Rogue Romance confirmed for Juvenile

The race will mark a historic first for Runnymede and the Clay family. While

Runnymede is the oldest continually operated Thoroughbred nursery in Kentucky,

founded by Clay's grandfather Col. Ezekiel Clay in 1867, Rogue Romance will be

the first horse to carry the family's traditional green and black colors in a

Cup race.

Leparoux has advised the Runnymede team that he thinks the Juvenile distance

of 1 1/16 miles, compared to one mile for the Juvenile Turf, and the dirt

surface both will be advantageous for Rogue Romance.

"Rogue Romance's breeding and his training during the summer over the main

track at Saratoga indicate he will perform well on the dirt," O'Dowd said. "He's

bred top and bottom for it and everything about his conformation suggests the

dirt. His talent is what has propelled him to his success on the turf."

When based at Churchill earlier this summer, Rogue Romance trained sharply

over the dirt, including a bullet three-furlong drill in :36 2/5 on June 19.

Rogue Romance enters the Juvenile off two consecutive wins, both over 1 1/16

miles on grass, the first in a maiden special weight race at Saratoga and the

most recent in the Bourbon at Keeneland on October 10. Leparoux guided the colt

to both victories.

In a slight change of plans, McPeek will send Rogue Romance out for his

final timed work at Keeneland on Saturday. Originally, the colt was to have

worked that morning at Churchill, but the decision was made not to ship him to

the Louisville, Kentucky, track until after the effort.

"He's happy at Keeneland. After the work, he will go to Churchill and get

familiar with the surroundings there," O'Dowd said.

One of Rogue Romance's prime rivals in the Juvenile will be Zayat Stables'

impressive JAYCITO (Victory Gallop), winner of the Norfolk S. (G1) in his most

recent start. Like Rogue Romance, Jaycito was bred by and raised at Runnymede

and offered at the 2009 Keeneland September yearling sale, so in that sense the

farm will have two chances in the championship contest.

Additionally, Runnymede will be represented as a breeder by Breeders' Cup

Marathon (G3) contender AWESOME GEM (Awesome Again), another Grade 1 winner

bred, raised and sold by the farm. The versatile Awesome Gem has earned more

than $2.2 million while racing for West Point Thoroughbreds and will be making

his fourth Cup appearance after previously running twice in the Breeders' Cup

Classic (G1), including a third-place effort to Horse of the Year Curlin in

2007, and once in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1).