TDN RISING STARS

May 27, 2012 - Churchill Downs, Race 1, Msw, USD $53,000, 4 1/2f

Roman's Avenue, c, 2, 2010 by Street Sense

1st Dam: Career Fair, by Storm Cat
2nd Dam: Young Flyer, by Flying Paster
3rd Dam: Youthful Lady, by Youth

Owner: Donegal Racing
Breeder: Larry Mabee (KY)
Trainer: Dale L Romans

Roman's Avenue was expected to do big things in this debut if his 1-5 price was any indication, and for a colt with a smart two-turn pedigree, he made it look easy in this abbreviated dash. Campaigned by the same connections that brought you the GI Kentucky Derby place-getters Dullahan (Even the Score) and Paddy O'Prado (El Prado {Ire}), Roman's Avenue was hustled out from the two hole and was soon in command. He had a length on Lew and Mike (Lewis Michael) after a quarter in :23 1/5 and drew away to a 4 1/4-length success as track announcer Mark Johnson declared, "All he hype was right." Western Sadler (Mr. Greeley) came on for second, with Lew and Mike back in third. Winning jockey Corey Lanerie was briefly unseated on the way back to the winner's circle, but did a good job of holding onto the reins and was quickly back in the irons. Roman's Avenue, an $85,000 KEENOV weanling and $230,000 KEESEP yearling, was produced by an unplaced half-sister to the Grade I winners River Flyer (Flying Paster) and Victory Ride (Seeking the Gold). He is bred on the same Street Sense/Storm Cat cross that produced GSW Castaway. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $31,800.