Romans longshots could make some noise in Florida Derby

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – On paper, the two horses Dale Romans entered Tuesday for Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby look out of place. But Romans has reason to believe that both could outrun what figure to be long odds.

Romans entered Indianaughty and Jack Tripp against Upstart, Itsaknockout, and Materiality in the Florida Derby, this track’s major prep for the May 2 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

Indianaughty, a son of Indian Charlie, will be making his dirt debut in the Florida Derby. Indianaughty is out of the dam Be Fair, who is a half-sister to Macho Again, a Grade 1 winner on dirt.

After winning one of two races on synthetic in Britain at age 2, Indianaughty was purchased privately by Team Valor International and sent to Romans last November. He won his U.S. debut over Gulfstream’s turf course Jan. 14. Off that race, he was shipped to Golden Gate Fields in Northern California, where he finished ninth, beaten 8 3/4 lengths by winner Metaboss, in the El Camino Real Derby. To the surprise of Romans, Indianaughty and jockey Corey Lanerie set the early pace in that race.

“If you look at the race, he could have been beaten three lengths, but they all started coming over on him, and they went by him before he had to steady, and he just rode him in,” Romans said. “He wasn’t going to get a piece of the check, but it wasn’t that bad. It’s not one that you would think would knock him off the Derby trail.”

Romans said he has liked the way Indianaughty has trained on dirt at Gulfstream and feels he’s deserving of this opportunity.

“On the dirt here, he works like he’s going to be better on it,” Romans said.

Jack Tripp, a son of Flatter, won a maiden race by five lengths last October at Keeneland but has been winless since. Though he’s been listed as a gelding in the past performances, that is incorrect, according to Romans. He will run Saturday as a gelding for the first time, Romans said.

“He had a testicle that was not descended, and we felt like that could have been bothering him,” Romans said. “Usually don’t use that as a reason for a horse not to perform well, but in rare cases, it does make a big difference.

“His works have been so good afterward, and we thought so much of him at the end of last year. We lose nothing by giving him a chance, and gain a lot. We can always back up to allowance races.”

As of early afternoon Tuesday, nine had been entered for the Florida Derby. Post positions were to be drawn later Tuesday.

Barring a last-minute entry, the field, with riders, was expected to be: Ami’s Flatter (Javier Castellano), Dekabrist (Jesus Rios), Indianaughty (Lanerie or Irad Ortiz Jr.), Itsaknockout (Luis Saez), Jack Tripp (Lanerie or Ortiz), Materiality (John Velazquez), My Point Exactly (Juan Leyva), Quimet (Edgard Zayas), and Upstart (Jose Ortiz).

In Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks, Romans could send out a trio of runners, including Cristina’s Journey, a graded stakes winner at 2 who would be making her 3-year-old debut in this 1 1/16-mile race.

Romans also planned to entered Birdatthewire, beaten a neck in the Grade 2 Davona Dale, and Sweet Swingin, the runner-up in the off-the-turf Herecomesthebride Stakes on Feb. 28.

Cristina’s Journey won her first two starts, including the Grade 2 Pocahontas at Churchill. But she finished 11th of 12 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and seventh of 12 in the Grade 2 Golden Rod at Churchill.

“It seemed like she was going through a little puberty stage; she was changing,” Romans said. “Backed off of her, I didn’t take her out of training. She seemed to have worked her way through it pretty well.”

Birdatthewire won the Forward Gal going seven furlongs Jan. 24 before getting beat a neck by Ekati’s Phaeton in the Grade 2 Davona Dale on Feb. 21.

“She’s just really blossomed here the last three months,” Romans said.

Others expected to enter the Florida Oaks are Danessa Deluxe, Divine Aida, Ekati’s Phaeton, Eskenformoney, and Holywell.