Promises Fulfilled out-duels Engage in battle of locals
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » While Saratoga Race Course carries the moniker as the ‘Graveyard of Favorites,’ it is also the place where dreams come true and it was only fitting that Promises Fulfilled brightened the spirits of trainer Dale Romans and local owner Bob Baron.
“I haven’t won a race in a month, I’ve been having the blues the last week or two, all you need is two wins at Saratoga and life is good again,” Romans said after Promises Fulfilled with Luis Saez aboard raced the 6 ½ furlong s on the main track in one minute, 15.18 seconds. and hold off Chad Brown trained Engage by a length to capture the Grade 3 $200,000 Amsterdam Stakes.
Strike Power jumped out to the early lead, covering a half-mile in 43.92 seconds, and held on into the stretch when Promises Fulfilled and Engage made it a race of their own. Promises Fulfilled never relented and went on to win by 3 ¼ lengths for the second win of the day for both Saez and Romans.
Promises Fulfilled won by 3 1/3 lengths over even money favorite Engage with Barry Lee a distant third, 9 ¼ lengths back. Strike Power, Soutache and Old Time Revival followed.
“We talked in the paddock and I told Luis to go, I said give him a chance and he kind of looked at me funny,” Romans said. “I said ‘O.K. give him a chance and then you race ride from there and he rode a beautiful race.
“When he backed off I thought ‘Luis’ is a smart kid, Luis knows what he’s doing and I’m happy he sat there,” Romans continued. “He got outside, he slowed down a touch and he went to him early, but they had the half at 43 together and still kept going. I haven’t had many horses that could that.”
Promises Fulfilled finished 15th in the Kentucky Derby and then third in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens.
“The horse has done so well since Belmont day,” Romans said. “I just didn’t see him losing today and I’m usually a pessimist. He’s always been talented, he’s always been good, but he turned the corner and like he’s a man now and I think we’re going to see bigger and better things out of him.”
Owner Bob Baron is the chairman of Baron Construction Corp in Albany and has had a two decade relationship with his trainer.
“I started coming here back in the late 60s and I’ve been with Dale (Romans) since the late 90s,” Bob Baron said. “We’ve been together for something like 20 years.”
He also saw a bright future for his three-year-old chestnut colt.
“What I like is after the Fountain of Youth (win) they got down on him because of the Derby and now he came back and we put him in a different spot,” Baron said. “To win sprinting I think is great, which gives us a lot more options.
“I’m happy for the horse because he is that good and I think we just spotted him right this time.”
Romans said he expects Promises Fulfilled to race in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial on Aug. 25.
“[Jerkens] was my good friend and we’ll try and win his race,” Romans said. “Nothing would make me happier right now.”