Romans: Attachment Rate 'should probably try' Ky. Derby
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Photo:
Courtesy of Gulfstream Park
Joe Talamo had only one question as he leaned against the fence at Ellis Park listening to trainer Dale Romans praise his ride to second place in the Ellis Park Derby aboard Attachment Rate and answer questions regarding the colt’s chances of racing in the Kentucky Derby.
“Who’s going to ride him?” Talamo asked with a smile.
Romans confirmed through his flamingo-adorned navy blue mask that it indeed would be Talamo in the saddle should a Derby ride materialize.
“I love it,” Talamo exclaimed. “We got the call, we got the call. That’s all I wanted to hear.” Talamo has appeared in the Kentucky Derby twice, aboard Sidney's Candy (17th place) in 2010 and War Story (16th) in 2015.
As for whether the son of Hard Spun will appear in the Run for the Roses, Romans was noncommittal, but said he’d like to see it happen. Attachment Rate currently is ranked No. 18 on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 35 points, putting him in the field with only one points race remaining.
“That’s the best race he’s run for us so far, I think,” Romans said of the Ellis Park trip. “With that being said, we should probably try the Derby.”
Attachment Rate, owned by Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister, came in second to Art Collector, the heavy favorite and a top Kentucky Derby contender. Talamo praised the winner but said he was pleased with his own trip.
“At the 3/8 pole, I really had a feeling like I was going to win,” Talamo said. “He was running into the bit really well and ran a really good race. Hats off to the winner, he’s a really good horse.”
Romans, who previously had said he was waiting for a clean trip from Attachment Rate, said the Ellis Park race was exactly what he was looking for. He also expects the colt would do well at the Derby's 1 1/4 miles.
“I think he will,” Romans said. “That’ll be the big separation, as it always has been.”
The rescheduled Kentucky Derby will run Sept. 5. The final remaining points race is Saturday’s Pegasus at Monmouth Park, which grants points to the top four finishers on a 20-8-4-2 basis.
“Who’s going to ride him?” Talamo asked with a smile.
Romans confirmed through his flamingo-adorned navy blue mask that it indeed would be Talamo in the saddle should a Derby ride materialize.
“I love it,” Talamo exclaimed. “We got the call, we got the call. That’s all I wanted to hear.” Talamo has appeared in the Kentucky Derby twice, aboard Sidney's Candy (17th place) in 2010 and War Story (16th) in 2015.
As for whether the son of Hard Spun will appear in the Run for the Roses, Romans was noncommittal, but said he’d like to see it happen. Attachment Rate currently is ranked No. 18 on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 35 points, putting him in the field with only one points race remaining.
“That’s the best race he’s run for us so far, I think,” Romans said of the Ellis Park trip. “With that being said, we should probably try the Derby.”
Attachment Rate, owned by Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister, came in second to Art Collector, the heavy favorite and a top Kentucky Derby contender. Talamo praised the winner but said he was pleased with his own trip.
“At the 3/8 pole, I really had a feeling like I was going to win,” Talamo said. “He was running into the bit really well and ran a really good race. Hats off to the winner, he’s a really good horse.”
Romans, who previously had said he was waiting for a clean trip from Attachment Rate, said the Ellis Park race was exactly what he was looking for. He also expects the colt would do well at the Derby's 1 1/4 miles.
“I think he will,” Romans said. “That’ll be the big separation, as it always has been.”
The rescheduled Kentucky Derby will run Sept. 5. The final remaining points race is Saturday’s Pegasus at Monmouth Park, which grants points to the top four finishers on a 20-8-4-2 basis.
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