Rombauer Beats Medina Spirit at Preakness
Medina Spirit loses Preakness to Rombauer in 11-1 upset
After a controversial week involving an agreement to allow a pharmacology expert to further examine test results that indicated a miniscule presence of betamethasone in his system, the colt was defeated at the Preakness by underdog Rombauer in an 11-1 upset on Saturday. This all but solidified Medina Spirit from contentiously qualifying for the Belmont Triple Crown. Medina Spirit finished third in the race behind Midnight Bourbon. Medina Spirit’s trainer Bob Baffert had a second horse in the race, Concert Tour, who also performed below expectations, finishing ninth in a 10-horse field.
Despite a tremendous amount of focus being on Medina Spirit, he was passed by Rombauer who won by a 3 ½ length over Midnight Bourbon—who was second in the race. Medina Spirit’s jockey John Velazquez commented on the disappointing performance, “I had to come out running to get to my position. I knew he was going to be pressed today. I was hoping that he wouldn’t overdo it, and we did.” Mike Smith, the jockey of Baffert’s other horse Concert Tour also discussed his dismay at the ninth-place finish after the race, “I am at a loss for words. He didn’t seem to participate at all down the backside. He just wasn’t going anywhere, and when I put my hands down, he just backed off. It was very strange.”
Rombauer trainer Michael McCarthy emotional after win and tremendous upset
Rombauer completed the 1 3/16 mile race in an impressive 1:53.62 paying $26.50 to win, $10 to place, and $5.20 to show. Michael McCarthy, Rombauer’s trainer, worked under Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher as an assistant prior to opening his own barn and shared a warm hug with his former boss after capturing the Triple Crown race win for the first time. An emotional McCarthy said after the race, “means a lot to be here, participate on a day like this . . . just goes to show you that small players in the game can be successful, as well.”
