what is up with roman??

[Danzig]

Larry Roman's search for a retired Hall of Fame jockey to ride Digger in Saturday's Belmont Stakes is coming up empty, so Roman will attempt to get Street Sense's jockey Calvin Borel for the ride.

"I feel bad for Calvin," Roman said. "He deserves to be in the race after giving Street Sense two great rides in the Derby and Preakness.

"They (owner Jim Tafel and trainer Carl Nafzger) owe it to Borel," Roman added. "If he wins the Preakness by a nose, they would have been here. Instead they're not doing what's right for the sport or Borel."

Roman, who owns a Manhattan-based plumbing company, will offer Borel a $10,000 riding fee just to be aboard Digger in the mile-and-a-half final jewel of the Triple Crown.

If he can't get Borel, Roman will try to reach out to Mario Pino, the former jockey of Hard Spun.

Pino lost the mount on Hard Spun for the Belmont after many criticized his ride in the Preakness, where he made an early aggressive move before tiring to third. Garrett Gomez will ride Hard Spun in Saturday's $1 million race.

"I'll offer him the $10,000 too," Roman said. "We'll get somebody to ride. If I can't get either one of them I'll let (trainer Richard) Dutrow (Jr.) decide."

When asked about Roman's comments, Nafzger replied, "Tell him will meet him in the Travers (Aug. 25 at Saratoga) if he wants."