Ancient Rome will try two turns in Gulfstream Park Derby
Trainer Anthony Dutrow admits he isn’t sure if his soon-to-be-three-year-old
Ancient Rome will be able to stretch out around two turns, but by the time the
field for Sunday’s inaugural running of the Gulfstream Park Derby hits the wire
he should have a pretty good idea.
“I honestly don’t know what to expect,” Dutrow said. “Ancient Rome certainly
has the talent, and if he can get the distance, he’s going to be a useful
three-year-old this year. It’s all about experimenting here.”
Dutrow says the year’s first Derby — run at 1 1/16 miles — will help him
decide on a path for the remainder of 2012 with his son of Roman Ruler.
“T0here are so many opportunities for three-year-olds throughout the year,”
he said. “That’s why we’re stretching him out sooner rather than later. If it
doesn’t work out, we’re not going to argue. We’ll just campaign him as a
sprinter.”
Ancient Rome, who breezed four furlongs in :48 1/5 on Monday at Palm Meadows,
is exiting a win at Gulfstream Park in the six-furlong Spectacular Bid Stakes.
The bay colt battled for the lead throughout and fought back gamely in the
stretch when passed by eventual runner-up For Oby, scoring by a nose.
“He’s always shown that toughness,” Dutrow said. “That’s one thing we know
for sure about him. I would anticipate coming out of those sprint races he would
be out on the lead or at least with the pacemakers.”
While Dutrow reiterates that Ancient Rome’s start in the Gulfstream Park
Derby is an experiment, the conditioner is looking to his horse’s pedigree for
hints on the result.
“He’s by Roman Ruler so we’re looking at that when thinking about the stretch
out,” Dutrow said. “His daddy has produced a Belmont winner (Ruler on Ice) so
we’ll just have to wait and see.”