Dean Purdom

After burning up the track all last week during the under-tack shows, a colt by first-crop stallion Drain the Clock (hip 132) was the first for his sire to breach the seven-figure mark Tuesday at OBS March, selling to Pedro Lanz for $1.1-million. Lanz was bidding on behalf of the Saudi-based KAS Stable and said the colt would stay in the U.S. and be trained by Brad Cox. "They are athletes. Incredible athletes," Lanz said of the juveniles he has seen by Gainesway's Drain the Clock. When you see them,...

Dean Purdom never lost confidence in his riding ability. He knew he had the skills. What he didn't have were the results. Purdom bounced all over the country, going from track to track until he wore out his welcome and headed to his next stop. The problem? He was trying to do the impossible, find success on the racetrack despite having an addiction to alcohol and cocaine. "I started back in the eighties," Purdom said. "I had a really promising career. I was the leading apprentice one meet at Pimlico....