Rombauer resumes light training for potential return to racing
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ARCADIA, Calif. – Rombauer, the 2021 Preakness winner who has not raced in nearly two years, has resumed light training for a potential comeback later this season.
Owner-breeder John Fradkin confirmed Thursday that Rombauer, a 5-year-old full horse by Twirling Candy, is galloping at a training track in Ocala, Fla. If all goes well, Rombauer could return to the races later this year.
“We’re hopeful to get him back to the races, but it’s not for sure,” Fradkin said. “We’re cautiously optimistic, and if anything goes wrong, we’ll pull the plug.”
Rombauer ranked among the elite of his crop before his retirement was announced in early 2022. In 2020, Rombauer finished second in the Grade 1 American Pharoah at Santa Anita as a 2-year-old, the following year he won the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields and finished third in the Grade 2 Blue Grass at Keeneland. Three weeks after his Preakness victory, Rombauer finished third in the Belmont Stakes, his final start.
A three-time winner of $1,040,500 from eight starts, Rombauer was sidelined with ankle issues in 2021, then resumed workouts later that year for his California trainer Michael McCarthy. But after Rombauer took a bad step galloping at Santa Anita, the decision was made to retire him.
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Fradkin hoped to stand Rombauer in Kentucky; his record and pedigree warranted stallion consideration. Sired by Twirling Candy, Rombauer hails from an outstanding female family. His unraced dam, Cashmere, is a sibling to California Flag, a multiple graded winner who won the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, and multiple graded winner Cambiocorsa.
However, a Kentucky stallion deal was not reached, nor was the second option of standing him in Japan. Fradkin said returning Rombauer to the races is “Plan C.” If he is unable to withstand the rigors of training and racing, Fradkin may elect to stand Rombauer in a regional market.
Fradkin respectfully declined to name the Florida facility where Rombauer is galloping and said no decision has been made regarding trainer. Fradkin acknowledged Rombauer is no certainty to return to the races; he is not expected to breeze until he returns to a racetrack. While establishing top form following an extended layoff is a challenge, Rombauer would not be the first.
“I’m thinking about something like, and it’s very rare, Val Royal or Da Hoss,” Fradkin said. “They came back off really long layoffs and won at the highest level.”
Val Royal, a Grade 2 winner in 1999, was off for a year and a half and returned to win the 2001 Breeders’ Cup Mile. Da Hoss was off for two years prior to winning the 1998 BC Mile in his second start back.
Rombauer, who has won on dirt, turf, and synthetic, would likely return as a grass horse.
“I’m going to try to bring him back as a turf horse; his first couple starts will probably be on turf,” Fradkin said.
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