Romanceishope--Gold Rush II

For a 3-year-old that was once so sore he couldn't even be trained properly, victory in last year's Snow Chief Stakes marked a promising beginning, rather than the end, for Romanceishope.

With just his maiden win and an allowance score to his credit, the In Excess (Ire) gelding did not appear to have enough seasoning to take on the likes of dual Grade III winner Hoovergetthekeys and California Derby hero Takin It Deep in just his fifth career start. Fans bet Romanceishope down to 5-1, so he was not without a chance to pick up a part of the purse. His connections had no idea that it would be the biggest slice of all.

Breaking from the number five hole under Chris McCarron, Romanceishope tracked pacesetters Stocks Are Rising and Upsanddowns from the fourth spot. He moved into striking position rounding the far turn and had the lead as they straightened for home. It was the third victory of the afternoon for McCarron, who had scored his milestone 7,000th win aboard Spinelessjellyfish in the Khaled Stakes.

"Romanceishope was a very pleasant surprise," trainer Jenine Sahadi exclaimed. "He wasn't expected to win."

Foaled at her family's Cardiff Stud Farms, Romanceishope was bred by Shigehiro (Bernie) Hatake and is the first foal of the Prized mare Romantic Fibs. Hatake has been breeding and racing horses in this country and Japan for many years and operates a pedigree consulting service out of Rancho Palos Verdes. When Romanceishope was a yearling, he sold a half-interest in him to his longtime client, Semji Nishimura, who flew here from Japan to watch the gelding run in the Snow Chief.

Sahadi discovered that Romanceishope, unlike most In Excess offspring, wasn't an early-maturing sprinter and might actually like a distance of ground. Once his unsoundness problems were behind him, she started training him with that purpose in mind.

The gelding switched to turf following the Snow Chief and won the restricted Manila Stakes on June 23. Moving south for the Del Mar season, he ran second in the La Jolla Handicap before scoring his first graded stakes victory in the Del Mar Derby. It was enough to earn him accolades as California's champion 3-year-old male of 2001.