Romans Breeders' Cup Brigade Led by Impressive Juveniles Girl Daddy, Sittin On Go

Oct 29, 2020 Kevin Kerstein,Churchill Downs Communications

Trainer Dale Romans had a monumental Kentucky Derby week with Albaugh Family Stable’s duo of stakes winners Girl Daddy and Sittin On Go. The twosome will join three other Romans trainees in next weekend’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland.

“It was a really great week to win both the Pocahontas (Grade III) and Iroquois (GIII),” Romans said. “We’re coming into the Breeders’ Cup with some good chances and ready to take our shot. I think that across the board each of the Breeders’ Cup races are shaping up to be competitive. It’s fun getting to compete on this stage and seeing who is the best of the best.”

Sittin On Go, a 2-year-old undefeated son of former Romans-trained Brody’s Cause, is one of the top contenders for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI). Also scheduled to join him in the starting gate is Albaugh’s maiden winner Smiley Sobotka.

Girl Daddy, who won the $200,000 Pocahontas by two lengths, is likely to face seven rivals in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI).

“Obviously, long term, you always have next year’s Kentucky Derby and Oaks in the back of your mind,” Romans said. “These horses have shown they have potential to get to that level in the future.”

Romans also pre-entered CJ Thoroughbreds, Left Turn Racing and Casner Racing’s $500,000 Derby City Distaff (GI) third-place finisher Sally’s Curlin to the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (GI) and Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister’s $200,000 Fayette (GII) hero Mr Freeze to the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI).

All five horses are expected to have their final works prior to the Breeders’ Cup Friday or Saturday. They will ship to Keeneland on Monday, according to Romans.

FOLEY ‘TAKING A SHOT AT THE RIGHT TIME’ WITH SCONSIN IN BREEDERS’ CUP FILLY & MARE SPRINT Lloyd Madison Farms’ $250,000 Eight Belles (Grade II) winner Sconsin will be in search of season-ending glory in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (GI) but will have to face older rivals for the first time in her eight-race career.

“We had thought about running in the Raven Run after the Eight Belles to stay with 3-year-olds,” trainer Greg Foley said. “We got together with the owners and they said, ‘What about the big one?’ She was impressive coming from behind in the Eight Belles and I think will fit right with this group of horses coming from off the pace. I think we are taking a shot at the right time with her. Anytime you run a 3-year-old against older horses for the first time, you don’t necessarily know what to expect. Since this is the end of the season, from here on out she’ll be running against older horses.”

Sconsin is part of Lloyd Madison Farms’ impressive homebred operation. She is by Include out of the former Foley-trained Sconnie. Prior to Sconsin’s Eight Belles score, she finished third behind Mundaye Call in the $100,000 Audubon Oaks at Ellis Park and was the runner-up to Four Graces in the $100,000 Beaumont (GIII) at Keeneland.

“We’re just hoping for a honest pace and a fair track in the Breeders’ Cup,” Foley said. “She’s a beautiful filly and has all the right looks of a great horse. She was beautiful as a weanling, yearling and now a 3-year-old.”

Sconsin was one of 10 horses pre entered in the Filly & Mare Sprint. Post positions will be drawn on Monday.

AMOSS SCORES 500TH CHURCHILL DOWNS VICTORY – Trainer Tom Amoss scored his 500th victory at Churchill Downs when Light of the World held on to win Wednesday’s opener.

Amoss, a native of New Orleans, became only the fifth trainer in the history of Churchill Downs to win 500 races. The others: Steve Asmussen (760 wins), Dale Romans (751), Bill Mott (732) and D. Wayne Lukas (537).

Entering Thursday’s card, trainer Bernie Flint was two wins away from his 500th victory at Churchill Downs.

LOCAL BREEDERS’ CUP CONTENDERS SET TO CONVERGE ON KEENELAND – There are more than 30 locally-based Breeders’ Cup contenders that will attempt season-ending glory in the Nov. 6-7 World Championships at Keeneland Racecourse.

Many of the horses will have their final workouts in the next three days, pending weather. Below is the full list of horses based at Churchill Downs who are likely to compete in the Breeders’ Cup and their next workout:

Horse

Trainer

Next Work

Race

Abarta

Brad Cox

Friday

Juv. Turf

Arklow

Brad Cox

Saturday

Turf

Art Collector

Tommy Drury

Friday or Saturday

Dirt Mile

Aunt Pearl

Brad Cox

Friday

Juv. Fillies Turf

Beau Recall

Brad Cox

Saturday

Mile

Bell's the One

Neil Pessin

Friday

F&M Sprint

By My Standards

Bret Calhoun

Saturday

Classic

Camp Hope

Kenny McPeek

N/A

Juvenile

Casa Creed

Bill Mott

Saturday

Mile

Crazy Beautiful

Kenny McPeek

Saturday

Juv. Fillies

Essential Quality

Brad Cox

Friday

Juvenile

Factor This

Brad Cox

Saturday

Mile

Girl Daddy

Dale Romans

Friday

Juv. Fillies

Global Campaign

Stan Hough

Saturday

Classic

Got Stormy

Mark Casse

Friday

Turf Sprint

Harvey's Lil Goil

Bill Mott

Saturday

Filly & Mare Turf

Hog Creek Hustle

Vickie Foley

N/A

Sprint

Just Might

Michelle Lovell

Sunday

Turf Sprint

King Fury

Kenny McPeek

N/A

Juvenile

Knicks Go

Brad Cox

Saturday

Dirt Mile

Manny Wah

Wayne Catalano

Saturday

Sprint

Monomoy Girl

Brad Cox

Saturday

Distaff

Mr Freeze

Dale Romans

Friday or Saturday

Dirt Mile

Mr. Money

Bret Calhoun

Friday

Dirt Mile

Owendale

Brad Cox

Saturday

Dirt Mile

Pirate's Punch

Grant Forster

Friday (Trackside Louisville)

Dirt Mile

Sally's Curlin

Dale Romans

Friday

F&M Sprint

Sconsin

Greg Foley

N/A

F&M Sprint

Silver Dust

Bret Calhoun

Friday

Dirt Mile

Simply Ravishing

Kenny McPeek

Saturday

Juv. Fillies

Sittin On Go

Dale Romans

Friday

Juvenile

Smiley Sobotka

Dale Romans

Friday

Juvenile

Spanish Loveaffair

Mark Casse

Friday

Juv. Fillies Turf

Swiss Skydiver

Kenny McPeek

Saturday

Distaff/Classic

Title Ready

Dallas Stewart

Saturday

Classic

Tom's d'Etat

Al Stall Jr.

Saturday

Classic

War of Will

Mark Casse

Friday

Dirt Mile

Whitmore

Ron Moquett

Sunday

Sprint

TV SCHEDULE – Racing at Churchill Downs continued Wednesday – Sunday with daily first post at 1 p.m. Below is the TV schedule on the Fox Sports family of networks:

Thursday: FS2 (12:30-6 p.m.) | MSG+ (12:30-6 p.m.)

Friday: FS2 (12:30-6 p.m.) | MSG+ (12:30-6 p.m.)

Saturday: FS2 (12-6 p.m.) | MSG+ (12-6 p.m.)

Sunday: FS2 (12-6 p.m.) | MSG+ (12:30-6 p.m.)

DOWN THE STRETCH – There was a $48,980 carryover in the 20-cent Single 6 Jackpot for racing on Thursday at Churchill Downs. First post was 1 p.m. … With rain falling for most of Wednesday night in Louisville, the Thursday worktab only included four horses. However, most notably was 2019 Kentucky Oaks (GI) winner Serengeti Empress who worked an easy half-mile in :48.60. … For more information and to purchase tickets for the Fall Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.

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