Romeo Lima looks to be coming around
MIAMI – Romeo Lima, who has failed to replicate his impressive 2-year-old debut last summer in France in seven subsequent starts, might finally be ready to get back on the winning track when he faces seven other 3-year-olds and up under entry-level allowance conditions in the fifth race on Thursday’s Thanksgiving Day program at Gulfstream Park West. The $39,000 race is scheduled to be run at 7 1/2 furlongs over the turf and highlights a 10-race program that begins at 11 a.m. Eastern.
Romeo Lima was a 10-length winner when launching his career at Deauville in July 2014 but has gone without a victory since. Romeo Lima, a Kentucky-bred son of Mineshaft, finished fourth, beaten two lengths, as the even-money favorite while facing Group 3 competition at Longchamp five weeks after his debut. He failed to win in four starts this season in France before shipping to the U.S. and joining trainer Christophe Clement’s barn in New York. He finished an even fourth following a slow start as the 3-1 choice in his lone start in this country, which came at Belmont Park on Oct. 11.
Also in Thursday’s race are four last-out winners, topped by Black Martino, who posted a field-best last-out Beyer Speed Figure of 85 for a 2 3/4-length optional-claiming win against statebred company here Nov. 14.
Seuss, How You, and Golden Spear each earned his diploma last out, while Metaphorically enters the race off a series of sharp efforts over the local course. Three starts ago, he was disqualified from a victory in a similar race for causing interference near midstretch.
KEY CONTENDERS
Romeo Lima (Beyer: 82)
◗ Clement has won with 20 percent of his starters at Calder/Gulfstream Park West over the past five years and is 2 for 5 here during that period when teaming up with Thursday’s rider, Joe Bravo, according to DRF Formulator.
Black Martino (Last 3 Beyers: 85-83-84)
◗ He and Metaphorically are the only three-time winners in 2015 in this field.
◗ He has finished worse than third just once in five starts over this course.
Metaphorically (Last 3 Beyers: 80-84-86)
◗ He proved no match for Black Martino but turned in a game effort when the pair met here Nov. 14, and he will get a two-pound weight shift in his favor in the rematch.
How You (Last 3 Beyers: 81-59-60)
◗ Took a big jump forward on graduation day second off the claim by trainer Jorge Navarro, who is winning at a 40 percent clip during the meet.