Dry Martini pointing for Sunshine Millions Classic

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Dry Martini turned 8 last week but there are still signs of life in the old boy.

Dry Martini, runner-up to Quality Road in last year’s Donn Handicap, was winless in 2010 but closed out the year on a good note by rallying from far back to finish third in an overnight stakes at Aqueduct on Nov. 20. Trainer Barclay Tagg will now point Dry Martini, who has earned over $1.3 million in his career, for the Sunshine Millions Classic here Jan. 29.

Dry Martini, whose last victory came in the Grade 2 Suburban in July 2009, worked five furlongs in 1:01.50 here Monday in company with stablemate Plead.

“We’ll try to make life as easy for him as we can but there are really no easy spots for horses that have earned over $1 million,” said Tagg’s assistant Robin Smullen. “He was really flying at the end last time and we’re hoping we’ll get a field in the Classic with some speed in it. He’s 8 now and runs when he feels like it these days which usually isn’t until he gets to the quarter pole.”