BALTIMORE, 06-01-13---Odds-on favorite Cerro (IRE) led to the far turn, allowed Dynamic Strike to move to his inside and battled that one the rest of the way to win the $75,000 Canonero II Stakes for 3-year olds at Pimlico Race Course Saturday afternoon.

Cerro, who is owned by Team Valor International, is trained by Rick Mettee and was ridden Alan Garcia. The ownership partnership includes Olympic swimming legend Michael Phelps, a Baltimore native, his longtime coach Bob Bowman and former VISA USA chief executive Carl Pascarella.

Cerro won by a nose, with Dynamic Strike finishing second. The winner covered the 1-1/8^th distance in 1:51.81 and paid $3.20. Dreaming of Jazz was a distant third, 12-3/4 lengths behind the first two.

“We knew on paper this was a closer race than what the odds said,” Mettee said. “We knew it was going to be a tough race and he got the head bob. I think those first two are pretty solid horses.”

“He ran very well,” said Forest Boyce, who was aboard Dynamic Strike. “He runs better when he is in striking distance. I had to move early because the other horse was getting his own way early on. I am very proud of the effort and he is just going to get better and better.”

Cerro is now three-for-eight lifetime and improved his career earnings to $109,125. After breaking his maiden in Italy last summer, the son of Mr. Greeley raced at Gulfstream Park and Keeneland earlier this year under the tutelage of Graham Motion and posted a sixth place finish behind Kentucky Derby winner Orb in the Fountain of Youth (G2) and a fourth place finish in the Lexington Stakes (G3).

This was the first official win as a trainer since 2001 for Mettee, who like Phelps is a Towson High School graduate. Mettee, who spent many years running Godolphin's U.S. division for the Dubai royal family, began his new job at the Fair Hill Training Center on May 1.

“It is nice to get a off to a great start. Stakes wins are hard to come by,” added Mettee, who now has a win and two seconds from three starters this year. “Things are going well. Fair Hill is a wonderful place to train. We have a few nice horses and are going to try to spot them in the right races. I have fond memories of Pimlico. My grandmother lived in Hampden and I used to take the bus here on Saturday’s, which is how I got into racing.”

The Canonero was the last of 25 stakes races carded at Pimlico during the spring meet, which ends a week from today. Three days remain in the stand with live racing also conducted tomorrow and Friday afternoons.

About Pimlico Race Course

Historic Pimlico Race Course, home of the Preakness® Stakes, the middle jewel in horse racing's famed Triple Crown, first opened its doors on October 25, 1870, and is the second oldest racetrack in the United States. Pimlico has played host to racing icons and Baltimoreans have seen the likes of legendary horses such as Man o’ War, Seabiscuit, Secretariat, Affirmed and Cigar thunder down the stretch in thrilling and memorable competition. For more information on Pimlico, visit www.pimlico.com.

Pimlico Race Course is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida and is one of North America's top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world's largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a major producer of televised horse racing programming through its HRTV cable and satellite network and is North America's premier supplier of virtual online horse racing games, as well as a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.