Ancient Rome pointed toward the Gulfstream Park Derby for his second career start
Anthony Dutrow trained 2-year-old colt, Ancient Rome, is asked for something very few colts are asked for this early in this career, and the daunting task would be to go two turns immediately after breaking his maiden race over just 6 furlongs.
Anything could happen when Ancient Rome goes to Gulfstream Park to run in the Gulfstream Derby over a distance of 1 1/16 miles on 1 January, 2012, a race that will be restricted for 3-year-old males, and the soon to be 3-year-old, Ancient Rome, isn’t battle
tested at all.
He had one thing going for him and that is momentum, and that too doesn’t ensure that the colt will build on it at two turns at Gulfstream Park. The Kentucky bred 2-year-old broke his maiden at first asking when he went 6 furlongs in the Spectacular Bid
in 1 minute and 8.95 seconds at Gulfstream Park on 3 December, 2011.
The rampant colt fought hard for the lead throughout the race, which goes on to show his will and determination to be in front, and going down the stretch he duelled gamely to win over the eventual runner up, For Oby and in third place Town Prize.
“I honestly don’t know what to expect,” Dutrow said. “Ancient Rome certainly has the talent, and if he can get the distance, he’s going to be a useful 3-year-old this year. It’s all about experimenting here.”
“He’s always shown that toughness,” Dutrow said. “That’s one thing we know for sure about him. I would anticipate coming out of those sprint races he would be out on the lead or at least with the pacemakers.”
The son of Roman Ruler, out of mare Wish it Were by Is it True, Ancient Rome will meet Alpha in the Gulfstream Park Derby, who is exiting an eleventh place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile along with Casual Trick and Gold Megillah.
“He’s by Roman Ruler so we’re looking at that when thinking about the stretch out,” Dutrow said. “His daddy has produced a Belmont winner (Ruler on Ice) so we’ll just have to wait and see.”
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