Roman Ruler went into the race off a series of sensational works, including a six-furlong drill in 1:11, the only work in which Baffert asked him to run. Roman Ruler is out of the unraced Silver Deputy mare Silvery Swan, whose broodmare sire, Quack, still holds the fastest 1 1/4-mile time ever for a 3-year-old when he defeated older horses in the 1972 Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) in 1:58 1/5.Baffert can't wait for next year's Kentucky Derby (gr. I) after failing to have a starter this year, the first time he's missed the race since 1995. It's still a long way off, but you can bet Baffert's sunglasses took on a rose tint after watching Roman Ruler on Saturday.
Bob Baffert has been talking up his exciting 2-year-old Roman Ruler for quite a while, and the colt justified all the high praise by winning first crack out in grand style at Hollywood Park on Saturday.A son of Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Fusaichi Pegasus, the $500,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase was sent off as the 4-5 favorite. Breaking from the far outside in post 10 under Corey Nakatani, Roman Ruler tracked the early pace in fourth, while four-wide, then unleashed his move three-wide and quickly ran his opponents into the ground, drawing off to a four-length victory under a hand ride in a swift :57.27 for the five furlongs."He is amazing," Baffert said of the colt, who is owned by David Shimmon and William Bianco's Fog City Stables. "He never took a deep breath. He's even better looking than his sire, and has a great mind to go with it."
