Seven Trumpets seeks spot on Triple Crown trail in Jerome

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Seven Trumpets has yet to receive the fanfare allotted other members of trainer Dale Romans’s arsenal of soon-to-be 3-year-old males hoping to jump on the Triple Crown trail. That could change Monday when Seven Trumpets kicks off his 3-year-old season in the $150,000 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct.

Though no longer graded and now run at a one-turn mile, the Jerome is the first race of 2018 that will offer qualifying points toward the May 5 Kentucky Derby. There are 17 points (10-4-2-1) awarded to the Jerome’s top four finishers.

Romans has a bevy of Derby hopefuls, including Dak Attack, Tiz Mischief, Promises Fulfilled, Hollywood Star, and Free Drop Billy. Seven Trumpets, a son of Morning Line owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, has won his last two starts after getting beat 20 1/4 lengths in his debut July 15 at Ellis Park.

“On pure talent he fits with them and he’s started to come around,” Romans said Thursday by phone from south Florida. “I always liked him, I think he’s a good horse. He’s getting better. This time of year, you want to see some progression.”

Seven Trumpets was scheduled to leave south Florida by van at 10 a.m. Thursday and arrive at Aqueduct on Friday morning. Romans is hoping to get to run Seven Trumpets on Monday, though the forecast calls for similarly frigid conditions that prompted New York Racing Association officials to cancel Thursday’s card.

Robby Albarado, aboard for Seven Trumpets two victories, is expected to ship in to ride.

Others pointing to the Jerome include Champagne winner Firenze Fire, Honor Up, Old Time Revival, Smooth B, and possibly Millionaire Runner and Regalian. The latter two were entered in a starter allowance race that was part of Thursday’s canceled card. Honor Up is entered in Saturday’s $100,000 Damon Runyon for New York-breds, but trainer Bill Mott said Thursday he is leaning toward scratching from that spot to run in the Jerome.