On October 14, Romance Sea rebounded from a disappointing fourth-place finish in the Gran Premio Polla de Potrancas (Argentine One Thousand Guineas, ARG-G1) to become Argentina’s latest Classic winner in the Gran Premio Selección (Argentine Oaks, ARG-G1). The robust filly made use of a powerful run in the last 100 meters to take the measure of Polla de Potrancas winner Madonna Benois and earn her third victory from four starts.
Romance Sea is a daughter of 2017 Champagne Stakes (ENG-G2) winner Seahenge, a son of Scat Daddy and the stakes-winning Not for Love mare Fools in Love who has been shuttling between Haras de Haies Nueve in France and Haras Vacación in Argentina since entering stud in 2019. The filly is from her sire’s first Southern Hemisphere crop, which also includes Premio Old Man (ARG-G3) winner Beauty Sea.
On the distaff side of her pedigree, Romance Sea’s female family entered Argentina via the English-bred Little Miss Tootle (by 1960 July Cup winner Tin Whistle). Little Miss Tootle produced the 1971 Snow Ball mare La Independencia, in turn the dam of two stakes-producing daughters. One, Ibera Pub (by Pappe II) won both her starts before producing multiple Argentine Group winner Pub River (by the stakes-winning Ramsinga horse Riverside Sam). The other, La Iberica (by Argentine Group 3 winner El Escorial), produced 1992 Premio Republica de Panama (ARG-G3) winner Ebro Side (by Riverside Sam).
Ebro Side, in turn, produced Ebro Speed (by Ibero), dam of 2008 Premio General Belgrano (ARG-G2) winner Speed Sale (by Not for Sale), and Ebrolize (by 1988 United Nations Handicap, USA-G1, winner and 1997 Argentine Stallion of the Year Equalize). The latter mare won only one of five starts but proved a good broodmare with her 2004 foal, Lucky Island (by Lucky Roberto), who was sent to the United States and won the 2008 Tom Fool Handicap (USA-G2) and Bold Ruler Handicap (USA-G3).
Ebrolize’s next foal was unraced Summer Romance (by Argentine champion sire and broodmare sire Orpen), dam of 2021 Premio Omega (ARG-G2) winner J Be Mallorca (by J Be K) and Argentine listed stakes winner J Be Man (by J Be K). She followed up with Lize Song (by Sultry Song), dam of Argentine listed stakes winner Donna Gaia (by Don Valiente), and in 2010 produced a second stakes winner in multiple Group 3 winner Romance Night (by Orpen), who produced Romance Sea as her third foal. Romance Night has since produced the 2022 colt Reggaetonero (by Equal Stripes) and the 2023 colt Romance Latino (by Il Mercato).
The best members of Romance Sea’s family have been milers, and given that neither her sire, Seahenge, nor her broodmare sire, Orpen, showed significant form at distances of a mile or more, the source of the stamina she used to win a 2000-meter race (about 1¼ miles) is a little mysterious. Most likely, she is throwing back to her second dam’s sire, Equalize, who won the Red Smith Handicap (USA-G2) over 10 furlongs and set a new course record in winning the 9½ furlong United Nations Handicap. Regardless of where it came from, her ability to stay adds an extra dimension to an improving family.
Romance Sea is a daughter of 2017 Champagne Stakes (ENG-G2) winner Seahenge, a son of Scat Daddy and the stakes-winning Not for Love mare Fools in Love who has been shuttling between Haras de Haies Nueve in France and Haras Vacación in Argentina since entering stud in 2019. The filly is from her sire’s first Southern Hemisphere crop, which also includes Premio Old Man (ARG-G3) winner Beauty Sea.
On the distaff side of her pedigree, Romance Sea’s female family entered Argentina via the English-bred Little Miss Tootle (by 1960 July Cup winner Tin Whistle). Little Miss Tootle produced the 1971 Snow Ball mare La Independencia, in turn the dam of two stakes-producing daughters. One, Ibera Pub (by Pappe II) won both her starts before producing multiple Argentine Group winner Pub River (by the stakes-winning Ramsinga horse Riverside Sam). The other, La Iberica (by Argentine Group 3 winner El Escorial), produced 1992 Premio Republica de Panama (ARG-G3) winner Ebro Side (by Riverside Sam).
Ebro Side, in turn, produced Ebro Speed (by Ibero), dam of 2008 Premio General Belgrano (ARG-G2) winner Speed Sale (by Not for Sale), and Ebrolize (by 1988 United Nations Handicap, USA-G1, winner and 1997 Argentine Stallion of the Year Equalize). The latter mare won only one of five starts but proved a good broodmare with her 2004 foal, Lucky Island (by Lucky Roberto), who was sent to the United States and won the 2008 Tom Fool Handicap (USA-G2) and Bold Ruler Handicap (USA-G3).
Ebrolize’s next foal was unraced Summer Romance (by Argentine champion sire and broodmare sire Orpen), dam of 2021 Premio Omega (ARG-G2) winner J Be Mallorca (by J Be K) and Argentine listed stakes winner J Be Man (by J Be K). She followed up with Lize Song (by Sultry Song), dam of Argentine listed stakes winner Donna Gaia (by Don Valiente), and in 2010 produced a second stakes winner in multiple Group 3 winner Romance Night (by Orpen), who produced Romance Sea as her third foal. Romance Night has since produced the 2022 colt Reggaetonero (by Equal Stripes) and the 2023 colt Romance Latino (by Il Mercato).
The best members of Romance Sea’s family have been milers, and given that neither her sire, Seahenge, nor her broodmare sire, Orpen, showed significant form at distances of a mile or more, the source of the stamina she used to win a 2000-meter race (about 1¼ miles) is a little mysterious. Most likely, she is throwing back to her second dam’s sire, Equalize, who won the Red Smith Handicap (USA-G2) over 10 furlongs and set a new course record in winning the 9½ furlong United Nations Handicap. Regardless of where it came from, her ability to stay adds an extra dimension to an improving family.
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