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Dry Martini stirs up Memorial Day score

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.

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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