Romeo an easy winner of the Bashford Manor (Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire)
Churchill Downs Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Maryland invader Romeo shook free at the top of the stretch and drove clear to the wire to easily win the 124th running of the $194,500 Bashford Manor (Listed) for 2-year-olds by 3 ¾ lengths over Comport on closing day of the 43-day Spring Meet.
Romeo clocked six furlongs over a fast track in 1:08.61, which shattered Kodiak Kowboy’s 2007 stakes record of 1:09.15. Xavier Perez, in his first mount at Churchill Downs, rode the winner for trainer “Jerry” Robb and owner Joseph Lloyd. Robb also won the Bashford Manor in 2013 with Debt Ceiling.
Breaking from post 4 in the field of seven 2-year-olds, Romeo broke well between Spice Runner and Comport and emerged the leader into the turn after a quarter mile in :21.39. Comport attempted to keep pace but Romeo spurted clear at the top of the stretch, clocked a half mile in :44.39 and cruised to the comfortable and decisive front-running victory.
“This is my first time at Churchill Downs and it was great to get a stakes win with this horse,” Perez said. “I was watching the races the last couple days and today it looked like speed was holding pretty well. He broke sharp and went right to the front. Around the turn I asked him to go and he took off. Things didn’t work out (in the Tremont) but he came out of that race really well and trained like a beast. I’m glad we took a chance to send him here.”
ROMEO ($18.70), Romeo thou art in the winner's circle for the $225,000 Bashford Manor Stakes at @ChurchillDowns. The two-year-old son of @LanesEndFarms' Honor A. P. earns his first stakes win under Xavier Perez for trainer @JRobbRacing. pic.twitter.com/UTXETRQekN
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) June 29, 2025
Romeo’s triumph was worth $106,330 and increased his bankroll to $156,760 with a record of 2-0-1 in three starts. He won his debut at Laurel on May 3 by 10 ¼ lengths and then finished a distant third in the $150,000 Tremont at Saratoga 24 days ago.
Romeo is by Honor A.P. out of the Not for Love mare Fancy Love. He was bred in Maryland by John C. Davidson.
Romeo returned $18.70, $8.32 and $4.22 as the 8-1 fifth betting choice. Comport, under Luis Saez at 9-2, paid $5.64 and $3.12. It was another seven lengths back to 6-5 favorite Password in third, who paid $2.44 to show under Flavien Prat.
Duke of Suggins, Spice Runner, Saul Elliott and Longstrider completed the order of finish.
First run in 1902, the Bashford Manor is named for the former Louisville Thoroughbred breeding and racing farm that dominated the American racing scene in the early 1900s. George J. Long, a wealthy foundry owner, purchased Bashford Manor Farm in 1887 and developed his Thoroughbred operation that provided him two Derby wins as an owner, 1892 (Azra) and 1906 (Sir Huon), and three as a breeder, 1892 (Azra), 1899 (Manuel) and 1906 (Sir Huon). In addition, Bashford Manor also won the Kentucky Oaks in 1894 (Selika) and 1915 (Kathleen). The original Wilder family owned Bashford Manor. The Wilders were direct descendants of Lord Baltimore, whose English home was also called Bashford Manor. Long died in 1930 and the farm was eventually sold in 1973 to make way for the development of a mall complex, fittingly named Bashford Manor, that formally closed in 2003.
