Gulfstream Park notes: Romans gets meet back on track

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Typically lost in the mad shuffle of something as major as Donn Handicap weekend are races or developments that normally would merit notice on their own.

The Dale Romans stable was among those flying under the Gulfstream Park radar otherwise dominated by Groupie Doll, Lea, and other stakes performers last weekend. Romans sent out a couple of nice allowance winners in Tarpy’s Surprise and Pick of the Litter, helping to turn around a meet that had been somewhat lagging.

[Clocker Reports: Get Mike Welsch’s clocker reports from Gulfstream Park and Palm Meadows]

Tarpy’s Surprise won a two-turn first-level allowance Saturday, earning a 90 Beyer Speed Figure. Pick of the Litter won a one-mile second-level allowance Sunday, getting an 87. Both are 4-year-old colts who had Corey Lanerie aboard

“They both ran huge,” Romans said. “I may run them both through their next condition, depending on when they’re ready to run again, or I might just get a little more ambitious.”

Romans won the Eclipse Award for top trainer in 2012 but clearly “bounced” in 2013, with stable earnings dropping from $11.8 million to $4.8 million. His weekend lifted his record at the 2014 Gulfstream Park meet to 9 for 71.

Vaccarezza sends out winner

Carlo Vaccarezza, best known as the owner and breeder of multiple graded winner Little Mike, had an unforgettable Sunday, winning his first race as a licensed trainer.

Vaccarezza, 62, saddled a 3-year-old filly named Little Alexis to post a $48.20 upset under Alex Solis in the fifth race over several other promising fillies, including My Miss Sophia and Gratitude. A daughter of Mr. Greeley and a $32,000 yearling purchase, Little Alexis earned a 90 Beyer, and Vaccarezza said Tuesday he has fielded “about a dozen” inquiries from would-be buyers.

“It was unbelievable winning on that huge day in front of all those people and with so many friends there,” said Vaccarezza, who named the filly for his 18-year-old daughter. “I might sell, I don’t know. The top offers have been near seven figures.”

Dale Romans has trained Little Mike to win four Grade 1 turf races and nearly $3.5 million. The 7-year-old gelding is due to ship south in a couple weeks after getting a rest at J.J. Crupi’s New Castle Farm in Ocala, Vaccarezza said.

“I will probably train the horse,” he said. “Just to set the record straight, Dale and I have remained very good friends. Anything people say to the contrary is just wrong.

Big bets

Dewey Square ran third as the 9-5 favorite in the Pick of the Litter allowance Sunday in his first start since owner-breeder Siena Farms had him gelded and sent him to Todd Pletcher. Romans had trained Dewey Square in his first seven races.

Curiously, a $25,000 win bet was made fairly early in the wagering cycle on Dewey Square, suddenly dropping him to 1-5. In the very next race, the third, another early $25,000 win bet was made on the Pletcher-trained Hothersal, making him 1-9 on the odds board. Those odds eventually drifted up, and Hothersal came through for the bettor, prevailing by a half-length at a $3.80 mutuel. The 6-year-old was claimed from the race for $30,000 by Jason Servis on behalf of Mr. Amore Stable.

◗ Thursday at Gulfstream might well be likened to a mini-version of the Claiming Crown, with six of the 10 races carrying starter-allowance or starter/optional-claiming conditions. There are no allowances on the card, which starts at the usual 12:40 p.m. Eastern.

◗ Three graded races will highlight the coming weekend at Gulfstream, with the Grade 2, $200,000 Mac Diarmida set for Saturday and the Grade 2, $200,000 Sabin for Sunday. The Grade 3, $100,000 The Very One also will be run Saturday.