Romans, Lanerie Team Up Again in Iroquois

Dale Romans reached out to Corey Lanerie to pilot Cleburne (Dixie Union) in the 2013 GIII Iroquois S. off an Ellis Park maiden success and the duo teamed to post a 34-1 upset. The trainer-and-jockey combination will combine forces yet again, this time with Unbridled Outlaw (Unbridled’s Song) in this year’s tilt, a ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifier for the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

The $330,000 Keeneland September graduate, a son of 2008 GII Forward Gal S. winner Letgomyecho (Menifee), was away slowly and shuffled back through the field when favored at 3-2 for his career debut at Churchill June 27 and did well to rally into third, one spot behind Spa maiden winner Sticksstatelydude (First Dude). The dark bay ducked in at the start of a July 25 maiden at the peapatch and hit the rail, but regrouped and managed to find his way to the wire a measured half-length to the good of Rated R Superstar (Kodiak Kowboy), as that pair put nearly seven lengths on the balance of the field. The latter returned to drill a group of Ellis maidens by five lengths Aug. 15 and adds Lasix for this, though he would appear to have some distance questions to answer.

Twirling Cinnamon (Twirling Candy) returns to the site of his first-up graduation June 19, where he raced in traffic on the turn and burst through a gap leaving the eighth pole to be up by a nose. Bet down to 4-1 for the GIII Sanford S. July 25, the $180,000 Keeneland September yearling buy never really looked comfortable and was not persevered with once hopelessly beaten in eighth. It is perhaps telling that two of his next three morning trials at Saratoga were on the grass, and he has recorded two sharp drills since returning to Louisville. He’ll need to work out a trip from this high draw, but looms a surprise package.