TDN RISING STARS

January 9, 2016 - Gulfstream Park, Race 9, AOC, USD $44,000, 1 1/16M, .0000, NW1X

Cherry Wine, c, 3, 2013 by Paddy O'Prado

1st Dam: C. S. Royce, by Unbridled's Song
2nd Dam: Sweeping Story, by End Sweep
3rd Dam: Appealing Story, by Valid Appeal

Owner: William Pacella & Frank Jones, Jr.
Breeder: Pacella Racing, Frank Jones Jr. & Frank Shoop (KY)
Trainer: Dale Romans

Cherry Wine earned “TDN Rising Star� status with an ultra-impressive last-to-first victory at Gulfstream Saturday afternoon. Sent off as the 2-1 second-choice, the newly-minted sophomore trailed the field by several lengths through opening splits of :23.98 and :48.05. Splitting horses to move into contention on the backstretch, the gray ranged up three-wide on the far turn and uncorked a powerful rally to swiftly inhale his rivals and sail clear to a dominating six-length victory over favored Battery (Bernardini). A non-factor ninth in his career bow going this distance on the Saratoga lawn Aug. 30, Cherry Wine was fifth when switched to the dirt and cut back to seven furlongs at Churchill next out Sept. 26. Third when returned to the turf at Keeneland Oct. 11, he was second over a yielding course at Churchill Nov. 1 and broke through with a decisive 9 1/4-length graduation in a sloppy off-the-turfer next out there Nov. 28. Cherry Wine is from the first crop of fellow Dale Romans trainee Paddy O’Prado, a GISW on turf who finished third to Super Saver (Maria’s Mon) in the 2010 GI Kentucky Derby. The winner is the first foal out of C.S. Royce, who produced a full-sister to the winner in 2014, a Take Charge Indy filly in 2015 and was bred back to Point of Entry. Lifetime Record: 6-2-1-1, $73,878. Click here for more on the Romans barn. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.