Dean Martini proved to be a shrewd claim for trainer Tom Amoss after upsetting the $500,000 GIII Ohio Derby Saturday at Thistledown, which offered 50 points towards the Sept. 5 GI Kentucky Derby. Away alertly from his rail draw, the 14-1 shot contested the pace heading into the first turn and was a close-up third as the first quarter went in :22.80. Shuffled back a bit on the fence as the half went in :47.22, the bay reasserted on the backstretch, heading pacesetter Lebda (Raison d'Etat). Dean Martini continued strongly into the stretch, rolling clear of his competition, and held off a late charge from South Bend to score. Champion Storm the Court rounded out the trifecta.
Starting his career in California with Peter Miller and owners Rockingham Ranch and David Bernsen, Dean Martini hit the board in three of his four starts, and was transferred to Brad Cox last fall. In the money in his first three races for that barn, he romped by 6 3/4 lengths in a $50,000 maiden claimer at Churchill May 17, where he was claimed by Amoss and Raise the BAR Racing LLC. He finished second in his next start for them in a nine-panel optional claimer in Louisville June 12.
Pedigree Notes:
Dean Martini is the fourth graded winner and eighth black-type winner for his sire Cairo Prince. His dual stakes-winning dam Soundwave is a half-sister to GSW Letgomyecho (Menifee), who is the dam of Grade III-winning 'TDN Rising Star' J Boys Echo (Mineshaft), GISP Echo Town (Speightstown) and GSP Unbridled Outlaw (Unbridled's Song). Soundwave is also responsible for the unraced juvenile filly Sauvecito (Cairo Prince), a yearling filly by Creative Cause and a colt by that stallion born Mar. 12 of this year.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
