Romans Has Double Vision in Commonwealth

Trainer Dale Romans entered Thursday with a share of the lead in the trainer’s standings and he will look to continue his success at the Fall Meet when he saddles Finnegans Wake and Quick Wit in Saturday night’s Commonwealth Turf (GIII).

Donegal Racing’s Finnegans Wake scored a victory over the Matt Winn Turf Course in June and went on to be third in the Virginia Derby (GIII) and second in the Secretariat (GI). In his most recent start, and first race against older horses, Finnegans Wake ran fourth behind Point of Entry in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (GI) at Belmont.

“It’s good that he’s getting away from those older horses,” trainer Dale Romans said. “Grade Is against older horses are pretty tough races, but I think he held his own. That was over a (yielding) racetrack and I don’t think that’s his best surface. He’s also a victim of the pace and needs some pace in front of him. He should get more pace (in the Commonwealth) than he did going 1 ½ miles (in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic).”

Finnegans Wake will break from post 13 under Robby Albarado. 

Romans’ other entrant is Michael Bruder’s Quick Wit, winner of the off-the-turf National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame (GII) at Saratoga in August. A 3-year-old dark bay or brown son of Sharp Humor, Quick Wit enters the Commonwealth following a ninth-place finish in the Hawthorne Derby (GIII) over a “soft” grass course.

“I think you can draw a line through that race,” Romans said. “He’s been doing really well since that race and he had a nice work here the other day (five furlongs on the main track in 1:02.80).”

Quick Wit will break from post eight under Victor Lebron.