Admire, Come On Gerry top Romans' hopefuls for Derby

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – At this time last year, Dale Romans was trying to sort out a half-dozen of his 3-year-olds as he looked down the Kentucky Derby trail. He would wind up with a couple of distant also-rans in the rain-soaked race that catapulted Justify to Triple Crown glory, and now Romans is back, hoping for better results.

Even though Romans has five of the 24 nominees to the Holy Bull Stakes on Saturday at Gulfstream Park, his talent pool seems a bit thinner than last year, when Promises Fulfilled emerged as the most productive of his 2018 crop of 3-year-olds after finishing 15th in the Derby, just ahead of Free Drop Billy (16th). Three of the Romans quintet – Blue Steel, Everfast, and Moonster – all turned in subpar efforts in their respective last starts, which would seem to leave Admire and Come On Gerry as his main hopes with about three months before the Derby.

Admire was scheduled to leave here Tuesday to run in the Withers at Aqueduct, while Come On Gerry will stay home as one of the fringe players behind favorites Maximus Mischief and Mihos in the 29th running of the Grade 2, $350,000 Holy Bull at 1 1/16 miles.

“Both horses have a lot of talent,” said Romans, whose best finishes from 10 Derby starters have been thirds by Paddy O’Prado (2010) and Dullahan (2012). “But don’t ask me who’s better. That’s like asking me which of my children I love more.”

Both colts are owned by the Albaugh Family Stables and will be making their stakes debuts off two-turn maiden victories in their second starts. Admire is from the first crop of Cairo Prince, while Come On Gerry was sired by the late Elusive Quality, best known as the sire of 2004 Derby winner Smarty Jones.

“It’s good to have those two-turn wins under both of them,” Romans said. “That’s always a major concern, whether or not they can get the distance. They both train and act like they’ll get better with more ground.”

The Holy Bull is one of five stakes for 3-year-olds here Saturday, with the others being the Swale, Forward Gal, Sweetest Chant, and Dania Beach. Entries were to be drawn Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Promises Fulfilled will have his first breeze of the year in the coming days at Gulfstream, Romans said. Owned by Bob Baron, the 4-year-old son of Shackleford emerged as a standout sprinter at shorter distances last year after upsetting the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth here in March. He reeled off consecutive victories in the Grade 3 Amsterdam, Grade 1 Allen Jerkens, and Grade 2 Phoenix prior to finishing fourth in his season finale, the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

“We put him away after the Breeders’ Cup, and he’s come back great,” Romans said. “We’re looking forward to another big year with him.”