Dale Romans

Much has been made lately in Kentucky on farms reducing stud fees in response to the blighted economy, but there's a group of stallions whose fees would have mostly dropped as a matter of course even in booming times. These are second- through fifth-year stallions; frequently, fees for horses entering their fifth season at stud as their first-crop runners turn three show particularly pronounced drops from their initial fees. A small commercial breeder contacted me the other day to discuss the reduced 2021 stud fee for a stallion whose first...

Robert J. Baron and WinStar Farm's Grade I-winning millionaire Promises Fulfilled (Shackleford--Marquee Delivery, by Marquetry) has been retired from racing and will enter stud at WinStar for the 2021 breeding season. His fee has been set at $10,000 S&N. Promises Fulfilled won five graded stakes at distances from six furlongs to 1 1/16 miles--winning the GI H. Allen Jerkens S., GII Fountain of Youth S., GII John A. Nerud S., GII Phoenix S., and GIII Amsterdam S. "When we look for stallion prospects, we want brilliance," said Elliott Walden, WinStar's...

Longshot Sittin On Go blew past his rivals in the stretch to become the first stakes winner for his freshman sire (by Giant's Causeway), who was campaigned by these same connections. The chestnut was wheeling back on relatively short rest after an off-the-pace 4 1/4-length tally going five furlongs at Ellis Aug. 16--he earned just a 49 Beyer Speed Figure. Unhurried early and guided a bit off the potentially dead rail, Sittin On Go traveled nicely on the bridle while far back as odds-on Therideofalifetime (Candy Ride {Arg}) zipped away...

Spendthrift Farm, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables and Starlight Racing's Authentic (Into Mischief) completed his final work ahead of Saturday's GI Kentucky Derby, covering six furlongs in 1:12.40 (1/9) at Del Mar Sunday morning. "Authentic is really doing well. I see him turning the corner," trainer Bob Baffert said. "Both of my horses [Authentic and Thousand Words], I think they're live. We just need some luck, you never know what is going to happen with that many horses in there." Authentic, second behind Honor A.P. (Honor Code) in the June 6...

The year 2020 will have an asterisk next to it in racing history, but there will nevertheless be a leading first-crop sire at year's end, and Taylor Made's Not This Time (Giant's Causeway) might be the stallion atop it. As we head into September, Not This Time leads all N. American-based first-crop sires by number of winners, with nine, and he's a close third behind Ashford's Air Force Blue (War Front) and WinStar's Speightster (Speightstown) on the progeny earnings list. The major 2-year-old graded events the next few months leading...

2nd-Ellis, $46,020, Msw, 8-16, 2yo, 5f, :59.26, ft. SITTIN ON GO (c, 2, Brody's Cause--Set'n On Ready {SP}, by More Than Ready) stormed to the lead with an eye-catching move in deep stretch to graduate on debut and become the third winner for his freshman sire (by Giant's Causeway). The chestnut, half of the 8-5 entry, settled well off the pace as Lock Up (Maclean's Music) looked to take them wire-to-wire. Sittin on Go made rapid progress on the turn along the rail, tipped out for running room at midstretch...

Angel Cordero, Jr., Dale Romans, Ramon Dominguez and Terry Finley discussed some of their fondest racing memories in the New York Race Track Chaplaincy's Champions TALK roundtable Wednesday evening. It can be viewed here. The discussion, filmed at the Fasig-Tipton Sales Pavilion in Saratoga Springs, NY, was moderated by former track announcer Tom Durkin. Viewers are encouraged to make a donation to the chaplaincy. The organizations two annual fund-raising events in Saratoga Springs, NY were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the discussion, the NY Chaplaincy also honored the...

Girl Daddy, sent out by the same connections that have used the Pea Patch in recent years as a springboard to launch the careers of graded stakes-winning juveniles Not This Time (Giant's Causeway) and Dennis' Moment (Tiznow), turned heads on debut Friday to earn the 'TDN Rising Star' distinction. The $500,000 KEESEP buy displayed a fairly unassuming Churchill worktab for a typically patient conditioner, but took some tote attention to be off at 9-5--longer than only fast-working fellow firster Malibu Bird (Malibu Moon). Flat-footed at the start, the grey rushed...

Suspended trainer Rick Dutrow's attempts to resume his career were dealt a blow Tuesday by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission's License Review Committee. After hearing from Dutrow and others who testified on his behalf, the committee voted unanimously to allow Dutrow to withdraw his application for a license. It was within the committee's right to grant Dutrow a license, with or without conditions. Dutrow's attorney, Karen Murphy, reluctantly agreed and withdrew the application for the license. Dutrow was suspended for 10 years in 2011 by New York regulators for what...

All-sources wagering on Churchill Downs' abbreviated 27-date Spring Meet totaled $240.5 million, which was a 53.3% increase from the 32 days of racing that followed last year's Kentucky Derby. Additionally, the average daily handle was up 81.7% from $4.9 million one year ago to $8.9 million this season. Shortened to seven weeks from May 16-June 28, the 2020 meet was staged under strict government-sanctioned protocols and without spectators because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This season, Churchill Downs experienced four of the track's six largest non-Derby, Oaks or Breeders' Cup betting...

With its two annual fund-raising events in Saratoga Springs cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the New York Race Track Chaplaincy will instead host "Champions Talk," featuring five prominent personalities from the world of sports and horse racing, which will premiere Wednesday, Aug. 5 at 7 p.m. ET. The five individuals are Hall of Fame jockeys Angel Cordero, Jr. and Ramòn Dominguez, Kentucky Derby winning owner Terry Finley of West Point Thoroughbreds, Churchill Downs' all-time leading trainer Dale Romans and Pro Football Hall of Fame and two-time Super Bowl winning...

With its two annual fundraising events in Saratoga Springs, NY cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the New York Race Track Chaplaincy will instead host "Champions Talk", an event featuring five prominent personalities from the world of sports and horse racing, which will premiere Wednesday, Aug. 5 at 7 p.m. ET. The five individuals are Hall of Fame jockeys Angel Cordero Jr. and Ramon Dominguez, GI Kentucky Derby-winning owner Terry Finley of West Point Thoroughbreds, Churchill Downs's all-time leading trainer Dale Romans and Pro Football Hall of Fame and two-time...