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Promises Fulfilled today put in his first breeze back at Churchill Downs since arriving from Florida with a maintenance half-mile move in :49.00.
“We had a really good morning,” trainer Dale Romans said. “He breezed very easy and galloped out strong. It was exactly what we wanted to see.”
Promises Fulfilled began his work at the three-eighths pole and clipped through opening eighth-mile fractions of 12.40, 24.80 and 37.00, before galloping out five furlongs in 1:01.40 and six in 1:14.80, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.
A son of the former Romans-trained Shackleford, Promises Fulfilled won the Fountain of Youth Stakes before fading to ninth in the Florida Derby after an early speed duel with Strike Power.
“Things really didn’t go our way that day,” Romans said. “We’re regrouping and excited to move on from that effort. When you have a horse that is a son of a former star you trained, it’s always special to showcase them on the grandest stage.”
Romans is the all-time leading trainer at Churchill Downs with 710 victories but has yet to win a Kentucky Derby.
“The ultimate goal is always to win the Kentucky Derby,” Romans said. “I grew up my entire life on the backstretch of Churchill Downs in Barn 4.
Promises Fulfilled’s stablemate, Free Drop Billy, galloped 1 1/2 mile Saturday morning and is scheduled to breeze next weekend.
Robby Albarado is likely to pilot either Promises Fulfilled or Free Drop Billy in the Kentucky Derby, but the second rider has yet to be confirmed, according to Romans.
Training hours at Churchill Downs are 5:30 to 10:00 ET with two renovation breaks at 7:00 and 8:30. Derby and Oaks horses will have an exclusive training window beginning Saturday, April 21 through Thursday, May 3 from 7:30 to 7:45.
