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Nothing better than a Dry Martini in Cornhusker George and Carol Nyren's DRY MARTINI (Slew Gin Fizz) powered his way to a decisive 1 3/4-length victory in Saturday night's $300,000 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Breeders' Cup H. (G2), earning his second straight graded stakes win while making his first start under the tutelage of Barclay Tagg. The four-year-old gelding provided jockey Elvis Trujillo with his second straight Cornhusker, following a win aboard Siphon City (Siphon [Brz]) last year, and Dry Martini has now earned $439,495 from a 14-6-3-2 line. He covered 1 1/8 miles over the fast track in 1:48 2/5. Jonesboro (Sefapiano) sprinted to the fore after the break and quickly opened an uncontested advantage through the first quarter-mile in :23 4/5, with Dry Martini reserved in seventh after getting away cleanly from post 8. Jonesboro continued to lead the way, setting splits in :48 2/5 and 1:12 2/5 before surrendering to Silent Pleasure (Real Quiet), who had been tracking the pace in second and surged to the front approaching the stretch. Dry Martini began to pass rivals on the backstretch, advanced between foes on the far turn, and entered the stretch drive full of steam, catching and blowing past Silent Pleasure in the final sixteenth of a mile. A slight 5-2 second choice in the field of nine, Dry Martini returned $7.20, $3.80 and $2.60. Silent Pleasure was easily best of the rest at 9-2, paying $4.80 and $3 after finishing 1 1/4 lengths better than 5-2 favorite Patriot Act (A.P. Indy), who offered a decent rally for third and gave back $2.60. The exotics totaled $40.20 (exacta) and $105 (9-3-5 trifecta). Jonesboro held for fourth at 5-1 and was followed by Wayzata Bay (Roar), Barbican (A.P. Indy), More Than Regal (More Than Ready), Smokeyjonessutton (You and I) and Deputy Glitters (Deputy Commander). Alpha Tejano (Tejano Run) was withdrawn. Bred in Florida by Carol and Marty Hershe, Dry Martini broke his maiden less than 12 months ago, winning a maiden special weight event at Calder. He's now captured his last three starts, starting the run with an 8 3/4-length allowance/optional claiming score at Gulfstream Park prior to a one-length triumph in the Memorial H. (G3) at Calder. Based previously with conditioner Harry Benson, Dry Martini also placed in the Fred W. Hooper H. (G3) and Gizmo's Fortune S. last year. The gray is out of the Criminal Type mare Jon's Kimberly, who is also the dam of the unraced juvenile Red Hot Cabaret (Flame Thrower) and a 2007 colt by Repent.
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