John and Diane Fradkin's Rombauer, 3 1/2-length winner of the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes on May 15, is being sent to Peacefield Farm in Temecula, Calif., for a freshening of at least 60 days, according to a report by Jay Privman in Daily Racing Form.
Trainer Michael McCarthy said of the Twirling Candy colt: “He just hasn't been as sharp coming out of the Belmont. We didn't think the right thing to do was push it. He's done a lot for us. We'll do whatever he needs.”
Rombauer has raced four times this year, starting with a victory in the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields in Northern California on Feb. 13. He shipped to Kentucky for the G2 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 3, finishing third, then returned to his base at Santa Anita to train up to the Triple Crown races.
The Fradkins opted to skip the G1 Kentucky Derby and instead point Rombauer for the Preakness, where he defeated Midnight Bourbon and Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit with a powerful stretch run.
He then finished third, beaten 12 1/2 lengths, by Essential Quality in the G1 Belmont Stakes on June 5.
Rombauer returned to the work tab June 25, going a half mile at Santa Anita, then recorded two additional five-furlong breezes on July 2 and 9.
McCarthy told Daily Racing Form that Rombauer will return to training in the fall and be pointed for a 4-year-old campaign, with the Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup early season goals for the Kentucky-bred colt.
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