Rhoman Rule Serves Notice That He Can Be a Kentucky Derby Contender

HIALEAH, Fla. —  Brownell Combs II has no intention of rushing Rhoman Rule.

The 3-year-old colt served notice Saturday that he must be considered in any conversation about the Kentucky Derby, embarrassing seven other horses with an eight-length victory in the $100,000 Everglades Stakes at Hialeah.

“Today we learned he has the class to be a Derby contender,” said Combs, owner of the horse. “We learned that he’s genuine.”

But Combs virtually ruled out a matchup in the $300,000 Flamingo Stakes on March 30 with the two early Derby favorites, Chief’s Crown and Proud Truth.

“This horse needs time between races,” Combs said of Rhoman Rule. “The Flamingo will be in two weeks. We’d prefer a month with this horse.”

Trainer Angel Penna Jr. said tentative plans point Rhoman Rule toward the Wood Memorial on April 20 at Aqueduct, then on to Kentucky. “Probably, it will be the Wood,” Penna said.

That will leave Proud Truth, winner of the Florida Derby, and Chief’s Crown, the Eclipse Award winner as a 2-year-old and winner of the Swale Stakes, to contest the Flamingo.

Rhoman Rule demolished his rivals in the Everglades, grabbing an early lead and running off to hide while covering the 1 1/8 miles in 1:47 4/5 to pay $4.60, $4.40 and $2.60 as the second choice to Florida Derby runnerup Irish Sur.

Creme Fraiche, runnerup in the Swale Stakes, paid $6.40 and $3 to place, while Irish Sur ran a disappointing third, worth $2.20.