Romans, Guidry part company

The start of the Keeneland spring meet has brought an abrupt change in the successful partnership of trainer Dale Romans and jockey Mark Guidry. When Romans saddles six horses on the Friday opener (races 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9), it will be Rene Douglas, and not Guidry, who will ride every one of them.

Romans said Guidry still will have the mount on Sharp Humor in the May 6 Kentucky Derby but that he is unhappy about Guidry no longer employing Terry "Jaws" Miller, a longtime friend of Romans, as his agent.

Meanwhile, Balance tuned up for her role as the odds-on favorite in the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes with an easy breeze Wednesday morning at Keeneland. Under exercise rider Diego Sanchez, Balance went a half-mile in 51 seconds over a fast track. Balance, with Victor Espinoza to ride, is expected to face six other 3-year-old fillies Saturday in the Ashland.