Roses In May Is a Late Bloomer in the Whitney

Given the name, a lot was expected from Roses In May before he began his career for owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey.

However, the closest the son of Devil His Due got to the Kentucky Derby was debuting in the contest immediately after Funny Cide’s upset in the world’s most famous race on May 3, 2003, at Churchill Downs.

Although Roses In May didn’t do much in his 3-year-old season, winning two of five, the $115,000 purchase has certainly come into his own this year.

With his 7-1 upset in the $750,000 Whitney Handicap on Saturday at Saratoga, he is now four for four in 2004 and has to be considered a legitimate contender for the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Oct. 30 at Lone Star Park.

In giving trainer Dale Romans his first victory in a Grade I, Roses In May, who had earned his first five victories wire-to-wire, was able to track a hot pace, then hold off 3-1 second choice Perfect Drift through the stretch to win by a nose under jockey Edgar Prado. The time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:48.54.

“Any time you do something new in this business, it’s exciting,” said Romans, referring to his first Grade I. “It went just as I hoped it would play out. I knew Perfect Drift was going to come running, and when we got head-to-head, it was just a matter of who would outgame the other one.

“It’s a big step forward for him and, hopefully, it’s going to take us to the Breeders’ Cup.”

Perfect Drift, who had finished second to Roses In May in the Cornhusker Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Prairie Meadows a month earlier, looked like a winner at the top of the stretch, but after briefly getting about a head advantage, he had to settle for another minor award. He has now lost six in a row since taking the Hawthorne Gold Cup on Sept. 28, 2003.

“I thought we had it,” said Murray Johnson, Perfect Drift’s trainer. “[Jockey] Pat [Day] said that when he hit the front, he lifted his head up and eased up a bit. To the other horse’s credit, he kept going.”

Peace Rules, the 3-1 favorite, demonstrated again he’s not effective when he doesn’t make the lead. Outrun early by the winner and 49-1 longshot Yessirgeneralsir, he faded and finished sixth.

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A race before the Whitney, Bwana Charlie, the 3-1 second choice, rallied from last to beat 17-10 favorite Pomeroy by three-quarters of a length in the $150,000 Amsterdam Stakes.

Shane Sellers rode the 3-year-old Indian Charlie colt for owner Bill Heiligbrodt and trainer Steve Asmussen. Bwana Charlie, who has won four of 12, completed the six furlongs in 1:09.40.

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Angela’s Love, the 9-2 third choice, ran away from her five rivals and won the $200,000 Gardenia Handicap at Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky.

Owned by Bill and Vicki Poston and trained by Romans, the 4-year-old Not For Love filly ran the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.54. Ridden by Mark Guidry, she has won six of 11.

Miss Fortunate, the 7-2 second choice, was second, a half-length in front of 9-10 favorite and defending champion Bare Necessities.

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Inspiring, the 9-10 favorite, gave trainer Bob Baffert his fifth victory in the $150,000 Sorrento Stakes with a wire-to-wire victory over the previously unbeaten Souvenir Gift and six other 2-year-old fillies at Del Mar.

Providing jockey David Flores with his fourth victory of the program, the daughter of Golden Missile won by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:18.29 for the 6 1/2 furlongs. Owned by Bob and Beverly Lewis, Inspiring, who was purchased for $450,000 nearly a year ago at Keeneland, had won her debut by four lengths on July 5 at Hollywood Park before the Sorrento.

“When you’re expected to win, you really want to win,” said Baffert, whose last victory in the Grade III had come with Chilukki in 1999. “She handled everything well today.”

The victory was the second of the day for Baffert with a 2-year-old. Two races before, Fusaichi Rock Star, a son of Wild Wonder who was purchased for $825,000 earlier this year by owner Fusao Sekiguchi, broke his maiden in his second race.