Kentucky Derby 2019 Radar: Ellis Park Romans' right path

Dale Romans is fond of saying that if a horse is as good as a trainer believes it to be, it doesn’t matter where that horse breaks its maiden. That may be true across all divisions, but specific to the Kentucky Derby, the Henderson, Ky., track has had little effect on recent runnings.

But there are a pair of variables in play that could change the trend.

First, horsemen like Romans are constantly beating the drum about quality of racing at the “Pea Patch,” which in turn may convince other trainers to keep their runners in Kentucky during the summer, as opposed to shipping to Saratoga. Second, an influx of money generated by historical racing machines at Kentucky Downs boosted purses and led to the creation of new Ellis Park stakes races.

“I think that program has built itself up to where people realize if a 2-year-old comes out of Ellis, you’d better watch him the rest of the year,” Romans said.

That will be the case this Saturday when Romans sends a trio of Ellis Park runners on the 2019 Kentucky Derby trail in Keeneland’s Grade 1, $500,000 Breeders’ Futurity, a race he has won four times, including last year with Free Drop Billy.

Albaugh Family Stables’ Mr. Ankeny, along with Calumet Farm’s Everfast and Moonster, will represent the Romans barn this go-around.

Since the 2013 Kentucky Derby, when Churchill Downs instituted its points system, only four horses that debuted at Ellis Park and five who broke their maiden there have started in the race. That’s from 116 total contenders.

Romans believes times are changing.

“My theory always was, at Ellis Park, the timing’s right to get some of your best horses started,” Romans said. “It seems like they come together during that time period. You can either be at Saratoga running against the heavy heads and the million-dollar yearlings and gutting them to try and win, or you can go to Ellis Park and now run against quality of competition.”

Ahead of Wednesday’s Breeders’ Futurity draw, a bit about the Romans runners:

Mr. Ankeny, a $350,000 yearling purchase, is campaigned by an ownership group that has a penchant for making the Derby. The son of Into Mischief debuted June 28 at Churchill Downs before breaking his maiden Sept. 2 at third asking at Ellis Park.

Moonster, a son of Malibu Moon, was purchased for $80,000 by Calumet. He was fifth on debut Aug. 18 at Ellis Park but relished added distance Sept. 15 at Churchill Downs, where he won at second asking by 2 1/2 lengths.

Everfast, a $47,000 Calumet acquisition, earned a trip straight from his first out win Aug. 12 at Ellis Park to Churchill Downs’ Grade 3, $150,000 Iroquois Stakes, which on Sept. 15 marked the first points-paying Derby prep. The son of Take Charge Indy ran fifth.