Romansh, runaway winner of the Discovery Handicap in his last start, will
open his four-year-old campaign in the Grade 1, $500,000 Donn Handicap at
Gulfstream Park on February 9.
“He’s more mature now as an older horse,” trainer Tom Albertrani said. “He’s
doing fine and he’s been working well, so we feel very good about running him in
the Donn.”
Owned by Darley Stud Management, Romansh was unraced at two before debuting
last March at Gulfstream, where he pressed the pace but tired to finish fourth
of 10 in a seven-furlong maiden event.
He broke his maiden in May and ran second as the favorite in the Curlin
Stakes at Saratoga in July, where he stumbled twice at the break and raced wide
before being promoted to the win following the disqualification of Darley
entrymate Transparent.
From there, Romansh was fifth, beaten four lengths by Will Take Charge in the
Travers, and sixth behind the eventual three-year-old champion in the
Pennsylvania Derby before getting a short vacation.
“He had a pretty light three-year-old campaign and it looked like he was
making some forward steps after every race,” Albertrani said. “We always had
high regard for the horse, but things were moving along a little quick for him
so we gave him a little break. He came back and ran a huge race last time out.”
In the Discovery, Romansh settled off the leaders before taking command at
the quarter pole and sprinting clear for a 9 1/4-length score in 1:48 1/5 for 1
1/8 miles, same distance as the Donn.
“We’re looking at a horse that’s maturing and could be a very talented older
horse for us,” Albertrani said. “That’s why we’re pointing for the Donn, just
kind of knowing the horse and looking at what he accomplished in his last race.
He ran huge that day, so we’re hoping he makes a move forward off of that.”
Romansh will see a familiar face in the Donn in Will Take Charge, making his
season debut for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Other horses targeting the
Donn are graded stakes winners Lea, Revolutionary and River Seven.
“He wasn’t beaten very far in the Travers and he ran well,” Albertrani said.
“He had only run four times prior to that and we were kind of moving forward a
little too quick with him, but we always thought the horse could compete in
those kinds of races. That’s why we’re hoping a year later he’s going to mature
even more and go forward.”
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