Romans in 'transition period' ahead of Belmont Stakes try

With nearly five months out of the year gone, Dale Romans has saddled just 10 winners from 139 starters. But when Everfast rallied for second in the Preakness Stakes, the trainer noticed it “picked everybody’s head up” around the barn.

Ahead of the June 8 Belmont Stakes, Romans said in an interview with The Pressbox’s Gene McLean that he’s looking forward to officially getting past “a bit of a lull.”

“It’s like in major-league sports,” Romans said. “We’re in a transition period. We’re rebuilding. But as long as we’re not the Cleveland Browns, we’ll be fine, because they seem to be stuck in rebuilding. We’ve got a bunch of good, young babies coming up. We’ll be all right.”

RELATED: Hear the full interview with Dale Romans

Romans may have already identified the star of next year’s class, as he threw out the name Dennis’ Moment, a 2-year-old to be campaigned by familiar client Albaugh Family Stables. The $400,000 son of Tiznow is on the work tab, and Romans hopes to be talking about him for the 2020 Kentucky Derby.

As for this crop of Triple Crown runners, Everfast will look to do two better for Romans in the Belmont. The trainer has four third-place finishes in the race during his career.

“He’s one of those horses that’s a plain brown wrapper and does everything right,” Romans told The Pressbox of Everfast, who breezed a half mile in 50.20 seconds on Wednesday at Churchill Downs. “He’s probably not the most talented of his generation, but he has a lot of talent.”

The Calumet Farm runner made a major jump forward in the Preakness, improving off finishes of fifth in the Pat Day Mile (G3), eighth in the Fountain of Youth (G2) and ninth in the Florida Derby (G1). But earlier this season, the son of Take Charge Indy also ran a close second in Gulfstream Park’s Holy Bull (G2).

“When they show it to you once, you know you can get them back there,” Romans said.

Romans is a 15% trainer for his career with 2,008 victories and horses with more than $100 million in earnings. As for the recent drought, he remembered the advice of D. Wayne Lukas relayed one summer at Saratoga.

Think of your career in five-year increments, Lukas said, because if you go day-by-day, “You’ll end up hanging yourself.”

“I know any five-year increment in my career I’m pretty proud of,” added Romans, who also has Promises Fulfilled for the Met Mile (G1) on Belmont Stakes day. “We’ve got a little slump right now, but you’re going to look four years from now and say we’ve had a good five years.”