Reid pondering spot for Maximus Meridius after troubled trip

Butch Reid has hit a rough patch with Maximus Meridius, but the trainer said he has not lost an ounce of faith in the 5-year-old gelding. Looking to keep him close to home, Reid decided to pull him out of the $150,000 Toboggan at Aqueduct last Saturday, where he would have opened as the 7-2 third choice.

Reid instead entered him in a $55,000 allowance at Parx Racing on Wednesday, Feb. 4, but the Pennsylvania-bred struggled to overcome a troubled trip and finished fifth. He was later promoted to fourth because of a disqualification.

“We tried to be a little discreet and race him here, but he just had a really tough trip,” Reid said. “He got stuck down on the fence and really didn’t get what we were hoping for.”

In addition to getting bottled up on the rail and forced to the outside in the early going, Maximus Meridius also had to check late to avoid 5-year-old gelding Dropline, who clipped heels and fell in the stretch. Per his agent, jockey Abner Adorno did not sustain any serious injuries from the fall, while Dropline walked off after the incident.

Reid said Maximus Meridius came out of the race sound, despite the disappointing finish. The trainer intends to bring the gelding back to action soon and said he is actively considering a return to Aqueduct in the coming months.

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