late run from Tybalt to prevail by a neck. Tropic Storm, who set early fractions of 23.82 and 47.81 seconds, finished third in the field of eight. Hyperbaric ($5.20) was timed in 1:33.62.

The Oak Tree Mile was part of the Breeders' Cup Win and You're In program, giving Hyperbaric an automatic berth to the BC Mile, subject to entry fees. Trainer Julio Canani would not commit Hyperbaric to the BC Mile after Sunday's race. We'll play it by ear, he said.

A 5-year-old gelding by Sky Classic, Hyperbaric has won 6 of 11 starts and $414,476. The Oak Tree Mile was his third consecutive win, a streak that includes the restricted Brubaker Handicap at Del Mar in August.