Dean Martini gives connections a pocketful of drinking money by winning the Ohio Derby

Drinks Saturday night are on the connections of Dean Martini.

Trainer Tom Amoss and Raise the Bar Racing claimed the gelding for $50,000 May 17 at Churchill Downs, and Saturday at Thistledown he won the $500,000 Ohio Derby.

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Dean Martini held on by three-quarters of a length in this Grade 3, 1 1/8-mile dirt race under an enterprising ride from jockey Ricardo Mejias. Dean Martini broke on top from post 1 but was displaced on the lead before the first turn, settling in third – but only briefly. Partway down the Thistledown backstretch, Mejias asked Dean Martini for run, and they scooted through along the rail, assumed command, and lasted gamely as South Bend made a sustained bid.

“He made a move that I don’t think you’d call a traditional move,” Amoss said. “At the time, frankly, I was like, ‘Are you kidding me?’”

Amoss shipped Dean Martini from Churchill into the Thistledown barn of trainer Tony Rini.

“I knew Tony when he was a kid riding at Fair Grounds,” Amoss said. “I said, ‘Tony, I don’t have a rider. Who do I use?’ He didn’t hesitate and said to use this kid. I knew nothing about him, but I went with what Tony gave me, and I’m glad I stayed local.”

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Dean Martini clocked 1:51.60 over a fast track and paid $31.20 to win.

Dean Martini, a son of Cairo Prince and the Friends Lake mare Soundwave, started his career with trainer Peter Miller before being transferred to trainer Brad Cox. He ran a couple decent races at Oaklawn under maiden special weight conditions before being dropped in for the $50,000 that elicited the claim.

“He’s owned by some local people here in Louisville who aren’t major investors in Thoroughbreds,” Amoss said. “I’m thrilled for them. He had good figures and ran a top the day we claimed him. I was excited about him.”

Dean Martini finished second in a Churchill Downs allowance race to the talented Arkansas-bred Man In a Can the first time he ran out of the Amoss barn. His connections took a shot in the Ohio Derby, which lacked a standout and proved to be open to a new face in the 3-year-old stakes ranks.

It’s not like the leader, Rowdy Yates, was crawling when Mejias chose his early move: The opening quarter mile went in a fast 22.80 second, the half-mile, by which point Dean Martini had taken over, in a swift 47.22. South Bend, going turf to dirt for trainer Stan Hough and Sagamore Farm, rallied resolutely but came up just short. He finished two lengths in front of 2019 2-year-old champion Storm the Court, the favorite at 2.40-1. Rowdy Yates held on for fourth.