Trainer Dale Romans is running a Travers hotel at his barn on the backstretch at Saratoga Race Course.
Romans doesn't have a horse running in the $1.25 million Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) Aug. 27, but he has been playing the role of host for a couple of runners in the Midsummer Derby.
The Eric Reed-trained Rich Strike , winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), has a stall in the Romans' barn as does Ain't Life Grand, who captured the Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows last month for trainer Kelly Von Hemel.
The two colts are next door to each other on the shedrow.
Romans has a connection to both. He trained Rich Strike's sire, Keen Ice , to a win in the 2015 Travers over Triple Crown winner American Pharoah . He also trained Ain't Life Grand's daddy, Not This Time . Not This Time was second in the 2016 Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1).
"It's cool to watch them train," Romans said Aug. 17 outside his barn. "It's fun to be a little involved. I tell everyone they are my grandsons. The one colt reminds me of Not This Time; he looks a lot like him. This other colt doesn't look anything like Keen Ice, other than he is big and strong. Different colors, though."
