John and Diane Fradkin's Rombauer, third in the Blue Grass Stakes (G2) in his most recent start, is headed to the May 15 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course.
“That's the plan,” trainer Michael McCarthy said Monday.
The homebred son of Twirling Candy automatically qualified for a starting berth in the 146th Preakness with his victory in the El Camino Real Derby on Feb. 13 at Golden Gate Fields. He was third, beaten 5¾ lengths in the Blue Grass behind champion Essential Quality and Highly Motivated, who finished fourth and 10th, respectively, in Saturday's Kentucky Derby (G1).
Since Rombauer has been most effective running from off the pace, McCarthy said the Blue Grass did not suit him because there was no early speed in the race at Keeneland.
“The horse laid a little closer than I would have liked but ran a credible third,” McCarthy said.
Rombauer was second by three-quarters of a length in the American Pharoah (G1) on Sept. 26 at Santa Anita and completed his 2-year-old season with a fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) on Nov. 6 at Keeneland.
“He's done everything and made a nice little progression from 2 to 3,” McCarthy said. “He's put on a little weight. He's a horse that takes pretty good care of himself, so he's been pretty easy that way.”
McCarthy said that Rombauer will have his final work at Santa Anita and will ship to Pimlico early next week.
Get Her Number, who defeated Rombauer by three-quarters of a length in the American Pharoah, will not run in the Preakness, trainer Peter Miller said Monday.
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