Trainer Dale Romans sported a wide smile following workouts by his
top 2-year-olds at Gulfstream Park Saturday morning.
Gulfport, who has
won his last two starts impressively, went first after the renovation
break, breezing an easy five furlongs in 1:02 4/5.
“He looked super,” Romans said.
Gulfport, a $775,000 yearling purchase by Mike Rutherford and
Michael Lauffer, broke his maiden at Churchill Downs on Oct. 31 by 7 ¼
lengths going seven furlongs. Stretching out to a mile at Churchill on
Nov. 24, the son of Unbridled’s Song came back to win a mile allowance
by nearly three lengths. “He’s probably going to run in the Holy Bull,”
said Romans, referring to the $400,000 Grade 3 stakes for 3-year-olds at
Gulfstream Park on Jan. 26.
Dewey Square, a late-developing son of
Bernardini, worked five furlongs, handily, in 59 1.5 seconds to record
the second fastest clocking of 31 at the distance Saturday morning.
“He went super,” Romans said. “He went around there fast. He’s a
good horse. It looks like he’s turned the corner and is heading in the
right direction.” Dewey Square broke his maiden by nearly 12 lengths
going 7 ½ furlongs in his debut at Hoosier Park on Sept. 21. The Siena
Farms homebred came back on Oct. 28 to run away to a four-length victory
in an entry-level allowance at Churchill Downs. He stepped up to stakes
company in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) on Nov. 24 at Churchill,
closing steadily to finish third behind multiple-stakes winner
Uncaptured and highly regarded Frac Daddy.
His workout was his second at Gulfstream in preparation for his 2013 debut.
“We don’t have anything firm yet,” said Romans, regarding a schedule
for the Kentucky-bred colt.
Romans also sent out Rightfully So, a
3-year-old who has come off a year layoff to post two victories in three
starts, including a seven-length allowance win at Churchill Downs on
Nov. 25. The son of A.P. Indy breezed five furlongs in an easy 1:02.
Romans also trains Little Mike, the popular turf specialist who captured
three Grade 1 stakes this year, including the Woodford Reserve Turf
Classic at Churchill, the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic and the Breeders’ Cup
Turf.
‘Little Mike should be champion turf horse if not Horse of the
Year,” said Romans, who is a serious candidate for the Eclipse Award for
2012’s outstanding trainer.
Little Mike started off his 2012 campaign with an allowance victory
and a Florida Sunshine Millions Turf score at Gulfstream Park.
The Eclipse Awards ceremony will be held at Gulfstream Park on Jan.
19 for the first time. Romans is pointing Little Mike to the $5 million
Sheema Classic on the undercard of the $6 million Dubai World Cup.
“Nothing definite, but we might run him twice in Dubai,” said Romans,
who has penciled in the Dubai World Cup for Dullahan, his Pacific
Classic (G1) winner.