Open Story faces boys once again

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Open Story took the lead in the desperate final yards of the Three Chimneys Juvenile to salvage a dead heat for the win. Minutes later, trainer Dale Romans was asked when he knew the filly had the race won.

"When I entered her," Romans said slyly.

Ask a silly question, get a silly answer. Romans knew Open Story was fortunate to catch the heavily favored City Street, a colt, on the wire in the Three Chimneys, a high-profile race on the Kentucky Derby undercard. City Street emerged from the race requiring minor surgery.

Romans also knows that Open Story is a good filly, one who again poses a major threat when facing male rivals Monday in the $150,000 Kentucky Breeders' Cup Stakes at Churchill Downs. Eibar Coa will be in from New Jersey to ride.

Romans said Saturday that he didn't necessarily want to run Open Story, a gray filly by the Deputy Minister sire Open Forum, against the boys again, "but I don't really mind, not this early on. Originally I planned on going straight into the [July 7] Debutante, then the filly series at Saratoga. But this race came up with a short field, and she's training great."

Six of the 13 winners of the Kentucky BC have been fillies, including Chilukki (1999) and Gold Mover (2000).

Romans, the leading trainer at the Churchill meet, also will run Handsome Hunk in the race.

Besides the non-coupled Romans pair, the rest of the Kentucky BC field consists of Gygistar, Mr. Mythic, Lakeside Cup, and Leelanau.

Probably the strongest challenger is Leelanau, a Carson City colt trained by veteran Steve Morguelan. Leelanau beat Handsome Hunk in their May 2 debut.

Gygistar, trained by Mark Hennig, will try to validate his only start, in which he beat a solid field of maidens at 49-1.

Lakeside Cup, trained by Bernie Flint, is a winner of his only start, an April 13 maiden race at Keeneland.

Mr. Mythic, a maiden, finished fourth at long odds in the Three Chimneys Juvenile.

Oh, brother!

Just My Guy, a 2-year-old half-brother to Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos, finished last of nine starters in his career debut Saturday at Churchill Downs. Just My Guy, trained by Norman Miracle Jr., was sent away at 19-1 before trailing throughout in the first race of the day, a five-furlong maiden event.

Just My Guy is by Supremo out of the Dixieland Band mare Regal Band. The mare also produced Monarchos, who is by Maria's Mon.