Romans ready for an encore after career-best 2011

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. − There were years in which he won more races, and one year in which he captured more graded stakes. But as far as Dale Romans is concerned, 2011 was the best of his 26-year training career.

Romans, 45, won a personal-best six Grade 1 races with five horses in 2011. He won his first classic, the Preakness, with Shackleford, and his second Breeders Cup race when Court Vision upset the Mile at 64-1. Two of his horses, Shackleford and two-time Grade 1 winner Sassy Image, were finalists for Eclipse Awards.

Best year, by far, I ever had, said Romans, whose stable earned a personal-best $7.6 million from 87 wins, 106 seconds, and 78 thirds out of 603 starters. Its going to be hard to top.

But that doesnt mean Romans isnt going to try. At first glance, it would seem as if Romans − whose stable comprises 100 horses among operations in Florida, Kentucky, and New York − has the ammunition to have another terrific year in 2012.

Coming off a year in which he won $1.98 million despite going 2 for 10, Shackleford enters 2012 as the anchor to the stable. He is set to kick off his 4-year-old campaign in Saturdays Grade 1, $400,000 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park.
It was a head loss in the Florida Derby at odds of 68-1 to Dialed In that propelled Shackleford down the Triple Crown trail. After finishing fourth in the Kentucky Derby, he won the Preakness and ran fifth in the Belmont Stakes.

Though he may not have won often in 2011, Shackleford made all the big dances, running in seven Grade 1 races. Properly spotted, Shackleford could be poised to have another big year.

I think he can be a really good miler, but I think he can go further than that, Romans said. Theres bigger money going further. He did win at a mile and three-sixteenths. He ran well at a mile and an eighth here last year.

Romans said how Shackleford fares in the Donn could determine how ambitious Romans and his owners want to get. Shackleford is expected to face the likes of Belmont winner Ruler On Ice, Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Flat Out, multiple stakes winner Redeemed, and undefeated Trickmeister. A big performance could propel him to the $10 million Dubai World Cup next month.

Were going to see how he handles himself in the Donn and then go from there, Romans said. Its a long year. A lot of options.

Romans didnt pick up Court Vision until late August, and two starts later Court Vision upset the Breeders Cup Mile at Churchill Downs. Court Vision was retired after the win, but Romans may already have a replacement in Little Mike, who has come back from a condylar fracture to win two races this winter at Gulfstream, including the Sunshine Millions Turf on Jan. 28.

While it is true Little Mike has enjoyed his most success at Gulfstream, Romans said he believes Little Mike can be a force in the turf division if he can stay sound the entire year.

Hes the key to the stable this year, Romans said. I think he could be at least the best turf miler in the country when its all said and done.

With the Breeders Cup being held at Santa Anita in November, Little Mike could get a chance to get a race over the turf course if he starts next in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita on March 3. His other option is the Grade 3, $150,000 Canadian Turf at Gulfstream the same day.

A big key to last years stable success was Sassy Image, who won two Grade 1 stakes for filly and mare sprinters before suffering an injury during the running of the Ballerina at Saratoga. Sassy Image, owned by Dales brother Jerry, was put through the auction ring last November but was bought back by Romans for $1.5 million. She was recently put back in training at Palm Meadows with the goal of making it to the Humana Distaff − a race she won last year − at Churchill Downs on Derby Day.

We can always sell her later, Dale Romans said. Weve got more to do. With my brother owning her, shes been a lot of fun for us all. Hopefully, she can come back and have another big year.

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Of course, Romans is eager to get back to the Kentucky Derby, a race in which he finished third in 2010 with Paddy OPrado and fourth last year with Shackleford.

Though he lost Remsen Stakes winner OPrado Again to injury, Romans still has several 3-year-olds he believes can get him back on the Triple Crown trail.

Dullahan won the Grade 1 Breeders Futurity at Keeneland last fall as a maiden and came back to run fourth in the Breeders Cup Juvenile over the Churchill Downs dirt main track. After trailing the field of 13 early, Dullahan rallied and was beaten six lengths by Hansen.

Romans said Dullahan would probably have a two-race campaign before the Derby, beginning with the Palm Beach Stakes on turf March 11 and the Blue Grass over Keenelands synthetic surface.

If he gets to the Derby that way, Dullahan will enter the race having never won on dirt. Romans said he doesnt view that as a big issue.

I think his Breeders Cup race is better than it looks, Romans said. He really got bumped around going into the first turn, was pushed back to last, and made up a lot of ground. He showed he can overcome. He didnt throw in the towel, he kept coming.

Romans said the turf-synthetic route was the same one he used for Paddy OPrado before the colt finished third in the 2010 Derby.

Romans has other 3-year-olds he will get a line on over the next couple of months.

Quick Wit, a son of Sharp Humor, won a 7 1/2-furlong maiden race at Gulfstream on Jan. 28, and Romans said he would wheel him back in Saturdays Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream. Romans purchased him privately for owner Michael Bruder following a fifth-place finish in his debut at Aqueduct.

I didnt pay a lot of money for him, and hes been a pleasant surprise, Romans said. Hes gotten better in his training, and I thought both of his races for us have been good.

Romans is still high on Cozzetti, a son of Cozzene whose only win came in an off-the-turf maiden race at Churchill. He has the pedigree and the action of a turf horse, but following a five-furlong work in 58.80 seconds on dirt Feb. 4, Romans plans to give him another try on the dirt soon.

I think theres more to him than weve seen, Romans said. Ive always thought he was a good horse. One of these days I think well see him have a breakthrough race.

News Pending, a son of Harlans Holiday, won a maiden turf race and finished second in an allowance on turf this meet at Gulfstream. He is another who could soon see the dirt.

Romans believes his clients have purchased better yearlings than in past years. One of those clients is Jerry Crawford, who races under the name Donegal Racing and who owns Dullahan and OPrado Again.

Crawford said he has heard good early reports on 2-year-olds by Giants Causeway − including one who is a half-brother to Pulpit − Street Sense, Tiznow, and English Channel.

Crawford has been a Romans client for a decade and calls him one of the smartest guys Ive ever known in the business.

His evolution is not dissimilar to ours, Crawford said. He was a claiming trainer when we started working with him. Now hes one of the perennial leading trainers. Hes evolved into what Id call a big-horse trainer. Hes constantly trying to figure out news ways to get a horses peak performance. Hes been getting the job done where many horsemen dont get the job done.