Romans points King Zachary to Travers, Coach Rocks to Alabama
{{monthName}} {{day}}, {{year}} {{hour12}}:{{minuteTwoDigit}}{{dayPeriod}}
Photo:
Coady Photography
Trainer Dale Romans is targeting both of Saratoga's premiere events for 3-year-olds with King Zachary for the Grade 1, $1.5 million Travers Stakes on Aug. 25 and filly Coach Rocks for the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama on August 18.
Thomas Conway's King Zachary, a son of two-time Horse of the Year and Hall of Famer Curlin, won the Grade 3 Matt Winn June 16 at Churchill and most recently was fourth in the Grade 3 Indiana Derby July 14 at Indiana Grand, both at 1 1/16 miles.
In 2016, Romans sent out Keen Ice to upset Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in the Travers, his lone victory in the Mid-Summer Derby. American Pharoah was trained by Romans' friend, Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, who also trained recently retired Justify to a sweep of the 2018 Triple Crown.
"We had the Travers in the back of our mind when we started breaking him. He's a good horse, really good," Romans said. "I was kind of hoping Baffert would show up and we could repeat history."
Co-owned by Troy, New York native Roddy Valente, Coach Rocks won the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks March 31 and coming off back-to-back runner-up finishes in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico and Grade 3 Delaware Park Oaks, the latter July 7.
"With Roddy, the Alabama was the plan all along," Romans said. "She's here. She just galloped today. She's doing great. Every day's been good. She doesn't have a bad day."
Romans also said a strong effort in Saturday's Grade 3 Amsterdam at Saratoga would land Promises Fulfilled a chance at the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial on the Travers undercard August 25.
"We'd like for him to run well enough to take him there," he said. "I would like to win that race. [Jerkens] was one of my good friends."
Romans is pointing both Seven Trumpets, second in the Grade 3 Dwyer July 7, and Cove Blue to the Jerkens. Cove Blue has gone unraced since winning an optional claiming allowance May 28 at Churchill Downs.
Read More
This is the 17th and final installment of a weekly feature exclusive to Horse Racing Nation tracking the...
Forever Young earned a sparkling 140 Horse Racing Nation speed figure for his victory in Saturday's Breeders' Cup...
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, held Monday at the Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Ky., posted sales of more than...
Owen Almighty , the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby winner who most recently placed third in the Perryville...
A decade after Michelle Payne became the first woman win Australia's most famous race, Jamie Melham has etched herself...