Unbridled Outlaw goes for hot barn

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Dale Romans has frequently taken his lumps during the winter at Gulfstream Park while in regrouping mode following a busy year back home in Kentucky. Over the last 12 years, Romans has won at a 13 percent clip (164 for 1,236) at winter meets while usually failing to make the top 10 in wins.

This winter, however, things have been a little different. Through last weekend, Romans was sixth in the championship meet trainer standings with an 18-for-82 mark (21 percent), owing partly to how his horses and clientele have undergone subtle changes in recent months.

“We’ve turned over some stock and picked up some new owners,” Romans said following a whirlwind weekend highlighted by his upset of the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct with J Boys Echo. “Things have been going pretty good down here.”

Romans will be looking to further improve on his winter Thursday at Gulfstream when he sends out Unbridled Outlaw in the $49,000 feature, a “never won three” allowance at a mile on the turf. In his last start Feb. 18, Unbridled Outlaw outran his 14-1 odds when third in a tough field.

“That was the first time we tried him on turf, and obviously we were encouraged,” Romans said. “It gives us more options going forward.”

Unbridled Outlaw is owned by the Albaugh Family Stables, which also owns J Boys Echo and the retired star 2-year-old of 2016, Not This Time. Unbridled Outlaw was a classics hopeful at this time last year, only to fail his final test by finishing 11th in the Arkansas Derby.

Unbridled Outlaw, with Corey Lanerie riding from post 3, is one of eight older horses in the Thursday feature, which goes as the fifth of 11 races on a card that starts at 12:35 p.m. Eastern. He’s the 3-1 second choice on the morning line behind Arcature (9-5), an ungraded stakes winner making his first start since being transferred into the care of Chad Brown.

The feature is not part of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 (races 6-11), which had a $253,805 rollover jackpot when the five-day race week began here Wednesday.

KEY CONTENDERS

Arcature, by Archarcharch Last 3 Beyers: 88-84-83

◗ With Javier Castellano riding from post 1, this formerly California-based colt will be making his first start in more than six months following a series of eight Palm Meadows workouts that began in mid-January.

Unbridled Outlaw, by Unbridled’s Song Last 3 Beyers: 90-79-90

◗ Graded stakes-placed at 2, he has long had the potential to develop into a very productive racehorse, and Romans is hoping the move to grass is what’s been missing.

War Stroll, by Stroll Last 3 Beyers: 87-88-86

◗ Owned by the Turf Stable of Rusty Jones and partners, this late-running colt will break from post 4 with Joel Rosario aboard following a couple of decent efforts at this level here this winter.

Azar, by Scat Daddy Last 3 Beyers: 77-70-85

◗ This Todd Pletcher-trained colt will have John Velazquez back after perhaps getting an excuse for his last race, his first in more than seven months.