Romans Likes Added Distance for Remsen Pair

By Jerry Bossert

Dale Romans is hoping the extra distance of the Nov. 29 Remsen Stakes (gr. II) will be worth the trip for Keen Ice and Thirtysevenliveson.

Rather than start both in Saturday's Kentucky Jockey Club (gr. II) going 1 1/16 miles in his backyard of Churchill Downs, Romans will ship the two juveniles to New York to run in the $400,000 Remsen over 1 1/8 miles at Aqueduct Racetrack.

"It's the distance," Romans said. "Both horses can run all day. It's that extra sixteenth of a mile that separates the men from the boys."

Romans saddled O'Prado Again   to victory in the 2011 Remsen off of a maiden win for owner Donegal Racing and will try to do it again with Keen Ice. After finishing fourth in his debut at Ellis Park Aug. 23, Keen Ice broke his maiden two weeks later at Churchill before running fifth in the Oct. 4 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (gr. I) at Keeneland.

"This horse is doing really well, just like O'Prado Again was," Romans said of the Curlin   colt.

Zayat Stables' Thirtysevenliveson is still a maiden from three starts but is a half brother to 2009 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Mine That Bird.

"He's only a maiden because of maturity," the trainer said. "He's coming along mentally."

After finishing fifth in his debut at Churchill Sept. 13, Thirtysevenliveson finished third in a maiden heat at Keeneland Oct 4. The Giant's Causeway   runner was a late-moving second back at Churchill last time out as the favorite.

"They're both doing well and they should appreciate the extra sixteenth of a mile," Romans said.

The Remsen drew a field of 14 with Thirtysevenliveson breaking from post 5 and Keen Ice leaving from post 9. Corey Lanerie will ride Keen Ice, while Paco Lopez will be aboard Thirtysevenliveson.

Todd Pletcher, who has saddled the winner of the Remsen twice in his career—Bluegrass Cat   (2005) and Overanalyze   (2012)—will send out Royal Burgh (post 6) and Ostrolenka (post 12).

Royal Burgh got up to score by a neck in his debut at Keeneland Oct. 22 for Starlight Racing, while Ostrolenka will be trying open company for the first time in his career after competing with New York-breds in his first three starts.

In his last start, Ostrolenka won the $250,000 Sleepy Hollow Stakes at Belmont Park Oct. 18 by 2 1/2 lengths for owner Eric Fein.

Chad Brown will also saddle two starters in the Remsen for Klaravich Stables—Leave the Light On and Market Conduct.

Leave the Light On steps up off a 4 1/2 length maiden win in a race originally scheduled for the turf, while Market Conduct has just a maiden win from three starts and finished third in the Sleepy Hollow behind Ostrolenka.