Trainer’s ties to Cherry Wine go deep

1:08 PM ET

Most of the horses contesting the 2016 Triple Crown series arrived at the barns of their trainers roughly a year ago as 2-year-olds almost ready to begin their careers. With the exception of some homebreds, Thoroughbreds are generally foaled, raised, broken to saddle, and in some cases consigned and sold by other individuals prior to arriving with their racing connections.

However, trainer Dale Romans has known his Preakness Stakes runner-up and Belmont Stakes contender, Cherry Wine, much longer, with nearly two decades of association with the colt’s family — and even longer with his human connections.

A colt from the first crop of Paddy O’Prado — whom Romans also trained — Cherry Wine is owned by breeders William Pacella, Frank Jones, and Frank Shoop. Jones has known Romans literally since the day he was born, having had only two trainers during his tenure in the business, Romans and his late father, Jerry, who was based out of the same Churchill Downs barn. The Louisville businessman serves on the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and is a vice president of the Kentucky HBPA; his top horses have included multiple Grade 1-winning homebred Tapitsfly.

Cherry Wine will try to take down the Belmont Stakes for trainer Dale Romans. Coady Photography

Pacella is another longtime Romans supporter, having been with the barn more than 20 years; he campaigned Grade 1 winner C. S. Silk in partnership.

“They had horses together forever,” Romans said. “Frank [Jones] has had …

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