It wasn’t the most star-studded field in Santa Anita Handicap history, one that was devoid of any Grade I winners, but Express Train and Warrant made the 85th edition of the nation’s first $100,000 race one to remember Saturday by staging an epic stretch duel.

Express Train, with Hall of Famer Victor Espinoza aboard, prevailed by a head, giving trainer John Shirreffs his first Big ‘Cap victory after a heart-breaking loss last year when Express Train lost by a half length to Idol.

A 5-year-old son of Union Rags, Express Train was the even-money favorite Saturday on the strength of victories in the opening-day San Antonio Stakes and last month’s San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita, and he ran every bit the part of a champion.

Express Train and Warrant, the midwest shipper from the Brad Cox stable, battled the length of the stretch after the winner took a narrow lead over the 4-year-old son of Constitution on the turn for home. They were never separated by more than a head while they battled down the lane. It didn’t hold the same historical significance as Affirmed-Alydar in the 1978 Belmont, but that doesn’t mean it was any less thrilling.

“As soon as he’s in front, he knows he’s got it,” said Espinoza, who scored his third Big ‘Cap victory after wins aboard Accelerate (2018) and Southern Image (2004). “He just gave me a little bit of a hard time at the end to get me excited and pump up my muscles. I thought it was an exciting race. He is a powerful horse and he needs to find a rhythm.”

Espinoza and Express Train were three-wide much of the way, but that didn’t concern the veteran rider.

“It doesn’t matter how wide I go on the turns as long as he is comfortable enough to stretch his legs and do this thing,” he said.

For Shirreffs, who trained the great Zenyatta and is up for election this year to the sport’s Hall of Fame, the victory was poetic justice for a horse that had come up empty in five tries at a Grade I victory.

“It feels great,” the 76-year-old Shirreffs said. “You dream about winning the Santa Anita Handicap, and to actually have it happen and with a horse like Express Train who has done everything (right) along the way … he participated in all the big races we had on the West Coast and he’s been there and shown up. To have him win the Santa Anita Handicap, it’s just thrilling.”

Spielberg and American Theorem raced as a tandem up front through an opening quarter of 23 seconds before the latter assumed control with a half mile in a rapid 45.97 and 6 furlongs in 1:11.39.

Meanwhile, Warrant and jockey Flavien Prat bided their time within striking distance up the backstretch, with Express Train right behind. As the field reached the far turn, the 1-2 finishers took command and pulled away from the other five runners.

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Stilleto Boy, who had been running against the likes of Life Is Good, Knicks Go, Flightline and Medina Spirit, was no match for the top two, finishing nine lengths behind Warrant in third as the 2-1 second betting choice.

“Victor really gets along with Express Train,” Shirreffs said. “It was a Hall of Fame ride because Johnny Velazquez (aboard Stilleto Boy) wasn’t going anywhere and (Warrant) just kept kicking in and digging in and I thought I got away from him and he came back on. It was a great ride by both (Espinoza and Prat).”

For owner Lee Searing, the victory was a dream come true.

“I’ve been coming to Santa Anita since 1956 at 8 years old,” he said. “I attended 25 straight Santa Anita Handicaps and they were the highlights of my years as a young boy. The more he ran the more he gave.”

The victory was Express Train’s seventh in 17 starts and made him a millionaire. He’s now banked $1,325,800 after picking up the winner’s share of $390,000 from the $650,000 purse.

“I always look forward to a chance to win this race,” Espinoza said. “This year was a little more special for John. I really wanted to get a win for him after so many years.”