Preakness winner Rombauer has third work toward comeback
Rombauer is working toward a comeback in early 2022 after a successful 3-year-old season that included a win in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico in May and a third in the Belmont Stakes in June.
Owned by John and Diane Fradkin, Rombauer rejoined trainer Michael McCarthy’s stable earlier this fall. Saturday at Santa Anita, Rombauer worked a half-mile in 49.60 seconds, his third workout since resuming training.
McCarthy said Rombauer’s race plans will be not determined until the colt has a few workouts at five furlongs.
“We’ll get a couple of five-eighths under his belt and start trying to line out a game plan,” McCarthy said. “We have all kind of opportunities. It seems like the time off has done him some good.”
Rombauer was given a rest last summer after McCarthy was unsatisfied with his training.
The McCarthy-trained Smooth Like Strait is nearing a return to the stable following a second by a half-length in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 6. Smooth Like Strait was turned out at a local farm for a brief rest last month.
“He’ll be back in on Jan. 1,” McCarthy said. “He’s having a little siesta, a little break. He’ll be a welcome addition. It should be a good year for him.”
Smooth Like Strait won the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita last May and was second or third in six other Grade 1 or Grade 2 races duirng 2021, never losing by more than a half-length.