Jonathan Kalman's One in Vermillion, who crossed the finish line first in H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) Saturday after favorite New York Thunder fatally broke down on the lead near the the sixteenths pole at Saratoga Race Course, was shipped out before sunrise Sunday morning for the 20-hour van ride back to Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn.
Trainer Esteban 'Steve' Martinez said he pulled the van carrying his first graded stakes winner out of the upstate New York track at 4:45. a.m. (ET). They had been stabled in Barn 70 on the Oklahoma training track since Aug. 23.
“We wanted to leave early, before the track opened for training. We didn't want to bother anybody,” Martinez said. “It's been a smooth trip. The weather is good. We really enjoyed Saratoga. The people are very nice, and everyone was very good to us.”
One in Vermillion, a California-bred Army Mule colt who was a wire-to-wire winner of stakes at Turf Paradise and Sunland Park over the winter, was outrun in the early stages of the H. Allen Jerkens but was able to make a wide run late, pass the stricken colt, and cross the finish line as the official winner after starting at 19-1 odds.
“We tried to stay close, but it didn't happen. He didn't break the way we wanted, and we know there was a lot of speed in that race. [Jockey] Irad [Ortiz Jr.] did a great job on him. He just waited right there. We were happy with the way he ran,” Martinez said. “We are happy for the horse. I can't believe what happened. That horse was a great horse.”
Martinez said the short-term plan is to remain at Canterbury, where he has a 20-horse stable, until that track closes Sept. 16 and then head to Remington Park, which will host eight stakes September 24, including the Oklahoma Derby (G3) for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles and David M. Vance for 3-year-olds and up sprinting six furlongs.
“So far, that's the plan,” Martinez said. “Maybe they'll let us stay a few more days after Canterbury and it's on to Remington.”
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