At The Rail: Jonathan Thomas and Dale Romans

The TDN's Christie DeBernardis is out at Gulfstream this week providing on-site coverage of the GI Florida Derby and she caught up with trainers Jonathan Thomas and Dale Romans Thursday morning. Thomas runs GIII Sam F. Davis S. runner-up Catholic Boy (More Than Ready) and Romans sends out GII Fountain of Youth S. upsetter Promises Fulfilled (Shackleford), as well as Storm Runner (Get Stormy), who finished seventh in that test.

JONATHAN THOMAS

How does it feel having your first Florida Derby contender?

“It is a privilege to have a horse like this for a great client like Bob LaPenta and the corresponding partnerships that have evolved out of it with Sol Kumin and Mr. Manganaro.”

What would it be like to go to the GI Kentucky Derby?

“If we make it to the Derby, it is going to be because we had a very good effort in the Florida Derby and that would be a great thing. We are taking it one step at a time. The Florida Derby is very important to us and we are treating it as an important race. If we make it to the Derby, it is because good things have happened.”

How is Catholic Boy training coming into the race?

“He has trained very well. The preparation has gone as well as we could have hoped for and everything is being executed properly.”

Jockey Irad Ortiz is riding Catholic Boy for the first time Saturday. How do you think he will get along with the horse?

“To me, his style really suits this horse. He is a very patient rider who seems to allow the race to develop around him. He doesn't seem to force the issue in races. He has a very good gauge on how things are developing around him, so I think he suits the horse excellent.”

How do you feel about the draw?

“The draw is fine. I was hoping for something low, but six is certainly acceptable. It is kind of odd because you've got speed on the rail, you've got speed in the eight hole with Audible (Into Mischief) and you've got speed with Promises Fulfilled in post four. You also have Mississippi (Pioneerof the Nile) with blinkers for the first time, so I assume they are going to put him in the race and he is going to have to come out of there running from his draw [on the far outside].”

DALE ROMANS

What do you think of the draw for your horses with Promises Fulfilled in gate four and Storm Runner beside him in five?

“I think we got perfect draws and both horses are doing excellent. You can't go wrong with four and five.”

How do you feel about having Robby Albarado back in the irons on Promises Fuflilled?

“He's my go-to jock. He's two-for-two on the horse and we are glad to have him back.”

Will the plan for Promises Fulfilled be to go to the front?

“Yes.”

What did you think of Storm Runner's race in the Fountain of Youth and his chances to improve Saturday?

“I didn't think he had any chance after the debacle on the backside and he is going to run a much better race.”