NEWS
Romans duo enters Preakness in different positions
Posted: Tuesday, May 11, 2010 12:00 PM
PADDY O'PRADO
Coglianese Photos
by Ed DeRosa
Trainer Dale Romans had different goals when preparing Paddy O’Prado and First Dude for the Preakness Stakes (G1) on May 15 at Pimlico Race Course.
For Paddy O’Prado, who finished second in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) before finishing third in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), Romans just wanted to keep Donegal Racing’s El Prado (Ire) colt happy. For First Dude—who finished third in the Blue Grass, one length Paddy O’Prado—Romans needed to be a bit more aggressive.
“We were going to train him to the Dwyer [Stakes (G2) on May 8 at Belmont Park], but he developed a quarter crack, and I couldn’t have him ready,” Romans said May 11. “We were thinking Dwyer-Belmont but once we passed on the Dwyer we looked at the Preakness.”
Romans trains First Dude for breeder Donald Dizney. The Stephen Got Even colt twice finished second to eventual Dwyer winner Fly Down. He broke his maiden going one mile at Gulfstream Park in his three-year-old debut, and Romans is looking forward to testing the colt at the Preakness distance of 1 3/16 miles.
“The further the better,” said Romans, who has named Ramon Dominguez to ride.
As for Paddy O’Prado, Romans approach with him has been more about maintenance than aggressive training. Whereas First Dude worked five furlongs in a bullet 1:00.60 on May 8 at Churchill Downs, Paddy O’Prado will not have a published workout between the Derby and Preakness.
“He’s plenty fit,” Romans said of Paddy O’Prado. “He ran nine furlongs, then worked two weeks later, then ran ten furlongs in the Derby. If he’s not fit now, a half-mile breeze isn’t going to do it for him.
“There’d have been more negatives than positives if we had worked him.”
Both of Romans’s horses will ship to Baltimore from Louisville by plane on Wednesday with plans to train Thursday at Pimlico. Either horse would represent Romans’ first starter in the Preakness. He has won one of seven lifetime races at Pimlico: the 2000 Pimlico Distaff Handicap (G3) with Roza Robata.
Ed DeRosa is news editor of Thoroughbred Times
READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: Paul, New Haven, CT on May 12, 2010 at 07:35 AM
First Dude can contend in this race if Romans can correct the horse losing focus (in his last 2 races) going around the final turn.
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Posted by: larry, easton, PA on May 11, 2010 at 09:34 PM
This is Longshot Larry. I think First Dude is a live play. He doesn't have agreat bunch of 3 year olds to beat, has a great jock, and is very wel bred for the distance. Box car numbers possible
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Posted by: jeff, charlestown, WV on May 11, 2010 at 04:21 PM
kent is simply 1 of the best out there, who else would u want on your horse at pimlico? he owned maryland when he rode there!!!!!!!!!!!
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Posted by: Don, Hayward, WI on May 11, 2010 at 03:33 PM
If Romans has any brains he take Desormeaoux off the horse.
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