Castellano picks up Travers mount on Romansh

Godolphin Stable's Romansh will have a new rider when he makes his next start

in Saturday's Grade 1 Travers.

Trainer Tom Albertrani has enlisted three-time Travers winner Javier

Castellano to ride the three-year-old Bernardini colt, who was placed first

following the disqualification of his entrymate, Transparent, in the Curlin

Stakes on July 26.

Castellano and Albertrani teamed up to take the 2006 Travers with Bernardini.

Castellano, who entered Sunday's card with a meet-leading 40 victories, also won

the race in 2010 with Afleet Express and 2011 with Stay Thirsty.

Jockey Junior Alvarado had ridden Romansh in each of his past three starts,

including the Curlin, but is committed to Will Take Charge for Hall of Fame

trainer D. Wayne Lukas in the Travers.

"We were shopping around for another rider, and Javier happened to be

available," Albertrani said Sunday morning. "We've won it together before, so

maybe we'll do it a second time."

Eddie Arcaro, Braulio Baeza, Jimmy McLaughlin and Pat Day, with four each,

are the only riders to have more Travers wins than Castellano. He is also one of

only five riders to win in back-to-back years, joining Charles Miller (1869-70),

George Barbee (1874-75), Eric Guerin (1953-53) and Eddie Maple (1980-81).

Having Castellano ride Romansh for the first time in a big race is not a

concern for Albertrani.

"Guys like him ... they don't always have to have a race under them to get a

feel for them," he said. "They're pretty adaptable to the horse, and I think

he'll make a nice fit. The horse isn't complicated, really, so we've just got to

put him in a place and go from there and stay out of trouble."

Albertrani also reported that Twilight Eclipse emerged from his runner-up

finish in Saturday's Sword Dancer in good shape, and would likely be pointed to

the Grade 1, $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational at Belmont Park on

September 28.

"He's very fresh, walking around on his toes this morning. He looked good,"

he said. "He ran great. We were pretty optimistic about him running a good race

in there. It was nice to see him come back just the way we were expecting."

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