2021 won’t produce a Triple Crown. Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit fought hard in the Preakness Stakes, but couldn’t hang on, fading to third behind Midnight Bourbon in second as Mike McCarthy trained Rombauer ran by both for the win. Check out how Rombauer won the Preakness as well as a too early preview of the 2021 Belmont Stakes so you can get ready to make your bets against their Horse Racing odds.
Preakness Stakes: How Rombauer Won the 2021 Preakness
2021 Preakness Stakes
- When: Saturday, May 15
- Where: Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, MD
How Rombauer won the 2021 Preakness Stakes
In our final Preakness write-up, we chose Rombauer to win the Triple Crown’s Second Jewel. We wrote about how the Twirling Candy sired runner had the flexibility to stay close to the pace or to come from the clouds.
That flexibility is the main reason why in the Preakness Rombauer was in the best position to overtake favorite’s Midnight Bourbon and Medina Spirit at the top of the stretch.
Steve Asmussen trained Midnight Bourbon and the Derby winner didn’t run fast fractions. Bourbon and Spirit got the half-mile in 46.4, which is slow for a TC event. Rombauer was about 3 to 4 lengths off at the half-mile pole.
As they turned for home, jockey Flavien Prat aboard Rombauer got within 2 lengths and then a length. At the top of the stretch, anybody who has ever watched horse racing new it was over. There was no way Rombauer wasn’t going to motor past Midnight Bourbon and Medina Spirit.
In hindsight, the Rombauer’s victory made sense. We noted how Mike McCarthy had kept Rombauer out of the Derby after the horse ran excellent to finish third in the Grade 2 Blue Grass.
The Blue Grass was Rombauer’s first race since his victory in the El Camino Real Derby. McCarthy used the Blue Grass as a true prep, meaning the only way he was going to start Rombauer in the Derby was if the horse had won the Blue Grass.
Mike McCarthy places his horses well. He knew Rombauer was up to the task. Anyone who read our Preakness write-ups this week and took our advice would have scored big on the 11-to-1 shot.
Too early look at the 2021 Belmont Stakes
McCarthy says Rombauer will run in the Belmont Stakes. His breeding suggests 1 ½ miles is no problem, but we shouldn’t jump all over Rombauer to win the Test of Champions.
Essential Quality will run. So will Todd Pletcher trained and Kentucky Oaks winner Malathaat, Santa Anita Derby winner Rock Your World, and second-place Kentucky Derby finisher Hot Rod Charlie are also pointing to the Belmont.
If you’re looking for an underdog with a shot, consider Todd Pletcher trained Overtook. The closer is bred to relish 1 ½ miles, has an excellent turn of foot, and should get lost in the betting with so many name horses in the field.
The Belmont Stakes happens on Saturday, June 5.
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