Martillo wins another mile

Martillo ended a string of beaten local favorites at Baden-Baden on Tuesday when he landed the sixth Group 2 mile of his career in the $110,000 Oettingen-Rennen.

Germany's prestigious late-summer meeting had gotten off to a bad start for local favorites on Saturday when the 1-2 Soldier Hollow was beaten by the 20-1 filly Dalicia in the Group 3, 1 1/4-mile Spreti-Rennen. On Sunday, the German sprint champ and 3-2 favorite, Lucky Strike, equaled the six-furlong course record of 1:07.94 in the Group 2 Goldene Peitsche, only to lose the race in the stewards' room to 6-1 British invader Striking Ambition.

Martillo righted the form in the Oettingen with a convincing two-length triumph over Near Dock, as British raider and last year's German 2000 Guineas winner, Brunel, faded to third, a neck farther back. Ridden by Terence Hellier and sent off as the 1.90-1 choice, Martillo covered the mile in 1:37.62 on good ground.

Trained by Ralf Suerland, he will likely next start in either the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Newmarket on Sept. 24 or the Group 2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein at Longchamp on Oct. 1.