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‘Uncomplicated’ Preakness Stakes Winner Rombauer Got His Start At Machmer Hall

Neither Carrie Brogden, nor her Machmer Hall Farm appeared in the track program among the connections for Preakness Stakes winner Rombauer, but her phone messages exploded after the race as if it was.

The Twirling Candy colt was born and raised at Brogden's Paris, Ky. farm for owner/breeders John and Diane Fradkin, who boarded their modest broodmare band at Machmer Hall until the farm privatized in late 2018.

Rombauer caught the betting public somewhat flat-footed as a winner at odds of 11.80-to-one, but the colt's classic performance also took Brogden by surprise.

“We never expected what happened,” she said. “We just couldn't believe it. I am so happy for the Fradkins. They stuck through it all. They had a great mare with a great family, and they believed in her, and that's what owner-breeders need to do.”

Rombauer's dam, the fellow Fradkin homebred Cashmere, was hardly a mare slated for classic success on the surface. Her sire, Cowboy Cal, was exported to Korea with little fanfare as a sire of runners or broodmares, and she never made a start before entering production.

Looking at the bottom of her page, though, revealed why Cashmere was kept to extend her bloodline. She is a half-sister to a pair of Grade 3 winners in California Flag and Cambiocorsa, the latter of which is a multiple graded stakes producer and the second dam of the great Roaring Lion.

The part of Cashmere that kept her in the broodmare band – the strong record of production in the female family – is what ultimately rewarded the Fradkins. Her first two foals were stakes-placed runners, and when it came time to plan the mare's fourth mating, Brogden said John Fradkin paid attention to his surroundings.

“John picked out Twirling Candy himself to breed to Cashmere, and what I think he did was just watch all the 2-year-old sales, and picked what he felt was the best value-for-money sire, and he picked Twirling Candy,” Brogden said. “I don't want to take any credit for this mating. He already knew we were huge fans of Twirling Candy, and have been featured in all the ads for the stallion. We've had unbelievable success with Twirling Candy. We bred (Grade 1 winner) Gift Box, and we had an $825,000 2-year-old by him.”

Rombauer came about on April 17, 2018, and he spent the first eight months of his life at Machmer Hall.

“He was uncomplicated,” Brogden said. “He had no conformational issues, he had no birthing issues, he had no sickness issues. He was just what a lot of people say about top graded stakes winners; they were uncomplicated and they didn't get in their own way.”

A few months after Rombauer was weaned, the Fradkins moved their breeding interests to Ben Berger's Woodstock Farm in Lexington, Ky., after the Brogden family decided to privatize their operation and raise only their own foals.

Though they are no longer directly in business together, Brogden maintains a good relationship with the Fradkins, and followed the career of their colt closely.

As a juvenile, Rombauer picked up his first black type with a runner-up effort in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes, before running fifth in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He clinched an all-expenses-paid trip and more Kentucky Derby qualifying points with a win in the El Camino Real Derby, then ran third in the G2 Blue Grass Stakes.

Brogden, rarely one to mince words, let John know how disappointed she was when he decided to skip the Derby, even though he had enough points to make the field, but she couldn't argue with the reasoning.

“I felt like he belonged in the race,” Brogden said. “John, in all fairness, said he wanted to do the right thing by the horse, and he didn't think he was ready for the Derby, and wanted to target the Preakness.”

As it often proves out, doing right by the horse ended up being the right call.

Cashmere continues to reside at Woodstock Farm, where she followed Rombauer with a Strong Mandate filly named Republique who is an unraced 2-year-old of 2021, and a yearling Cairo Prince colt named Alexander Helios. The mare was bred to Kantharos for the 2021 foaling season.

For a horsewoman with so many banners in the rafters tied to Twirling Candy, Brogden said Rombauer's Preakness win was just the start of something big with the resident of Lane's End, who was also represented on this year's Triple Crown trail by G1 Santa Anita Derby third-place finisher Dream Shake.

“Twirling Candy – watch out,” she said. “He is going to blow the doors off. When these next few crops hit, watch out. They may be 'plain Janes,' but all of them are super walkers, and they are going to blow the doors off as they get older.”

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Rombauer in Good Order, Ships to Belmont Monday

After a few hours of sleep, trainer Michael McCarthy was back at Pimlico Race Course Sunday morning, quietly talking about Rombauer (Twirling Candy)'s emphatic victory in the 146th GI Preakness S. Saturday and looking ahead to the June 5GI Belmont Stakes. Bred and raced by John and Diane Fradkin, Rombauer rallied to a convincing 3 1/2-length score Saturday and stopped the clock in 1:53.62, the eighth-fastest time since the race distance was changed to 1 3/16 miles in 1925.

While McCarthy, 50, acquired plenty of experience in Triple Crown races during his long tour as an assistant to Hall of Fame-elect trainer Todd Pletcher, Rombauer was his first starter in the series since he opened his own stable in 2014. The well-respected, low-key, California-based horseman started receiving congratulatory calls and texts as soon as the race was over.

“It's been great,” McCarthy said. “It's nice to see this all kind of come together. The horse justified what I thought of him all along.”

The Fradkins and McCarthy have decided to ship Rombauer to Belmont Park Monday and are seriously considering running him in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont.

“We will go ahead and go to Belmont,” McCarthy said. “We will get there and see how he is and where he is at and go from there.”

Elsewhere in the Preakness aftermath, Steve Asmussen, the Hall of Fame trainer of Winchell Thoroughbreds' runner-up Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow), said Sunday that the Belmont is under consideration for his trainee.

“Proud of his effort,” Asmussen said. “He had every chance yesterday and he ran second. He's a good horse who needs to continuously get better, but we have a lot of confidence that he will, pedigree-wise, and who he is physically and the fact that he has continuously improved to this point.”

Midnight Bourbon left Pimlico to van back to Churchill Downs right before dawn Sunday morning. Asked if the Belmont might be in his plans, Asmussen said, “Of course it is. All major 3-year-old races are under consideration for the rest of the year. Let's get him back to normal circumstances just to see where we're at with him. That also gives us time to see everything that's out there and knock out a plan for him for the second half of the year.”

The highly-scrutinized pair of Bob Baffert trainees, GI Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit (Protonico) and Concert Tour (Street Sense), exited their respective third and ninth-place efforts in good order according to assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes. Both boarded a van bound for Churchill at 10 a.m. Sunday morning.

“We will evaluate everything and Bob will see what direction he wants to go with them,” Barnes said.

Added Barnes of Medina Spirit's run, “He ran his race. The second quarter is what got us. Once they threw up that 46 [:46.93 seconds], it was a bit much. We just need to give him a little bit more time between races. Bob knows what to do and I will feed him the information and he will tell us what to do.”

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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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Rombauer Upsets 146th Preakness With Powerful Stretch Run

Trainer Michael McCarthy made his first start in a Triple Crown race a big one at Pimlico race course in Baltimore, Md., winning Saturday's 146th running of the Grade 1, $1-million Preakness Stakes with John and Diane Fradkin's homebred Twirling Candy colt Rombauer. Ridden to perfection by Flavien Prat, Rombauer came from off the pace to win the Triple Crown's middle jewel, racing past dueling leaders Midnight Bourbon and Medina Spirit in midstretch to win by 3 1/2 lengths.

Midnight Bourbon held second, with 2-1 favorite Medina Spirit third, Keepmeinmind fourth and Crowded trade fifth in the field of 10 3-year-olds. Unbridled Honor, France Go de Ina, Risk Taking, Concert Tour and Ram completed the order of finish.

Rombauer paid $25.60 for the win, his third from seven career starts. He ran the 1 3/16 miles in 1:53.62.

“I'm so proud of this horse, everybody involved,” said McCarthy, fighting back tears as he spoke to NBC's Kenny Rice. “It means a lot to be here and participate on a day like this. I'm happy for the Fradkins. It just goes to show you that small players in this game can be successful, as well. Hats off to everybody. I wish my family could be here. Fantastic.”

Rombauer was produced from the Cowboy Cal mare, Cashmere

With just two mares, the Fradkins typically sell their foals but they opted to race Rombauer after COVID-19 altered the 2020 auction schedule of 2-year-olds in training. On the advice of consignor Eddie Woods, they put him in training instead, sending him to McCarthy in California, and had hoped to sell him privately once he raced.

Rombauer won his debut on July 25, coming from off the pace to win a one-mile maiden race on turf by a half length. John Fradkin was hoping that would generate interest in the horse, but when the Beyer Speed Figure came up a relatively low 55, there were no calls.

After Rombauer's Preakness victory, Fradkin said he later would learn that Del Mar's timing system was not working properly and the race was probably run much faster than the official time. If the real time was published, Fradkin said, the horse probably would have been sold.

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