Evita Argentina Wins Moccasin; Dry Martini Wins Stuyvesant

by Patricia Woo | Nov 20 2008

With the retirement of many dependable superstar horses this year, horse bettors have begun to scour the stables for the next big thing. Evita Argentina is one of those horses that bettors should keep an eye on in 2009. Though finishing ninth behind Stardom Bound in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies event this October, she has the distinction of having beaten the 2-year-old champion in the $150,000 Gr. 3 Sorrento Stakes earlier this year in August at Del Mar. And Evita Argentina capped off her 2008 campaign with a come-from-behind win in the $100,000 Moccasin Stakes on Sunday, Nov. 16 at Hollywood Park.

Under jockey Tyler Baze, Evita Argentina trailed the pack for much of the seven-furlong race. In the homestretch, she blazed to the lead, passing favorite Mi Chiamano Mimi to win by 1 1/2 lengths. The combination of Baze and Evita Argentina has been lethal for the competition: They have yet to lose as a jockey/mount duo.

"Every time I've ridden [Evita Argentina], she's given me 100 percent," Baze said after the race. "She's straightforward and gives you what she's got. They were going fast and this filly was cool as a cucumber. She's special to me and I really love her. She's just awesome."

Mi Chiamano Mimi finished second and Palacio de Amor completed the trifecta. Evita Argentina's winning time was 1:21.50.

Also winning in come-from-behind style this past weekend was Dry Martini, ridden by Channing Hill, overcaming a sloppy track to win the $100,000 Gr. 3 Stuyvesant Handicap on Saturday, Nov. 15, at Aqueduct in New York.

Temporary Saint took the early lead in the 1 1/8 mile race with Brilliant Son in close pursuit; Stud Muffin and Dry Martini trailed the field. Stud Muffin took over the lead at the turn but faltered, giving way to Dry Martini, whose powerful closing kick sealed the victory. Stud Muffin held on for second, while Temporary Saint finished third.

2008 has been a difficult year for Dry Martini, and the Stuyvesant Handicap win was a welcome change of pace after a slew of losses – most notably a fifth-place finish in the $100,000 Gr. 3 Knickerbocker Handicap in October. In comparison, 2007 saw the then-4-year-old win three in a row: an allowance claming race, the $100,000 Gr. 3 Memorial Day Handicap and the $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap.

Trainer William Turner Jr. is confident that Dry Martini is back on the winning track: "This horse has been coming along steadily. The race set up just as we had hoped. He had to make up ground, quite a bit of ground, but the jockey was easing up on him at the wire."

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