Promises Fulfilled owner basks in the glow of Saratoga stakes win

For thoroughbred owner and Voorheesville, N.Y., resident Bob Baron, Saturday's Grade 3 Amsterdam Stakes fulfilled a dream. 

Baron's Promises Fulfilled tracked a fast pace and took over at the top of the stretch to win the 6 ½-furlong Amsterdam by 3 ¼ lengths and give the owner his first Saratoga stakes victory. 

"When you first get into horse racing and come to Saratoga you dream of having a horse win here," said Baron, who was accompanied on Saturday by his wife, brother, sister, and two of his children. "I've had winners, but winning a stakes takes you to a whole other level. It was a lot of fun. We did our yelling and cheering, all of the stuff you are supposed to do. We went a little overboard, but we loved it."

Baron, a native of Mohawk, N.Y., played quarterback at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, earning All-America honors his senior season and graduating with a degree in civil engineering. He was inducted into RPI's athletics hall of fame in 1976. Baron currently owns construction and automobile dealership companies in the Albany area.

"Three things: It's good to win a stakes, no matter what. It's really good to win for a good friend. And it's even better to win for a good friend in his backyard," said trainer Dale Romans. "Bob checks all those boxes. Only somebody who grows up here can realize how special it is to win a race here. I think it really does makes a difference. They grow up always hearing about Saratoga, knowing how special the place is, how special it is to the Capital Region. To come here and win a race is big, and to win a stakes is even bigger."

Promises Fulfilled clinched a spot in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby with a gate-to-wire victory the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth in February at Gulfstream Park. He faded to ninth the Grade 1 Florida Derby in April and 15th in the Kentucky Derby in May, and Romans and Baron subsequently decided to focus on sprints with Promises Fulfilled. The colt entered the Amsterdam off a third in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens on June 9 at Belmont Park.

"We went to the Derby and after that Dale said, 'Let's cut back for the Woody Stephens at seven furlongs,'" said Baron. "He ran well in there. There were crazy fractions, but he still finished. He got some time off and put some weight on, and he looks good. It's been a great journey. I'm happy for the horse because he's such a neat horse. I think he got a little respect yesterday."

Romans said Promises Fulfilled will now target the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial, a seven-furlong race for 3-year-olds on August 25, Travers Day.

"The biggest problem we've had with him is keeping weight on him," said Romans, who has now won at least one race at Saratoga for 26 consecutive years. "He's a natural athlete. He came out of the race perfect, and we're pointing for the Allen Jerkens."

Promises Fulfilled could give Baron and his wife Deborah a belated wedding anniversary gift with a victory in the H. Allen Jerkens. The couple will celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary August 18. Baron named the colt PromisesFulfilled last August in commemoration of their 44th anniversary.

"He proved he had another dimension, and I think he'll do well going seven furlongs, but I think he'll be able to go longer now that he can rate," said Baron. "It will be interesting where we can go with them. Dale will make the calls and we'll go from there."

On the Sunday worktab for Romans was Coach Rocks, winner of the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks. Coach Rocks, second in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan and Grade 3 Delaware Oaks in her past two starts, breezed five furlongs on the main track in 1:00 2/5 under Tammy Fox as she trains for her upcoming engagement in the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama on August 18.

"She looked good," said Romans. "I think she's ready to roll."