Big Test for Roman Ruler

For all of the hype Roman Ruler has received throughout his career, the 3-year-old son of Fusaichi Pegasus has a losing record around two turns.

He was the beaten favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Oct. 30 at Lone Star Park in Texas and last as the lukewarm 3-1 choice in the San Felipe earlier this year at Santa Anita. Roman Ruler’s only win in a race around two turns came against three suspect opponents in the Norfolk on Oct. 3 in Arcadia.

Roman Ruler will get an opportunity to show he is something more than a one-turn specialist when he takes on seven opponents in the $1-million Haskell Invitational Handicap today at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. The Grade I at 1 1/8 miles is part of a pick four with a guaranteed pool of $100,000.

Owned by Fog City Stable and trained by Bob Baffert, Roman Ruler made his first start since the San Felipe debacle by beating eventual Jim Dandy winner Flower Alley and four others in the Dwyer on July 4 at Belmont Park. It was his first victory outside California.

Jerry Bailey will ride Roman Ruler. If the colt is successful, he will provide Baffert with his third Haskell win since 2001. The trainer won that year with Point Given and again in 2002 with War Emblem.

Palladio, Park Avenue Ball, Papi Chullo, Sun King, Golden Man, Joey P. and Chekhov will provide the opposition.

Race of the day: Alphabet Kisses, who continued her love affair with Hollywood Park in the A Gleam Handicap on July 9, will seek her first win at Del Mar when she meets seven other fillies and mares today in the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Handicap. David Flores will ride the 4-year-old gray daughter of Alphabet Soup for owner-breeder John Harris and trainer Marty Jones in the Grade II at 1 1/16 miles. Other contenders include Girl Warrior, Valentine Dancer, Hollywood Story and Muir Beach.

One for the road: Silver Train has improved immensely since changing stables and can collect his first stakes win in the $150,000 Amsterdam today at Saratoga. Edgar Prado will ride the 3-year-old Old Trieste colt for Buckram Oak Farm and trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. in the Grade II at six furlongs.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Can’t Be Denied and Ide Boogie in the second, Miss Norman in the third and Minister Blair, Master David, El Don and Scheffer in the fourth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/45. Money: Previous day/meet total: $10.40/$263. Total money bet: $276.