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Martinez-O’Brien Back to Defend Titles
The dynamic one-two punch of trainer Ralph Martinez and owner Louis O’Brien are back to defend their respective titles at Hoosier Park in 2008. Martinez and O’Brien have dominated their categories for the past five years since their arrival in Indiana full-time in 2003. 
A native of Caseyville, Ill., Martinez starts off the meet as the track’s all-time leading trainer with 228 wins, just seven in front of Gary Patrick. Martinez has also established several records, including most wins in one season (66) and most wins in one race program (4).
“It’s always nice to return to Hoosier Park,” said Martinez. “I really enjoying racing here and it has been fun to see all the new changes the track has experienced with the addition of the casino. Indiana racing has a bright outlook and we are glad to be part of it. We’ll do our best to defend the title.”
Martinez has accumulated 1,561 career wins with earnings in excess of $9.6 million. The 29-year-old followed his family into racing, taking over the stable when his father, Raul, a native of Cuba, retired in the late 1990s. Since stepping into the top spot, the younger Martinez has pulled in training titles from Indiana Downs and Fairmount Park in addition to his five-straight titles at Hoosier Park.
“We are approaching Hoosier Park a little different this season,” said Martinez. “We’ve really cut back on our horses. Louie (O’Brien) had a goal to win the national owner title and when he accomplished that last year, he decided to reduce the number of horses in our stable.”
Although the stable has dropped from 100 to 50 under Martinez’s care, he is focused more on quality in his shed row. Some of the standouts coming into the 14th season of Thoroughbred racing include Raving Rocket. The six-year-old Lil’s Lad gelding is three for four this year and completed the 2007 season with 10 wins in 14 starts.
Another new addition to the Martinez barn is Qsar, a German-bred horse that is categorized as being more competitive on the turf. However, Martinez has high hopes for him this fall, and thinks he will fit into the Hoosier Park racing schedule well. Qsar comes to the meet on a three-race win streak.
“We have backed off our horses in the last month and given them a break,” said Martinez. “We want to come into Hoosier Park with our stock refreshed and ready to go.”
