Busy Summer Ahead for Romans

Though Dale Romans is disappointed that he won't be making his annual trek to the Jersey Shore for the GI Betfair.com Haskell Invitational S. Sunday, the conditioner still has a very busy summer ahead of him thanks to four very talented sophomores.

Dual Grade I winner Brody's Cause (Giant's Causeway) was originally scheduled to face off with the likes of GI Kentucky Derby top three Nyquist (Uncle Mo), Exaggerator (Curlin) and Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the Haskell, but is now being rerouted to the GII West Virginia Derby Aug. 6.

“It was just a management of the horse decision,” Romans told the TDN when reached by phone Thursday afternoon. “He is already a multiple Grade I winner and we believe he already has enough of a resume to be a stallion. The West Virginia Derby is a little bit lighter and it gives us different timing into some other things we want to do with him. It was a hard decision to make because the Haskell is one of my favorite races, but for the horse and in a business sense it was better to take him to the easiest spot I could find.”

Monmouth Park is often thought of as a speed favoring track, but when asked if that played in to his decision to reroute his closer to another race, Romans laughed.

“I am getting really tired of hearing about that speed favoring track after Coil (Point Given) came from dead last and nailed Shackleford (Forestry) on the wire,” the trainer remarked. “I may be different than everyone else in the world, but I still remember it as a closing racetrack from that day. Monmouth Park puts on a great event. The Haskell and the [GI] Preakness, to me at least, are the two most fun events in horse racing. I was second in it twice and I really wish I had somebody to run there this year.”

Romans and the Albaugh Family, who own Brody's Cause, still have a 3-year-old colt running this weekend, however, in Race Me Home (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who will face GI Belmont S. winner Creator (Tapit) in the GII Jim Dandy S. at Saratoga Saturday.

“He's a steadily improving racehorse that does need to increase his resume to be a stallion prospect,” the Kentucky native offered. “He has the pedigree to be one. He is out of one of the greatest mares [MGISW Society Selection (Coronado's Quest)] of all time. He is up here training and I just thought that would be the best spot for him.”

The bay was last seen finishing a game second in Belmont's Easy Goer S. June 11.

“I thought it was a really tough race especially coming off a maiden win,” Romans said. “It was impressive and that is why he is where he is this weekend.”

Romans has two more interesting sophomores who won't be running this weekend in “TDN Rising Star” Cherry Wine (Paddy O'Prado) and MGSW Go Maggie Go (Ghostzapper). Runner-up in the GI Preakness S., Cherry Wine was seventh in the GI Belmont S. and was ninth as the favorite last time in the GII Indiana Derby July 16.

“I think I'm going back to the turf with him,” Romans commented. “He's proven he can run on dirt. I think his father was versatile, but was a superior turf horse. So, I went back and reviewed his form one day and I had forgotten how really good two of his maiden races on the turf were. Maybe it is time to try him back in something like the [GI] Secretariat [S. Aug. 13].”

Mike Tarp homebred Go Maggie Go, winner of the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks and GII Black-Eyed Susan S., most recently checked in fourth behind “TDN Rising Star” Carina Mia (Malibu Moon) in Belmont's GI Acorn S. June 11 and Romans has no plans for the filly's next start.

When asked if the Aug. 20 GI Alabama S. at Saratoga was a possibility, Romans remarked, “I am not very good at ducking, but Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro) was awfully impressive.”