Romans Saddles Trio in GP Oaks
Led by 2011 Preakness (G1) winner Shackleford, trainer Dale Romans has had his share of talented 3-year-old males in recent years. In 2010, First Dude ran second in the Preakness and third in the Belmont Stakes (G1).
Multiple Grade 1 winner Dullahan in 2012 and Paddy O’Prado in 2010 both finished third in the first leg of the Triple Crown. Last year, Romans saddled Grade 3 winner Medal Count to a third-place finish in the Belmont.
Though Romans has another solid 3-year-old prospect in Keen Ice, the 2012 Eclipse Award-winning trainer has been blessed this year with several promising sophomore fillies including Birdatthewire, Cristina’s Journey and Sweet Swingin, each making their next start in Saturday’s $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2).
“I’ve had a bunch of good ones, but this year it’s the filly year,” Romans said. “That’s all right. As long as we’ve got good ones, I don’t care what they are. I’ve got a good colt, too. I’m just very fortunate right now to have a slew of good fillies. We’ve got an exciting spring coming up.”
Forum Racing’s Birdatthewire kicked off her 3-year-old year by winning the Forward Gal (G2) Jan. 24 at Gulfstream in her stakes debut. The bay daughter of Belmont and Travers winner Summer Bird returned to be beaten a neck by long shot Ekati’s Phateon in the Davona Dale (G2).
“Her last two races have been unbelievable. She’s plenty strong, feeling good,” Romans said. “She can be a one-run sprinter or she can run all day. She’ll do whatever we ask her to do. She’s still developing and coming into her own.”
GSN Racing’s Cristina’s Journey was battle-tested at 2, winning the Pocahontas (G2) in her second lifetime start before finishing off the board in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and Golden Rod (G2). The Oaks will be her first race since Nov. 29.
“We just gave her a freshening,” Romans said. “She had a good 2-year-old year. She’s a Grade 2 winner. She looks good and is ready to run.”
Sweet Swingin is making her fourth start of the Championship Meet. She broke her maiden Jan. 10, was second as the favorite to Dogwood Trail in a Feb. 8 optional claiming allowance, and was a distant but decisive runner-up to Devine Aida in the Herecomesthebride 20 days later, a race originally carded for the turf.
$500,000 Late Pick, $300,000 Pick 5 Florida Derby Day
Florida Derby Day will offer a plethora of wagering options, including guaranteed pools in the Late Pick 4 and Pick 5.
The all graded stakes Late Pick 4, which includes the Besilu Stables Florida Derby (G1), Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), Orchid (G3) and Pan American (G3), will have a guaranteed pool of $500,000 while the all graded stakes Pick 5, which kicks off with the Honey Fox (G2), will have a guaranteed pool of $300,000.
Gulfstream will also offer a Dubai World Cup-Florida Derby double with a $1 minimum. The Dubai World Cup features Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness (G1) winner California Chrome.
Gulfstream will opens Silks simulcast room at 8 a.m. Saturday so fans can watch and wager on the Dubai World Cup program. Gulfstream will offer advance wagering on Saturday's entire program Friday beginning at noon.
Source: Gulfstream Park