GI Preakness S. | Horse Racing Free Tips

Asmussen Takes Preakness Bonus

Steve Asmussen claimed the top prize of $50,000 for the third time in five years in the Maryland Jockey Club's $100,000 trainer bonus offered to horsemen for their participation in stakes races over Preakness weekend, May 14-15, at Pimlico Race Course. The Hall of Famer edged defending champion Mike Maker.

Asmussen started 11 horses in 10 stakes over the two days, finishing with 54 points. On May 15, he ran first and second with Mighty Mischief (Into Mischief) and Jaxon Traveler (Munnings) in the GIII Chick Lang S. and also finished second with Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) in the GI Preakness S., Strike Power (Speightstown) in the GIII Maryland Sprint S. and Casual (Curlin) in the Runhappy Skipat S. Boldor (Munnings) finished fourth for Asmussen in the Jim McKay Turf Sprint. Willful Woman (Nyquist)'s runner-up effort in the GII Black-Eyed Susan S. was Asmussen's best finish with five horses on the May 14 program.

To be eligible, trainers had to run a minimum of five horses in the 15 Thoroughbred stakes races during Preakness weekend. Points were accumulated for finishing first (10), second (seven), third (five), fourth (three) and fifth through last (one).

This marked the fifth straight year the MJC has offered the trainer bonus program. Asmussen also earned the top prize in each of the first two years, 2017 and 2018.

Maker ran seven horses in six stakes and finished with 43 points for a $25,000 bonus. He won the Black-Eyed Susan with Army Wife (Declaration of War) and ran first and seventh with Last Judgment (Congrats) and Treasure Trove (Tapizar) in the Pimlico Special. On Preakness day, Maker won the GII Dinner Party S. Somelikeithotbrown (Big Brown) and Maryland Sprint with Special Reserve (Midshipman).

Graham Motion, who saddled GIII Gallorette S. winner Mean Mary (Scat Daddy), was third with 27 points and earned $12,000.

Brad Cox, the 2019 top bonus winner, had 24 points to finish fourth and earn $7,000. Rounding out the top finishers were Chad Brown with 14 points ($4,000) and Mike Trombetta with 12 points ($2,000).

Bonus money totaling $50,000 was also offered for trainers having the most points in non-stakes races during Preakness weekend, with points accumulated in similar fashion. Trombetta and Claudio Gonzalez, Maryland's winningest trainer the past four years, tied for first with 27 points and split the $35,000 top prize.

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Rombauer, ‘France’ Ship Safely to Belmont

Classic hero Rombauer (Twirling Candy), who races for John and Diane Fradkin, shipped in to Belmont Park around 10 a.m. Monday ahead of an intended start in the June 5 $1.5-million GI Belmont S. presented by NYRA Bets. The colt earned a 102 Beyer for his GI Preakness S. heroics at Pimlico Saturday for trainer Michael McCarthy. He will be stabled with trainer Jonathan Thomas. Groom Leonel Orantes Aguilar reported that Rombauer had vanned to New York “very well”.

“It seems like he's in good physical shape,” McCarthy said, who is back at his southern California base. “He was pretty bright and alert on Sunday morning. He's a horse that takes very good care of himself, so we sort of read the signs from him and see what he's telling us. From what I can tell, he's no worse for wear.”

Second in the GI American Pharoah S. from four starts as a juvenile, Rombauer captured the Listed El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Feb. 13 before a third in Keeneland's GII Toyota Blue Grass S. in early April.

Reflecting on his colt's win he added, “I got a lot of nice messages from people and there were a lot of people that reached out who I hadn't heard from in quite some time, so it was very nice.”

Also arriving at Belmont on Monday was Yuji Inaida's well-traveled France Go de Ina (Will Take Charge), who will also contest the third jewel of the Triple Crown. The chestnut colt, who was sixth in the G2 UAE Derby in March and seventh in the Preakness S., was accompanied by trainer Hideyuki Mori's traveling assistant Masaki Takano. The dual winner will resume training Friday, May 21.

“He seemed to travel really well, it was a trouble free trip,” said Takano through translator Kate Hunter. “This is a good experience for the horse because the racing here is so different. Over the course of the time that he's been here, he's been able to get used to the American style of doing things. That's helped him relax into the routine and hopefully it will lead to a better performance in the future.

“The extra length of the Belmont, and the experience he's gotten from racing once here already, it's likely we'll have a better chance to perform better based off his pedigree. We're looking forward to giving it another go.”

There is a $1-million bonus for any Japan-based horse who wins the Belmont.

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Rombauer Does it in the Preakness

The vast majority of the headlines leading up to the 146th renewal of the GI Preakness S. had to do with one horse, one trainer and one subject. But when the dust had settled at Pimlico at approximately 7 p.m. Saturday, the narrative had suddenly changed. In the span of 1 3/16 miles, the story was no longer one of rumors and speculation. It became a story about an improving horse, John and Diane Fradkin's Rombauer (Twirling Candy), that finally had his chance to prove his mettle on the big stage. Settled off the early pace set by GI Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit (Protonico) and 3-1 second choice Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow), Rombauer produced a powerful turn of foot late to win by 3 1/2 lengths.

Scoring as 11.80-1 fifth choice in the wagering, the El Camino Real Derby winner recorded a number of firsts–first Preakness win for the trainer Michael McCarthy and jockey Flavien Prat and the first win for the colt's owners and breeders, John and Diane Fradkin. Prat was winning his second Classic, however, after Country House (Lookin At Lucky) was elevated to a Kentucky Derby win after the disqualification of Maximum Security (New Year's Day) two years ago.

“Just really surreal, all of it,” said a visibly moved McCarthy.

“I'm stunned, but not totally surprised, if that makes any sense? The horse had been touting himself here all week. His last two works were very, very good.”

“I thought the horse would run well. Turning up the backside, I was a little concerned. He's usually a little bit farther back than that..Watching live, going back to the Jumbotron, when he hit the front, I don't think I said a word. I certainly didn't root, at least I don't think I did. Just kind of watched Flavien and the horse in a rhythm.”

Anatomy of the Win

Things appeared to set up as anticipated in the first part of the race. Breaking a hair outward, Rombauer was quickly taken back as Medina Spirit assumed his customary place at the head of affairs with the speedy Midnight Bourbon in hot pursuit on his outer flank. Reeling off an opening quarter in :23.77, the front-running duo were closely pursued by the triumvirate of Crowded Trade (More Than Ready), France Go de Ina (Will Take Charge) and Concert Tour (Street Sense), who was floated several paths wide into the first turn. Meanwhile, Rombauer and Prat bided their time in sixth as the leaders took them through a half in :46.93. Approaching the far turn, the Japanese invader narrowed the gap on the pacesetter, briefly passing inside of Midnight Bourbon as Rombauer improved to fourth. France Go de Ina's move was short-lived, however, and he was soon overtaken by Midnight Bourbon who returned to pound away at the Derby winner up front. Running with purpose and drawing closer to the leading rank approaching the quarter pole as Midnight Bourbon inched ahead of Medina Spirit, Rombauer rounded the home turn in the four path but had built the most momentum to that point. Under left-handed encouragement from Prat, Rombauer overtook Medina Spirit, who was starting to show the effects of his early efforts, and forged past the ultra-game Midnight Bourbon before drawing off to an eye-catching 3 1/2-length victory. Medina Spirit was a clear third ahead of Keepmeinmind (Laoban). Crowded Trade was fifth, while Concert Tour faded to ninth.

“I had a great trip,” said Prat. “We broke well. Never intended to rush him. Naturally down the backside, he was traveling well and was passing horses one by one. So, I was pretty confident going to the three-eighths pole, and then I was behind the two favorites in the race, and I was traveling well, and I thought, well, maybe if he switched [leads] and gave me a good kick, I might be able to run them down, which he did.”

McCarthy added, “Coming through the half-mile pole, looked like the horse was still traveling well. I saw Chad [Brown]'s [Crowded Trade] inside of us going to three-eighths pole, was starting to go up and down, looked at the horses behind us, didn't see anybody posing a threat behind us. [Medina Spirit and Midnight Bourbon], obviously carried each other through the quarter pole. When we wheeled out coming to the three-sixteenths pole at the head of the lane, I started to get excited.”

Rombauer kicked off his career with a narrow win going a mile over the Del Mar turf last July before finishing sixth in the grassy Del Mar Juvenile Turf S. in early September. A close-up second behind Get Her Number (Dialed In) in Santa Anita's GI American Pharoah S. Sept. 26, he made a mild bid to finish fifth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland Nov. 6. Given some time off after that performance, he returned in 2021 with a neck victory in the El Camino Real Derby over the Golden Gate synthetic Feb. 13. Closer-up than usual in his latest start, he came home third, beaten 5 3/4 lengths by defending Juvenile Champion Essential Quality (Tapit) in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland Apr. 3.

“Well, fate did play a role,” said Fradkin of the decision to keep the colt rather than sell him. “We intend to sell all our horses. They're all aimed for either yearling sales or 2-year-old sales. We have had better luck at 2-year-old sales. This horse was in Ocala with [consignor] Eddie Woods, and he was being aimed for the April OBS 2-year-old sale. And Eddie told me that he didn't have confidence that sale was going to come off, and this was probably in March. So, he suggested maybe just run this one and try and win early at the track and maybe sell him at the track. So that's what we did. It was Eddie's call, and I went along with it, and we shipped him off to Michael McCarthy.”

Derby vs. Preakness

McCarthy had been a strong proponent in running Rombauer in the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago, was ultimately overruled by John Fradkin, who preferred to wait for the Preakness.

“I was bullish on running the horse in the Kentucky Derby,” admitted McCarthy. “I had mentioned it a couple of times to John and Diane. They seemed to think that this was the better route. I just thought he'd get a wonderful setup in the Derby, tons of pace in there. I thought it would be over a racetrack that he would really like. Usually on Derby day, Churchill Downs is hard and fast, and I think that's what this horse has kind of been wanting all along.

The conditioner continued, “John made some valid points. As I had said to him earlier, we probably would have done the same thing two weeks earlier, but I'm glad we got it done today.”

Fradkin appeared to recall the issue a bit differently.

“We had a pretty heated discussion about that. Let's just leave it at that. We wanted to run in easier spots, if possible, and I didn't think the Kentucky Derby would suit him. I thought there was a chance we would not hit the board because of his running style. I can understand why Michael wanted to run, but I think he can understand why I didn't. I think Michael and I are really a good team. I think there's going to be some clashes at times, because I come from a total handicapping background and I'm not a horseman. Michael is the consummate horseman. He's focused on the horses and getting them to be their best. Where we disagree is usually just a handicapping thing.”

On to Belmont?

While running in the Derby was more of a debate between owner and trainer, it seems the team is in closer agreement on running the colt in the GI Belmont S. in three week's time

“You'd have to think so,” said McCarthy of a trip to New York. “We'll see how he comes out of it, and we'll take a good look tomorrow.”

Added Fradkin, “Well, I think we'll have to see how he's doing after this race. That was the intent. I mean, all along I actually thought that was our best chance of a race to win, because I think he's going to like the distance.

“But now that we've won this one, it kind of takes the pressure off to do that, and that race is only three weeks out, and the spacing isn't superb to go into a mile-and-a-half race with just three weeks of rest. I know Michael is a disciple of Todd Pletcher. They don't like running on three weeks' rest.”

“I'm not going to make [the decision], we're not going to make a decision on that tonight, but I'd say it's a possibility, but it's probably a little less of a possibility than if we had run like a good third or something.”

Pedigree Notes:

With his Preakness win, Rombauer becomes the 10th group/graded winner and the fifth Grade I/Group 1 scorer for Twirling Candy (by Candy Ride {Arg}). Unraced Cashmere, the winner's dam, is a half-sister to graded winners California Flag (Avenue of Flags) and Cambiocorsa (Avenue of Flags), who is the dam of graded winners Moulin de Mougin (Curlin) and Schiaparelli (Ghostzapper). She is also a half-sister to Vionnet (Street Sense), responsible for European highweight Roaring Lion (Kitten's joy). In addition to Rombauer, Cashmere has produced six-time winner Treasure Trove (Tapizar), who was well-beaten in Friday's GIII Pimlico Special S.; the stakes-placed Cono (Lucky Pulpit); an unraced 3-year-old filly by Strong Mandate named Republique and the yearling colt Alexander Helios (Cairo Prince). The 10-year-old mare was bred back to Khozan.

Saturday, Pimlico
PREAKNESS S.-GI, $1,000,000, Pimlico, 5-15, 3yo, 1 3/16m, 1:53.62, ft.
1–ROMBAUER, 126, c, 3, by Twirling Candy
                1st Dam: Cashmere, by Cowboy Cal
                2nd Dam: Ultrafleet, by Afleet
                3rd Dam: Social Conduct, by Vigors
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. O/B-John &
Diane Fradkin (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy; J-Flavien Prat.
$600,000. Lifetime Record: 7-3-1-1, $890,500. *1/2 to Cono
(Lucky Pulpit), SP, $167,822. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple
Plus*. Click for eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Midnight Bourbon, 126, c, 3, Tiznow–Catch the Moon, by
Malibu Moon. ($525,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Winchell
Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC
(KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $200,000.
3–Medina Spirit, 126, c, 3, Protonico–Mongolian Changa, by
Brilliant Speed. ($1,000 Ylg '19 OBSWIN; $35,000 2yo '20
OBSOPN). O-Zedan Racing Stables; B-Gail Rice (FL); T-Bob
Baffert. $110,000.
Margins: 3HF, 2, 4. Odds: 11.80, 3.10, 2.40.
Also Ran: Keepmeinmind, Crowded Trade, Unbridled Honor, France Go de Ina, Risk Taking, Concert Tour, Ram.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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The Show Continues in Preakness

BALTIMORE, MD–Immediately after the May 1 GI Kentucky Derby, it appeared that the GI Preakness S. two weeks hence would be a routine affair. Trainer Bob Baffert would be heading to Pimlico with a record seventh Derby victory under his belt and he would be in the enviable position of trying to collect his eighth win in the second jewel of the Triple Crown. And then the unthinkable happened. The Derby winner, Medina Spirit (Protonico), tested positive for Betamethasone, a substance banned on race day. That single event sparked a week of drama, statements, interviews and a ton of speculation. Initially, the public was told the horse did not receive the drug. Then, it was discovered the colt, who had been wrestling with a skin condition, required an anti-fungal. Enter Otomax, said anti-fungal which contains, you guessed it, Betamethasone. As the week progressed, the speculation continued, lawyers racked up billable hours and later in the week, the local officials gave the green light for the Baffert horses to race after early testing came back negative for any prohibited substances. While many must have given a sigh of relief, the next hurdle remains, can Medina Spirit follow up with a win Saturday? Will a victory silence his detractors or will it simply give the media more fodder for the ensuing three weeks to the June 5 GI Belmont S.? And while the morning line favorite appears to be, at least on paper, the one to beat, nine rivals will try to stand in his way.

Team Spirit
Which ever way you cut the cake, Zedan Racing's Medina Spirit and stablemate TDN Rising Star Concert Tour (Street Sense) enter Saturday's Classic with the deepest credentials. Medina Spirit took his debut at Los Alamitos last December before finishing second in the Jan. 2 GIII Sham S. to another Baffert monster, TDN Rising Star Life Is Good (Into Mischief). That duo met again in the Mar. 6 GII San Felipe S. and once again, Medina Spirit had to settle for second–beaten eight lengths–while the early Derby favorite was forced to the sidelines after suffering a leg injury in training later in the month. Medina Spirit forged on the Apr. 3 GI Santa Anita Derby, and finished runner-up behind Rock Your World (Candy Ride {Arg}). Sent off no better than 12-1 for the Derby, Medina Spirit went to the front and never looked back en route to a half-length victory over 26-1 chance Mandaloun (Into Mischief).

Taking a difference approach early in his 3-year-old season, Gary and Mary West's Concert Tour earned his Rising Star status with an emphatic score going six panels at Santa Anita before making it two straight with a victory in the seven-furlong GII San Vincente S. Feb. 6. Back on top in the Mar. 13 GII Rebel S. over 8 1/2 furlongs, he finished third in the Apr. 10 GI Arkansas Derby.

Medina Spirit, accompanied by a returning John Velazquez, exits the three hole, while Concert Tour breaks from the 10. Mike Smith gets the call.

“[Concert Tour] is a speed horse, so he will get out of there and get a position and be on the outside somewhere,” said Baffert assistant Jimmy Barnes. “I think we're fine with both our positions. They are both front-running horses, so they will probably will be up there in the clear, hopefully. He's one that is placed forwardly in the racing. Being on the outside should be fine.”

Chad Brown offers up two in this year's Preakness renewal, Crowded Trade and Risk Taking (Medaglia d'Oro). The former won at first asking at the Big A before coming up a nose short in the Mar. 6 GIII Gotham S. Mostly recently, the chestnut came from off the pace to finish third behind a pair of longshots in the Apr. 3 Wood Memorial S. Risk Taking came home a winner in two consecutive starts, including the Feb. 6 GIII Withers S. before offering little when seventh as the 2-1 choice on the Wood. Javier Castellano climbs aboard Crowded Trade for the first time, while Jose Ortiz joins Risk Taking.

“Crowded Trade ran a really good race in only his third start,” Brown said. “He did hang a little bit in the lane, but he made up a lot of ground after breaking bad. Risk Taking was quite a disappointment that day. He was coming into the race in excellent form and his numbers were heading the right way. He just didn't fire.”

According to Brown, Risk Taking took a lot of kickback in the Wood, causing the colt to have one eye closed the following day.

“Clearly, the kickback impacted him to some degree,” Brown said. “Whether that fully explains why he just quit in that race, I will never be certain of it. I am just going to draw a line through that race. I just hope he can get back to his race in the Withers, which would put him in contention here.”

Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow), winner of the Jan. 16 GIII Lecomte S., followed up with a third behind Mandaloun in the GII Risen S. before finishing second in the GII Louisiana Derby Mar. 20. Typically on or near the engine in his races, the imposing bay broke slowly after the ground gave away under him at the start of the Kentucky Derby, leaving him uncharacteristically far back in the early going. He rallied to finish a respectable sixth.

“We're expecting a very good run from him,” said trainer Steve Asmussen, who previously won the Preakness with Curlin in 2007 and Rachel Alexandra in 2009. “I thought he was in great physical shape going into the Derby..everything was going extremely well. Missing the break did not put him in the position necessary for him to have success. From where he was, he ran reasonably well but not good enough. Here we are with a lot of horse going into the Preakness and expecting a better outcome.”

Midnight Bourbon exits Post 5 with Irad Ortiz Jr. in the irons for the first time.

GII Kentucky Jockey Club winner Keepmeinmind (Laoban) has failed to hit the board in a trio of starts this term, including a seventh in the Kentucky Derby, but his trainer Robertino Diodoro thinks the late-closing colt can turn things around Saturday.

“The only thing is, the race is run on dirt and not paper,” he said. “You know how that goes sometimes. But on paper, I think there's definitely enough pace and the smaller field helps. I think we drew well [Post 2], and will stay on the rail as long as we can..You got to worry about your own horse, and we're not going to change our running style. We tried that once a couple of starts ago, because of the lack of speed and it didn't turn out [fifth in the GII Blue Grass S. Apr. 3]. We're going to go back to our normal way of just worrying about our horse and hoping he's doing well–and definitely don't take him out of his element.”

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