J Boys Echo possible for Florida Derby

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The prospective field for the $1 million Florida Derby got a little more interesting Sunday when trainer Dale Romans said he’s not ruled out running Gotham Stakes winner J Boys Echo in the important Kentucky Derby prep here April 1.

J Boys Echo exploded to an easy 3 1/2-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile Gotham while earning a 102 Beyer Speed Figure. Romans originally was targeting the Grade 2 Blue Grass at Keeneland on April 8 for the horse’s final Derby prep but has reevaluated that position, leaving open the possibility of running J Boys Echo in the Grade 1 Florida Derby. Although he’s never raced at Gulfstream Park, J Boys Echo has been stabled locally this winter. He breezed an easy four furlongs here in 52.45 seconds last Saturday.

Romans sent out Brody’s Cause and Cherry Wine to finish first and third in the 2016 Blue Grass. Like Brody’s Cause, J Boys Echo is owned by the Albaugh family.

“With J Boy, we kind of had tunnel vision for the Blue Grass because it’s worked several times for us in the past,” Romans said. “But now that we’ve talked about it a little more, it’s in our best interests to keep all the preps on the table. One luxury we have with him is that he’s already got enough points to get into the Derby, so we can kind of relax and choose what our best path is to get him there to win the race.”

While Romans was high on J Boys Echo coming into his 3-year-old campaign, he said the horse has surprised him with his progress this winter.

“He’s really turned into a good horse. He’s gotten even better than I thought he was,” Romans said. “Obviously, he’s not the best work horse when he goes solo, but as long as he’s moving well, like he was here the other morning, I’m happy.”

Romans has a second potential Florida Derby starter in Impressive Edge, who has won two of his three starts here this winter, including a seven-furlong allowance race by three lengths March 5.

“He’s scheduled to get on a plane for Kentucky on Wednesday to run in the Spiral,” Romans said, “and that’s probably where we’re going to go. He’s a good horse who acts like he wants to go two turns, and the way things are setting up this year, you need to keep a horse like this on the Derby trail. But we’re going to talk about it a little more before Wednesday, and there’s also a shot he could stay here, too [for the Florida Derby].”

◗ Nominations for the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby closed Saturday but will not be released until later this week. Gunnevera and Three Rules, the first and third finishers in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, are confirmed for the race. Practical Joke, the runner-up in the Fountain of Youth, and the Todd Pletcher-trained pair of Battalion Runner and Always Dreaming also are being strongly considered.