American Pharoah made early impression on Romans

ELMONT, N.Y. – Dale Romans knew early on that American Pharoah was special.

He was at a farm in Ocala, Fla., with several other of trainers who worked for Ahmed Zayat when American Pharoah breezed for the first time.

“Super horse,” Romans said. “To watch his first quarter-mile breeze and see it all come together . . . it’s more fun than if I had him to train because there would have been more stress.”

Though the Zayats invite all their trainers to the farm to watch their horses before they are allocated, Romans said “we all knew” American Pharoah was going to trainer Bob Baffert because he had trained his sire, Pioneerof the Nile.

“He trained the father,” Romans said. “If I trained the father and had the family I would hope [Zayat] would have given him to me. We started bidding on the other ones.”

Romans said that watching American Pharoah work, “We were in jaw-dropping awe that day and in jaw-dropping awe when he got beat” in his debut.

Romans said his opinion of American Pharoah hasn’t changed since that day last year. Still, he will take on the colt in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes when he sends out Keen Ice, who finished seventh in the Kentucky Derby.

“Couldn’t be better,” Romans said of Keen Ice’s condition. “I thought he was peaking for the Derby; he’s maintained that peak. Absolutely no excuse in my opinon other than if he’s good enough.”

Romans was planning on sending Birdatthewire to Belmont for Saturday’s Grade 1 Acorn, but left her in Kentucky after she missed some training time due to illness shortly after a workout May 23.

Birdatthewire won the Gulfstream Park Oaks before finishing fifth in the Kentucky Oaks.

Romans said the illness wasn’t a major deal, but he decided to be more conservative and point her to the Grade 1 Mother Goose here June 27.

“I think she’d be fine for that,” Romans said.

Romans also decided to skip the Acorn with Keen Pauline, winner of the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico.

“I thought about running her here, but didn’t make sense to run her back in three weeks,” Romans said. “Why do something to beat her up just because it’s a big weekend? I’ve gotten a little more patient in my old age. When I was younger, I would have run them both.”