Howling Time Could be Seen Next in Jerkens at Saratoga

For a brief second, trainer Dale Romans thought he might pull off the upset in the TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park July 23.

His 3-year-old colt Howling Time  was about to make Romans and his posse do some serious howling.

The son of Not This Time   was in contention heading into the stretch before fading and finishing fourth at odds of 25-1.

"I thought he ran super," Romans said outside his barn on the Saratoga Race Course backstretch July 27. "He gave us a thrill at the head of the lane."

After digesting the Haskell for a few days, Romans is plotting the next step for Howling Time. The colt has three wins in eight career starts but is still searching for a win in graded stakes company. The logical next start could be the Aug. 27 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (G1) at Saratoga.

"He might not want to go as far as a mile and an eighth," Romans said. "He did flatten out just a touch (in the Haskell). The cutback should help him."

Romans, who won the 2015 Travers (G1) when Keen Ice   upset Triple Crown winner American Pharoah  , said he will nominate Howling Time to the Midsummer Derby.

"We'll see if it comes up five horses, but I don't think it will," Romans said. "It will come up a tough race, it always does."