Romans has 2-year-olds ready for next step

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Hallandale Beach, FL (Sports Network) - Trainer Dale Romans was a major factor in the 2012 Triple Crown series with Dullahan winning the Blue Grass Stakes and finishing third in the Kentucky Derby.

For the upcoming 2013 racing season Romans is getting ready a pair of colts for another try at the Run for the Roses and beyond. Currently at Gulfstream Park, the trainer has a couple of 2-year-olds who look to be able to take the next step.

Gulfport and Dewey Square are being conditioned by Romans in an effort to start racing on the road to the Triple Crown. Just over 18 months ago the trainer saddled Shackleford to victory in the Preakness Stakes.

Owned by Mike Rutherford and Michael Lauffer, Gulfport is likely to make his 3-year-old debut versus Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Shanghai Bobby in the $400,000 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream on Saturday, Jan. 26.

"He's so well balanced. He's such a nice-balance, nice-moving horse. He got such a strong pedigree," Romans noted.

Gulfport has won his last two starts after finishes of second, third and fifth to begin his career. The gray colt has banked $86,660.

"The sky's the limit," Romans said about Dewey Square who is owned by breeder Siena Farms. "He's got a quality pedigree and he looks the part."

Dewey Square is a son of 2006 champion 3-year-old colt Bernardini who won his first two starts and was third to Uncaptured in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes on Nov. 24.

"He has all the right parts to be a top horse," said Romans,

With his two victories and a third, Dewey Square has already earned $71,498.