Ancient Rome paves the way in Spectacular Bid; Discreet Dancer impresses in debu

Ancient Rome was heavily favored in the $100,000

Spectacular Bid

Stakes after notching an uncontested 7 3/4-length victory in his

previous start on October 22.

The Tony Dutrow-trained 6-5 public choice had to work a lot harder

Saturday to prevail in the feature on the opening day card of Gulfstream

Park's 2011-2012 meeting, digging deep with a last-ditch rally to register a hard-fought triumph by just a nose.

Ancient Rome chased pacesetter Town Prize along the backstretch and

far turn before losing ground in the stretch run to that stakes-placed

son of Speightstown. Just when it appeared that Ancient Rome's

bid for victory in his stakes debut would fall considerably

short, his fortunes changed when he was joined and briefly passed by For Oby to his outside.

Once engaged by the 11-1 outsider, the favorite responded to the

challenge and the urging of jockey Joe Rocco Jr. and fought back. The

son of Roman Ruler battled to get his nose in front at the wire, running

six furlongs on the fast dirt in a sharp 1:08 4/5.

"At first, I didn't even think I was going to be able to get by the

horse in front. When the horse on the outside came running, he had all

the momentum and stuck his head in front really fast," Rocco said. "If

(For Oby) didn't go by, I actually don't think my horse would have fought

back. He had a lot more left than I thought."

Ancient Rome was the second winning mount on the day for Rocco, who

also guided Grip Hands to victory in the 6TH race. He was

one of two jockeys with a pair of winners on Saturday's card, joining Luis Saez,

who rode bookend winners Kidstrong Fever in the 1ST and

Folk Singer in the last race.

"Today was amazing. I couldn't have asked to get off to a better start," the

mid-Atlantic-based jockey said. "Hopefully the snowball keeps on rolling."

Ancient Rome, who earned $60,000 for owner Michael Dubb, won for the

second time in three starts. After finishing second in his debut at

Delaware Park on September 27, the bay colt broke his maiden on

October 22 at that same venue before shipping to South Florida and his stakes debut in the

Spectacular Bid. He's now banked $92,000 in total career earnings.

"We do feel like he'll go a little further than this at least," he

said, "and he's by Roman Ruler, who had a Belmont (Stakes) winner this year

(in Ruler On Ice)."

Earlier on Saturday's opening day card,

another promising juvenile impressed in his career debut by setting a

new track record in the 3RD race.

Discreet Dancer, sporting the silks of owner/breeder E. Paul Robsham

Stables, pressed the early pace set by Someday Came before taking over

from that rival exiting the turn. The chestnut colt simply pulled off

once in command, romping by 9 3/4 lengths on the line while setting a

new track record of 1:02.34 for 5 1/2 furlongs over the fast dirt.

The Todd Pletcher trainee, who had Javier Castellano in the saddle,

is by Discreet Cat out of West Side Dancer. Discreet Dancer's fourth dam

is the blue-hen mare Lassie Dear, whose grandchildren include A.P. Indy,

Summer Squall and Lemon Drop Kid, among others.