The Great One, Medina Spirit could present dilemma for Cedillo

ARCADIA, Calif. - Jockey Abel Cedillo had a fine January with his 3-year-old mounts at Santa Anita, winning a maiden special weight race with The Great One on Jan. 23 and Saturday’s Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes with Medina Spirit.

A more difficult day could be looming in coming weeks.

The Great One, trained by Doug O’Neill, and Medina Spirit, trained by Bob Baffert, are on the same career path – bound for the Triple Crown races. Cedillo could eventually have to choose which colt to ride should the pair appear in the same race.

“It will be a tough decision one of these days,” Cedillo said at Santa Anita on Sunday morning.

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“That’s the hard thing, if you have to make a decision. I think that’s every jockey’s dream to get in the Kentucky Derby.”

Cedillo, who turns 32 on Friday, is fortunate to have two outstanding mounts in the 3-year-old division in the build-up to the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 1. The Great One and Medina Spirit may be that good.

The Great One won a maiden race at a mile by 14 lengths in his fifth start. He was beaten a nose by Spielberg in the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 19.

Cedillo has ridden The Great One in four of his five starts and was aware of the colt’s promise before his debut through a conversation with O’Neill’s assistant, Leandro Mora.

“I remember Leandro telling me, ‘I think this is the horse for dreams,’ ” Cedillo said.

O’Neill said Sunday that The Great One is a candidate for the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on March 6.

Cedillo has been aboard Medina Spirit in all three of his starts – a win in a maiden special weight race at 5 1/2 furlongs at Los Alamitos on Dec. 11 and a game second to the unbeaten Life Is Good in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at a mile here on Jan. 2.

In the Lewis Stakes at 1 1/16 miles, Medina Spirit led throughout from the inside post in a field of six. Sent off as the even-money favorite, Medina Spirit led by a half-length over Hot Rod Charlie with a furlong remaining and finished a neck in front of 11-1 Roman Centurian.

“He surprised me,” Cedillo said. “He likes the fight. When I came to the quarter pole, he picked his ears up. He was waiting for company. He kept going.”

Hot Rod Charlie, who finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland on Nov. 6 at 94-1, finished third, a nose behind Roman Centurian. Spielberg finished fourth, beaten 11 1/4 lengths.

“Those are three good horses,” Baffert said of the first three finishers. “I was disappointed with Spielberg.”

Medina Spirit was purchased for just $35,000 at a 2-year-olds in-training sale last June. Baffert said Sunday that he does not have any short-term race plans for Medina Spirit in advance of the Triple Crown.

“It’s a long way to go,” Baffert said. “We have to move forward.”

Roman Centurian had his stakes debut in the $100,500 Lewis, having won a maiden special weight race at 1 1/16 miles by 3 3/4 lengths in his second start on Jan. 3. Trainer Simon Callaghan said the San Felipe is likely to be Roman Centurian’s next start.

“I like the fact that it’s five weeks,” Callaghan said.

Roman Centurian closed from last in a field of six in the Lewis and was third with a furlong remaining.

“I thought he ran great,” Callaghan said. “I think he’s starting to show he’s a legitimate horse.”

Hot Rod Charlie, trained by O’Neill, ran between Medina Spirit and Roman Centurian through the stretch, closing from fourth after stumbling at the start.

“I thought it was such a great comeback race,” O’Neill said Sunday. “We got to see him take some dirt and fight.

“It validated his Breeders’ Cup effort. He looked great this morning.”

O’Neill said Hot Rod Charlie will be considered for the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby at 1 3/16 miles at Fair Grounds on March 20.

“That’s our potential plan,” O’Neill said. “If you run them back too quick, you’ll get a bounce.”