Amoss won't push Dean Martini into Kentucky Derby

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Tom Amoss had a lot on his plate last weekend. Staying put in Louisville, the veteran trainer won the Ohio Derby at Thistledown with Dean Martini; sent Lone Sailor into retirement; started thinking about one-turn races again with Serengeti Empress after the filly faded to fourth in the Fleur de Lis; and was encouraged by a runner-up comeback effort by Risky Mandate.

Amoss said he is unlikely to push toward the Kentucky Derby with Dean Martini, who is not a Triple Crown nominee. While the deadline for late nominees has long passed, a horse still can be supplemented to the Derby for a $45,000 fee, although Amoss said, “There’ll be lots of chances in a lot of different races anyway” for Dean Martini.

:: Want to get your Past Performances for free? Click to learn more.

Lone Sailor, a 5-year-old horse who earned nearly $1.3 million for GMB Racing, finished fourth in a June 7 allowance at Churchill in his last of 27 career starts.

“The time had come,” Amoss said. “He’s a Grade 3 winner retiring sound. Plans are still in the works.”

Serengeti Empress “went too fast early” in the Fleur de Lis, said Amoss, adding a seven-furlong race such as the Aug. 8 Ballerina at Saratoga could be a plausible option. Last year, Serengeti Empress was beaten just a half-length by the eventual female sprint champion, Covfefe, in the seven-furlong Test at Saratoga.

Serengeti Empress probably will be part of a Saratoga string of 12 to 15 for Amoss, one that will include Risky Mandate, a 4-year-old filly who returned from a 10-month layoff by finishing second in a second-level allowance sprint Sunday at Churchill.

“I think there are big things in her future,” he said.

◗ Miguel Mena could hit the 2,000-win milestone on one of the first days of the Ellis Park meet, as Tom’s d’Etat gave Mena his 1,998th win. Mena had one mount Wednesday at Indiana Grand, then six Thursday, and seven Friday at Ellis.

◗ Paris Lights earned an 85 Beyer Speed Figure in a 3 1/4-length victory in a Saturday allowance at Churchill and could be headed to a points qualifier for the Sept. 4 Kentucky Oaks for her next start. The Curlin filly is now 2 for 3 for WinStar Stablemates Racing and trainer Bill Mott.

◗ Gabriel Saez was not allowed to ride runner-up By My Standards in the Foster after being rebuffed Friday by an Indiana judge while seeking a temporary stay of a 30-day suspension stemming from his role in a June 17 spill at Indiana Grand.