Romans excited to be part of history in Belmont Stakes

by NYRA Press Office

For the fourth time in his career, trainer Dale Romans brings a horse to Belmont Park with designs on spoiling a Triple Crown bid. Albaugh Family Stables' Grade 1 winner Free Drop Billy will be a decided long shot against Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Justify in Saturday's Belmont Stakes, but Romans wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

"Wayne Lukas told me a long time ago when I was just getting started ... he said he's made millions of dollars running horses where people told him he didn't belong, and if your horse is doing good don't be afraid to give them a chance," Romans said. "I've kind of stuck to that."

Free Drop Billy, 16th in the May 5 Kentucky Derby last time out, will break from post-position 2 in a field of 10 as a 30-1 outsider in the program. The only horse inside him will be Justify, attempting to become the 13th horse to sweep the Triple Crown and just the second to do so without a loss.

"There's only limited chances to run in a race like this," Romans said. "After the Derby we didn't know what we were going to do with him, but he's just trained so well and he's had some good breezes since the Derby. He's doing great and I just think he deserves a chance to run with the best. We'll try him out one more time."

Romans was seventh in the 2012 Belmont with Dullahan, who inherited the favorite's role when Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I'll Have Another was scratched on the eve of the race with a career-ending injury. Two years later, Romans-trained Medal Count - sent off at 24-1 - was third to Tonalist but three-quarters of a length ahead of California Chrome, who dead-heated for fourth in his Triple Crown attempt.

Keen Ice was 17-1 in 2015 when he finished third behind American Pharoah, whose victory ended a 37-year Triple Crown drought. Keen Ice would go on to become the only horse to beat American Pharoah during his 3-year-old season in the Grade 1 Travers at Saratoga Race Course.

"It's fun and exciting to be a part of something that could be historic, like when we ran third the year Pharoah won," Romans said. "Just being there and a racing fan, I was glad to be a participant and feel the electricity and energy from all the people and the fans that day. It makes the whole day a little bit more special."

Free Drop Billy trained early Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs before boarding the same flight bringing Justify to New York. They were expected to arrive at Belmont Park in early afternoon.