Trainer Dale Romans sported a wide smile following workouts by his two top 2-year-olds at Gulfstream Park on the morning of Dec. 15.
Gulfport, who has won his last two starts impressively, went first after the renovation break, breezing an easy five furlongs in 1:02 4/5.
"He looked super," Romans said.
Gulfport is a $775,000 yearling purchase by Mike Rutherford and Michael Lauffer. He broke his maiden at Churchill Downs Oct. 31 by 7 1/4 lengths going seven furlongs. Stretching out to a mile at Churchill on Nov. 24, the son of Unbridled's Song came back to win an allowance by nearly three lengths.
"He's probably going to run in the Holy Bull (gr. III)," said Romans, referring to the $400,000 stakes for 3-year-olds at Gulfstream Jan. 26.
Dewey Square, a late-developing son of Bernardini , also drilled five furlongs, handily, in :59 1/5 to record the second-fastest clocking of 31 at the distance Saturday morning.
"He went super," Romans said. "He went around there fast. He's a good horse. It looks like he's turned the corner and is heading in the right direction."
Dewey Square broke his maiden by nearly 12 lengths going 7 1/2 furlongs in his debut at Hoosier Park Sept. 21. The Siena Farms Kentucky homebred came back Oct. 28 to run away to a four-length victory in an entry-level allowance at Churchill Downs. He stepped up to stakes company in the Kentucky Jockey Club (gr. II) Nov. 24 at Churchill, closing steadily to finish third behind multiple stakes winner Uncaptured and highly regarded Frac Daddy .
His workout was his second at Gulfstream in preparation for his 2013 debut.
"We don't have anything firm yet," said Romans.
Romans also sent out Rightfully So, a 3-year-old who has come off a year layoff to post two victories in three starts, including a seven-length allowance win at Churchill Downs Nov. 25. The son of A.P. Indy breezed five furlongs in an easy 1:02.
Romans took a moment to campaign for Little Mike, the popular turf specialist he also trains. Little Mike captured three grade I stakes this year, including the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill, the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park, and the Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita Park.
'Little Mike should be champion turf horse if not Horse of the Year," said Romans, who is on the short list for a possible Eclipse Award as outstanding trainer in 2012.
Romans is pointing Little Mike to the $5 million Sheema Classic (UAE-IT) on the undercard of the $6 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I).
"Nothing definite, but we might run him twice in Dubai," said Romans, who has penciled in the Dubai World Cup for Dullahan, his Pacific Classic (gr. I) winner.
Trainer Dale Romans
Anne M. Eberhardt