Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Shared Sense, Dean Martini top diverse group in derby
Shared Sense and Dean Martini bring the best credentials into the Grade 3, $200,000 Oklahoma Derby on Sunday – a race that has brought a diverse mix of horses to Remington Park.
The field of nine includes Rowdy Yates, a four-time stakes winner returning to his home state after running fourth in the Saudi Arabia Derby; Avant Garde, who makes his stakes debut after winning his last four races at Gulfstream Park; Salow, an undefeated colt who for the first time is testing dirt; and Mo Mosa, who invades off a sharp allowance win at Ellis Park.
The Oklahoma Derby anchors an 11-race card that features eight stakes worth a cumulative $640,000. The program starts at 3 p.m. Central and includes the Grade 3, $100,000 Remington Park Oaks.
Shared Sense could go favored on the strength of his recent form. He was second to Art Collector in a conditioned allowance June 13 at Churchill Downs. Art Collector, now probable for the Preakness, won the Grade 2 Blue Grass at Keeneland in his next start. Shared Sense, meanwhile, returned in his next out to capture the Grade 3 Indiana Derby. He closed for a three-length victory under Florent Geroux on July 8 in his first start at the 1 1/8-mile distance he will also run over Sunday.
“It was a big race,” said Brad Cox, who trains Shared Sense for Godolphin. “Florent put him in a good position, was able to weave through some traffic and get out. We’ve always thought he was a horse that would like a mile and an eighth even more, and obviously, he liked it that day. It was a big effort from him.”
Shared Sense has made one start since, closing for fifth in the Ellis Park Derby won by Art Collector on Aug. 9.
“His Ellis Park race, he drew the 12 hole and he just really didn’t get involved early enough,” Cox said. “He ran on – just too little too late. We talked it over with the Godolphin team and decided to point for the Oklahoma Derby as opposed to taking a shot in the Kentucky Derby.”
Shared Sense shows a strong trio of five-eighths moves for the Oklahoma Derby. He will break from post 5 under Remington-based rider Richard Eramia. Cox looks for an off-the-pace bid from Shared Sense.
“That kind of seems to be his thing, somewhat of a closer,” he said. “He doesn’t have a lot of early speed.”
Dean Martini used his natural speed to win the Grade 3 Ohio Derby over 1 1/8 miles on June 27. He was making his second start for trainer Tom Amoss, who said the performance drove home the importance of having the horse up in his races. Dean Martini will break from post 9 under David Cabrera.
“His ability to be prominent early is important in the outcome of a race, and we’re going to use that strategy on Sunday evening,” Amoss said. “I think the outside post is a good post for him because there’s a hodgepodge of horses in here and I don’t know what the strategy is going to be of any of those others – particularly those coming off sprints. We have the ability to kind of be on the outside looking in and watch the race unfold while we’re implementing our strategy, which is to be tactically close.”
Dean Martini, like Shared Sense, exits the Ellis Park Derby. He finished sixth and since then has been working sharply for the Oklahoma Derby.
“He’s a derby winner in the fact that he won the Ohio Derby, and although he disappointed in his race at Ellis Park, in the Ellis Park Derby, we certainly felt he deserved another chance,” Amoss said.
Dean Martini already has accomplished more than expected, as he was a $50,000 claim off a 6 3/4-length maiden win May 17 at Churchill. He’s owned by Raise the BAR Racing and David A. Bernsen.
“We just thought he was a horse that was worthwhile,” Amoss said. “He was an improving horse, and I think we just caught him at the right time.”
Amoss is looking for his second Oklahoma Derby win behind Lone Sailor, who eked out a nose victory in a threeway photo in 2018.
“I remember it very well,” Amoss said. “I was watching with my wife on TV here at the house and I turned to her when they crossed the wire and I said, ‘We got beat,’ and she said, ‘I don’t think so.’ ”
Rowdy Yates enters off a fourth-place finish in the Ellis Park Derby and is returning to a track over which he is a two-time stakes winner. Stewart Elliott has the mount for L and N Racing and trainer Steve Asmussen.