Promises Fulfilled working, but likely to bypass Cigar Mile

This time last month, as trainer Dale Romans considered Promises Fulfilled’s Breeders’ Cup options, he figured going in the Sprint gave his charge a shot at an Eclipse Award, but suggested the 3-year-old colt could be “brilliant” going the Dirt Mile’s distance.

After a fourth-place finish in the Sprint, Promises Fulfilled returned to the work tab for a pair of breezes, most recently going five furlongs in 1:02.80 on Sunday at Churchill Downs.

“I was considering the Cigar Mile," stretching the son of Shackleford to that eight-furlong distance, "but I doubt if we go there,” Romans said Monday. “I’ll probably just back off now and run him next year.”

Aqueduct’s Grade 1, $750,000 Cigar Mile Handicap run Saturday in New York will feature, among others, Mendelssohn and recent Keeneland allowance winner Copper Town. Entries will be taken Wednesday.

Meanwhile, with Churchill Downs’ meet done as of Sunday, a number of strings will relocate South, with Romans traditionally making Gulfstream Park his winter home.

Campaigned by Robert Baron, Promises Fulfilled emerged from the Kentucky Derby a reinvented horse, sprinting to wins in the Amsterdan (G3), H. Allen Jerkens (G1) and Phoenix Stakes (G2) before the Breeders’ Cup. His ability to set hot fractions and stick around is what Romans believes could separate him next year as a miler or again as a sprinter.

In terms of other Romans runners exiting Breeders’ Cup weekend, with eight-place Dirt Mile runner Seven Trumpets targeting Santa Anita’s Grade 1, $300,000 Malibu Stakes on Dec. 26. Romans also saddled come-backing 3-year-old Tiz Mischief, who’s Grade 2-placed, for an allowance win to open Breeders’ Cup Saturday that could have him back in stakes company next.