Dry Martini Returns in John's Call
Friday’s $70,000 John’s Call Stakes at 1 5/16th miles on the turf features the return of multiple graded stakes winner Dry Martini in a race which also drew the top three finishers from the 2009 edition.
Dry Martini, who won last year’s Grade 2 Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park, has not raced since his second-place finish to Quality Road in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park earlier this year.
Edgar Prado will get the mount on Dry Martini, who will start from post position No. 5 as he returns to the turf, where he finished second to Formal Decree in the Strawberry Burrah at Belmont in October, 2008.
In last year’s John’s Call, Solitaire made a strong run in the stretch to finish ahead of Southwest by three-quarters of a length, and trainer H. James Bond is hoping for a repeat of that performance.
“I think he has matured more,” said Bond of Solitaire. “He’s more seasoned, and more settled. We’re keeping our fingers crossed.”
Solitaire drew post position 3 while Silver Mountain, who nosed out pacesetter Mission Approved for the third-place spot, drew post 12.
Runner-up Southwest is one of four horses on the also-eligible list, along with Rockin’ Joe, Thabazimbi, and Romp. Rounding out the field are Jade’s Revenge, Attempted Humor, Coolcullen Times, Lime Rickey, Gangbuster, Leading On, and Perfect Shower.