Promises Fulfilled Reigns in H. Allen Jerkens Stakes
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Promises Fulfilled takes the H. Allen Jerkens Stakes at Saratoga Race Course
Dale Romans considers himself among the lucky ones to count the late H. Allen Jerkens as both a mentor and friend. And in the days leading up to the race named for the Hall of Famer, Romans was watching his two entrants go through their paces hoping that what he was seeing in the morning hours would ultimately allow him to pay a fitting tribute to the man known to the racing community as "The Chief."
As it turns out, Romans indeed crafted a training job with Promises Fulfilled and Seven Trumpets that would have made one of the legends of the game proud.
Romans has his share of top-level wins on what is likely to go down as a Hall of Fame résumé, but few have hit him in the emotional solar plexus like the one he celebrated on the Saratoga Race Course main track Aug. 25. After taking some heat early on, Promises Fulfilled live up to his billing when he came three wide into the stretch and prevailed by 1 1/4 lengths over stablemate Seven Trumpets in the $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1) over seven furlongs.
"That was very special," Romans said. "Of course, most people in the game know that Allen and I were very close. He was a good friend and mentor in life. It's an honor to win this race, and I think to get up for second, we might have had a little divine intervention."
Promises Fulfilled has most certainly had the look of a horse who is tucking into his wheelhouse of late.
The son of Shackleford was put on the Road to the Kentucky Derby after upsetting the field in gate-to-wire fashion in the March 3 Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2). Since finishing 15th in the first leg of the Triple Crown, Promises Fulfilled has been shortened up, and he's responded by making a case for himself as one of the nation's premier sprinters.
After finishing third in the seven-furlong Woody Stephens Stakes presented by Mohegan Sun (G2) June 9, Promises Fulfilled scored a 3 1/4-length victory next time out in the July 28 Amsterdam Stakes (G3) at Saratoga.
"It's a great day. I'm glad for the horse," owner Robert Baron said of Promises Fulfilled. "After the Woody Stephens, Dale says, 'We're going to run in the Amsterdam and this race.' You never think about where you're going to finish, only that you're going to run. It worked out great."
Sent off as the 6-5 choice in the nine-horse field, Promises Fulfilled broke sharply under jockey Luis Saez and set fractions of :22.66 and :44.34, with Gidu pushing the issue to his outside. As the field reached the far turn, Promises Fulfilled maintained his advantage but was taken on briefly by Engage as Seven Trumpets cut the corner along the inside. With Saez going to the right-handed whip, Promises Fulfilled found more in deep stretch, leaving his barn mate to battle for place honors.
"It was pretty nice. I was the speed in the race, and my plan was to break and run him from there and find out who was bad, who was in the lead, so we can take it," Saez said. "He looked like he was very comfortable when he came to the stretch. He stretched the lead and took off."
The final time was 1:21.44 over a fast track. Seven Trumpets—who was beaten nine lengths by Firenze Fire in the Dwyer Stakes (G3)—edged that grade 1-winning challenger by half a length for second.
"I'm very proud of Seven Trumpets," Romans said. "At (32-1), I can't believe he was that big of a price."
Bred in Kentucky by David Jacobs out of the Marquetry mare Marquee Delivery, Promises Fulfilled improved his record to five wins from nine starts, with $770,280 in earnings. He was purchased by Romans for $37,000 from Select Sales' consignment to the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
"Two good horses and a lot to look forward to down the road," Romans said.