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A Roman Dynasty Discovery at Aqueduct Allen E. Paulson Living Trust's homebred ROMAN DYNASTY (Theatrical [Ire]) ran in last throughout Wednesday's $105,300 Discovery H. (G3) at Aqueduct, before rallying on the outside in the stretch to score by a half-length under John Velazquez. Giving trainer Todd Pletcher his record-tying 53rd graded stakes victory of the year, Roman Dynasty ran 1 1/8 miles on the fast track in 1:51 while paying $7.70, $3 and $2.40 as the 5-2 second choice. "We'll see what happens," Pletcher said about tying D. Wayne Lukas' 1987 mark. "Maybe we've got another one out there somewhere." On Board Again (Awesome Again) came three wide around the second turn to challenge in the stretch, finishing 2 3/4 lengths in front of Valid Notebook (Notebook) while returning $2.40 and $2.10 as the 4-5 favorite. Valid Notebook held the advantage through six furlongs in 1:12 3/5, but couldn't hold off the top two, giving back $2.60 at nearly 4-1. The exotics were worth $14.80 (exacta) and $32.40 (2-6-5 trifecta). Master of Disaster (Dance Master) and Indian Hawke (Indian Charlie) rounded out the order under the line after Champ Safi (Louis Quatorze) was withdrawn. Roman Dynasty earned his first stakes win in the off-the-turf Match the Hatch S. at Belmont in mid-May and ran fourth in the grassy Colonial Turf Cup one race later. After a seventh in the Virginia Derby (G2), the chestnut colt was moved to the dirt, where he finished second in a Belmont allowance. With this win, the sophomore now boasts a 7-3-2-0 record with $208,810 in lifetime earnings. "We gave him a chance on the turf (in the Virginia Derby) because he is a Theatrical, but he is a dirt horse," Pletcher said. "We're pleased with his progress this year, and we expect him to have a big year next year." The Kentucky-bred Roman Dynasty is out of the stakes-winning, multiple Grade 2-placed Vinista (Jade Hunter), who has also produced unnamed full siblings (yearling colt and weanling filly) to the Discovery winner.
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