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Dry Martini stirs up Memorial Day score
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Dry Martini earned his first stakes win on Memorial Day
(Jim Lisa Photos) |
Carol & George Nyren's DRY MARTINI (Slew Gin Fizz) was content to run in
midpack under jockey Elvis Trujillo in Monday's $100,000
Memorial Day H. (G3) at Calder as Rexson's Rose (Suave Prospect) set a
contested pace of :24 3/5, :49 1/5 1:13 1/5 and 1:39 2/5. Reaching the second
turn, the Harry Benson-trained four-year-old circled his rivals and gutted out a
length victory as the 4-5 favorite, finishing 1 1/16 miles on the fast dirt in
1:46 2/5.
"He's been a good horse from the beginning since (breeder) Marty Hershe sent
him to me," Benson said. "(Owners) Carol and George (Nyren) bought him privately
early in his three-year-old year before he ever started. He's actually had some
bad luck in a couple races that he might have won with better trips. We were
going to run him in the (March 31) Skip Away (G3), but he came up with a little
ankle problem, so we had to wait. He ran a big race today and right now I'd say
we'll probably take him to Iowa for his next start (in the Cornhusker Breeders'
Cup [G2] on June 20)."
Dry Martini returned $3.60, $2.80 and $2.40 while keying the $15.60 exacta,
$56 trifecta and $272.20 superfecta (3-7-6-2). Rehoboth (Wagon Limit) rallied
from near the rear, just getting his nose in front of Too Many Toyz (Northern
Afleet) to pay $3.80 and $3 at 9-2. Too Many Toyz pressed the pace in third for
much of the race, moved up to be just a head back of the leader in the stretch,
and was just overtaken at the line while a clear third. Show gave back $3.20 at
7-1. Cheiron (Maria's Mon) followed in fourth by 1 1/4 lengths, with Big Lover
(Ecton Park), Rexson's Rose, Electric Light (Silver Ghost) and Siphon City
(Siphon [Brz]) rounding out the order of finish.
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Dry Martini broke his maiden by 9 3/4 lengths last July over this track, then
proceeded to take his next two starts, both allowances, by a combined 13 1/4
lengths. The dark bay had his win streak broken when trying Calder's turf, but
quickly rebounded to finish second in his stakes debut, the Gizmo's Fortune S.
Running third in the Fred W. Hooper H. (G3) next out, Dry Martini was just 1 1/2
lengths back in fourth in the Sunshine Millions Classic and captured an
allowance/optional claiming test prior to this one by 8 3/4 lengths. The
gelding's record now reads 13-5-3-2 and he's earned $259,495.
Bred in Florida by Carol & Marty Hershe, Dry Martini is the first stakes
winner out of the Criminal Type mare Jon's Kimberly, who has also produced an
unraced juvenile filly named Red Hot Caberet (Flame Thrower) and an unnamed 2007
colt by Repent. This is the same family as 1984 Jerome H. (G1) hero Is Your
Pleasure (Accipiter) and 2000 Hollywood Starlet S. (G1) victress I Believe In
You (Pleasant Tap).
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