BALTIMORE — Two weeks ago, Medina Spirit could not be caught after jumping out to the front of the pack at the Kentucky Derby.
That was not the case at Saturday's 146th Preakness Stakes.
Rombauer blew past the controversial Kentucky Derby winner and Midnight Bourbon, whose odds had dropped to 5-2 – the same as Medina Spirit – prior to post time, to win the Preakness. Medina Spirit ran out of gas to finish third, two lengths behind second-place Midnight Bourbon, who could not hold off an electric finish from the No. 6 colt.
The epic homestretch dash gave Rombauer, who went off at 11-1 odds, a 3½-length victory over the 10-horse field with an unofficial 1:53.62 in the 1 3/16-mile race.
Rombauer's first two career victories — including one at the El Camino Real Derby in February that earned him an automatic Preakness berth — saw him come from behind, too.
It was the first Triple Crown race victory for trainer Michael McCarthy, who was visibly emotional after the win.
"I'm stunned, (but) not totally surprised," he said. "Not sure if that makes any sense."
McCarthy, a disciple of famous trainer Todd Pletcher, said he'd pushed for Rombauer to run in the Kentucky Derby and that his last two work sessions at Pimlico had gone well.
Read More: USAtoday.com
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