Romans Fillies to Skip Rampart

Multiple graded stakes-winning fillies Birdatthewire and Go Maggie Go, both nominated to Saturday's $100,000 Rampart (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park, will skip the one-mile race for fillies and mares to aim for a later start during the winter, trainer Dale Romans said.

Forum Racing IV's Birdatthewire is winless in nine starts this year after closing out her 3-year-old season with a victory in the La Brea Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park last December. She finished second in both the grade II La Canada and Chilukki Stakes, and third in the Princess Rooney Stakes Presented by Hardacre Farm (gr. II) July 2 at Gulfstream and the July 31 Molly Pitcher Stakes (gr. III).

"We freshened 'Bird' up a little bit," Romans said. "She has had a good, long campaign and she just needed some time. She's a good filly. She'll be back."

Unraced at 2, Mike Tarp's Go Maggie Go has three wins from seven starts this year. She lost three straight since taking the May 20 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (gr. II) at Pimlico Race Course, and most recently finished off the board in the 1 1/8-mile Falls City Handicap (gr. II) Nov. 24 at Churchill Downs.

"'Maggie,' I'm just going to train her down here and figure out where to go with her after the first of the year," Romans said. "She didn't run very well last time. I have to figure out what's tweaking her and get her fixed up right."

Go Maggie Go is unbeaten in two tries at Gulfstream. She won her debut March 13 and followed up with a victory in the April 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks (gr. II).

Birdatthewire has two wins, a second, and a third in four starts at Gulfstream, where she won the grade II Forward Gal Stakes and Gulfstream Park Oaks, and placed second in the 2015 Davona Dale Stakes (gr. II). Birdatthewire made one start on an all-weather surface, finishing eighth in the Sept. 19 Presque Isle Downs Masters (gr. II).

Gulfstream's dirt stakes for older females include the $100,000 Hurricane Bertie (gr. III) at seven furlongs Jan. 28, the $200,000 Royal Delta (gr. II) at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 18, and the $200,000 Inside Information (gr. II) at seven furlongs March 18.

"They both run well here, so we're not worried about that part," Romans said. "Believe me, we'll see them at the meet."

Though Iroquois Stakes (gr. III) winner Not This Time   was retired following his runner-up finish in the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) with a soft tissue injury, Romans may have another up-and-coming Triple Crown prospect in Albaugh Family Stables' J Boys Echo.

The juvenile son of Mineshaft   finished second in his debut Oct. 2 at Churchill, came back to break his maiden by 5 1/2 lengths as the favorite going 1 1/16 miles Oct. 27 at Keeneland, then rallied to run fourth in the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot (gr. III) Nov. 19.

"He had a horrendous trip and came flying at the end. It looked like, to me, he might have been second-best, but the winner ran a monster race," Romans said. "He galloped out strong. He wants to go on forever. He's a big, ol' Mineshaft and Mineshaft went forever, so we figure he will, too. I don't know what's next. I watched him train today and got excited, so I have to start thinking about it. I think he ran a sneaky good race in the Jackpot. We'll try to get him on the Derby trail."