So close but yet too far is Roman’s story for the past three years in the Derby
It must be frustrating for Dale Romans, who in the last three runnings of the Kentucky Derby has been so close of saddling a winner, and the same happened in the 138th running of the Grade 1, $2 million Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on 5 May, 2012, when his sturdy 3-year-old colt, Dullahan, had a perfect trip throughout the 1 ¼ mile race, only to go a little wider on the final bend to lose precious ground and finish third.
Still a big effort from Dullahan, but trainer Dale Romans is all too familiar with being close, but not close enough, and when you glance back on those three years, Paddy O’Prado in 2010 came close but finished third, and last year Shackleford after leading much of the race gave way to Animal Kingdom and finished fourth.
“It is a letdown to run so well and get so close three years in a row,” Romans said Monday morning. “I guess it’s better than running up the racetrack, but the Derby’s a race you’re not sure you’re ever going to make it back to. When you’ve got a horse that runs so big, you’d sure like to go on and win.”
In the Kentucky Derby, Kent Desormeaux aboard Dullahan just wanted to go a little wider on the outside going round the turn, but gave too much room for horses to squeeze and had too much to do in the end.
Dullahan was 13th in a field of 20 at the half mile pole, which shows that he covered massive ground just to be beaten by a neck for second by Bodemeister.
Though, Romans is proud of the Donegal Racing owned colt, he is still uncertain if he wants him in the Preakness Stakes. Dale Romans won the last year’s Preakness Stakes when Shackleford broke through the wire first keeping Animal Kingdom at bay.
“We’re still discussing it,” said Romans. “I don’t know whether or not I’d work him before the race or not. We’re going to see how he trains for a few days and take it from there.”
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