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.