MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012 732-747-8060 $ TDN Home Page Click Here GIROLAMO RISES IN VON EUROPA FEATURE PRESENTATION • GI JOCKEY CLUB GOLD CUP S. It may have taken a while to get going, but Girolamo (Ger) (Dai Jin {GB}) appears to have hit his best stride with a career-high victory in Sunday=s G1 Preis Von Europa at Cologne in Germany. Unraced during his juvenile year, Girolamo, last seen running fifth behind Danedream (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}) in the Sept. 2 G1 Grosser Preis von Baden at the Iffezheim oval, came from off the pace this time to outgun G2 Derby Italiano hero Feuerblitz (Ger) (Big Shuffle) and Araldo (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}) at the wire. FORT LARNED, HYMN BOOK WORK Cont. p4 Fort Larned (E Dubai), winner of the Aug. 4 GI Whitney Invitational H., turned in his final serious ALOOF BEST IN G3 FILLIES work Sunday morning at Belmont in advance of Let go at 12-1 odds following a third behind Famous Saturday's GI TVG Jockey Name (GB) in the Sept. 9 G3 Solonaway S., Aloof (Ire) Club Gold Cup Invitational. (Galileo {Ire}) proved anything but while collecting her Shortly after 6:30 a.m., first Pattern-race score in Sunday=s G3 Fillies S. at the Janis Whitham runner Gowran Park. Steadied under a tight hold in second covered five furlongs in after an alert break, the bay seized control off the home 1:01.04 over the main turn and kept on strongly under a final-furlong drive to track. Exercise rider Kate hold Beatrice Aurore (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). Merritt was aboard for the Shebella (Ire) (Dubai Destination) was third. AHer form move, the fourth-fastest of has been consistent, and good ground suited her better 11 at the distance. AHe did today,@ jockey Billy Lee told irishracing.com. AThey exactly what we wanted went a good gallop, she kept going well, and she=s Fort Larned him to do, and went very progressing as the season goes on.@ Adam Coglianese well,@ said Peggy Dunleavy, Cont. p5 assistant to trainer Ian Wilkes. AHe was very professional, and did it the right way.@ Prior to the Whitney, the 4-year-old took the GIII Cornhusker H. June 30, when he ran a 108 Beyer. AKeeping him happy is the key," added Dunleavy. AWe're keeping the same basic routine. He likes this track, to be quite honest. He's a pretty easy horse to be around.@ Also preparing for a tilt at the 10-furlong Breeders= Cup AWin and You=re In@ contest, Stuart Janney III=s Hymn Book (Arch) covered a half mile in a quick :46.91, the fastest of 18 moves at the distance over Belmont=s main track yesterday. The 6-year-old, who registered his most recent win in the Feb. 11 GI Donn H., finished fourth last time out in the aforementioned Whitney. Hymn Book Adam Coglianese AI wanted to do something more with Hymn Book because he hasn't raced in two months,@ explained trainer Shug McGaughey. In This Issue Romans Ready to Rumble In NY 60 Broad St., Suite 100 Red Bank, NJ 07701 Trainer Dale Romans, who (732) 747-8060 put the finishing touches on (732) 747-8955 (fax) his Churchill-based team over www.thoroughbreddailynews.com the weekend, rolls into town www.thetdn.com this week, bringing with him , co-publisher a top cast of racehorses set to Barry Weisbord take on some of Belmont’s barryweisbord@thetdn.com biggest races. Among them is Sue Finley, co-publisher Shackleford (Forestry), suefinley@thoroughbreddailynews.com scheduled to contest the GII Kelso H. and GI Joe Hirsch Editorial Turf Classic Invitational S. editor@thoroughbreddailynews.com Jessica Martini, Editor-in-Chief contender Little Mike Little Mike Alan Carasso, Managing Editor (Spanish Steps). Reed Palmer Marie Kizenko, Senior Editor Coverage on page 3 Christina Bossinakis, Senior Editor Lucas Marquardt, Features Editor Steve Sherack, Racing Editor Brian DiDonato, Racing Analyst/Soc. Media Dir. Justina Severni, Assistant Editor Graffard Collects Group Victory Kelsey Riley, Assistant Editor When Pearl Bloodstock's promising 2-year-old Pearl Flute (Ire) (Piccolo {GB}) swooped late to take the G3 Prix des Chenes at Longchamp Saturday, Advertising advertising@thoroughbreddailynews.com it marked a milestone not only in the career of the promising young colt, but Alycia Borer, Director of Advertising also that of his trainer, Francis-Henri Graffard. Like his talented charge, Lia Kusch, Senior Advertising Designer Graffard was recording his first Pattern success and, for a trainer that has Sarah K. Andrew, Adv Assistant/Distribution held a license less than a year, that is certainly something to celebrate. Amanda Crelin, Advertising Assistant Coverage begins page 8 Customer Service customerservice@thoroughbreddailynews.com Vicki Forbes, Director of Customer Service Information Technology La Belle Danseuse Robert Williams, Director of IT robertwilliams@thoroughbreddailynews.com Gregg Casillo, DB Administrator, Programming Heading into Sunday’s Belle Cherie S. at Belmont, Dance Card (Tapit) had a lot to live up to. A $750,000 FTFFEB 2-year-old purchase herself, the greggcasillo@thoroughbreddailynews.com 3-year-old filly is a full-sister to a colt that realized a session topping $700,000 Business Development during the Keeneland September sale earlier this month. Sent off the 4-5 Gary King, Director of Business Development choice, the grey couldn’t have made it look easier in her black-type debut at garyking@thoroughbreddailynews.com Belmont. Take a look at how she did it in Monday’s TDN. Coverage page 1 (atw) TDN Newmarket Bureau: Cafe Racing caferacing@aol.com Sean Cronin Tom Frary P TDN HEADLINE NEWS • 9/24/12 • PAGE 3 of 10 • thoroughbreddailynews.com According to Romans, he originally considered Belmont Super Saturday Donegal=s Dullahan (Even the Score) for the Hirsch, but opted instead to send him in the Oct. 6 GII Jamaica S. ROMANS PRIMES TEAM FOR NY ASSAULT In his latest trip to the post, the striking chestnut won Trainer Dale Romans tightened the screws over the the Aug. 26 GI TVG Pacific weekend on several members of his New York-bound Classic over older horses at team, including Classic hero Shackleford (Forestry), Del Mar. Dullahan who will contest the one-mile negotiated five furlongs in GII Kelso H. on this weekend=s 1:02 1/5 at Churchill >Super Saturday= card at Saturday. AIt was less about Belmont. The chestnut, timing [to the Breeders' Cup winner of the May 28 in November] for Dullahan GI Metropolitan H. over track than it was about giving and trip, breezed five furlongs Finnegans Wake the chance in 1:00 4/5 at Churchill to try a mile and a half," Downs Sunday. In his most said Romans, explaining the Dullahan Shackleford recent start, the 4-year-old decision. AI think [Finnegans Equi-Photo Equi-Photo finished eighth in the Wake is] going to relish the GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. Aug. 5 at Saratoga. Originally distance.@ Dullahan, who has garnered a trio of scheduled to contest the Sept. 1 GI Forego H., Romans victories on synthetic surfaces, will be making his first was forced to scratch last year=s GI Preakness S. hero start on grass since finishing second in the GIII Palm because of a cough. AIt was as good of a work as he's Beach S. Mar. 11. ABy sending Dullahan to the Jamaica, ever had, and we did the right thing by skipping the he still gets to try the turf while getting to stay against Forego,@ said Romans, who trains the colt for Michael straight 3-year-olds,@ said Romans. Lauffer, W.D. Cubbedge, and the Phillips Racing Partnership. AWe're looking for a big effort from him." Justin Phillip Readies for Vosburgh Romans sends a pair to this weekend=s GI Joe Hirsch In anticipation of this Saturday=s GI Vosburgh H., Turf Classic Invitational S., including Little Mike trainer Steve Asmussen sent out Zayat Stables' Justin (Spanish Steps). Owned by Priscilla Vaccarezza, Little Phillip (First Samurai) at Belmont Sunday morning. The Mike comes into the 1 1/2-mile test off a victory in the $400,000 KEESEP yearling purchase breezed four Aug. 18 GI Arlington Million. The gelding recorded a furlongs in :49.96 as he prepares for his first start since 1:03 2/5 five-furlong breeze Saturday at Churchill. finishing second in the GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. at A[The distance is] a question mark,@ admitted Romans. Saratoga Aug. 5. The dark bay also finished third-- AIt always is whenever you try something for the first beaten 1 3/4 lengths--in the July 8 Mr. Prospector S. at time, but he's done everything we've asked him to do. Monmouth and was a close-up second in Belmont=s Pace is the race. That's the key with him.@ GII True North H. June 9. AHe's been performing right Facing older horses for the first time in the Joe Hirsch there and has been getting beat right on the jump, not is Donegal Racing=s 3-year-old Finnegans Wake quite getting there,@ explained Asmussen=s New York- (Powerscourt {GB}), second in Arlington=s GI Secretariat based assistant Toby Sheets. AWe just need luck to go S. Aug. 18. Also at Churchill Saturday, Finnegans Wake our way a little bit. [Saturday] would be an awesome went six furlongs in 1:15 4/5. day for that.@ P TDN HEADLINE NEWS • 9/24/12 • PAGE 4 of 10 • thoroughbreddailynews.com Also Ran: Waldpark (Ger), Earl of Tinsdal (Ger), Baschar RESULTS (Ger), Ovambo Queen (Ger). Click for the Racing Post chart or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree.