Rombauer (USA)
April 17, 2018 – Living
Twirling Candy (USA) x Cashmere (USA), by Cowboy Cal (USA)
Family 9-g
April 17, 2018 – Living
Twirling Candy (USA) x Cashmere (USA), by Cowboy Cal (USA)
Family 9-g
After winning the 2021 El Camino Real Derby (USA-L), Rombauer stepped up into the top levels of the 3-year-old division in a big way, unleashing a powerful victory in the Preakness Stakes (USA-G1). It was his only major score. Third in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (USA-G1), he developed filling in his ankles after the race, and a recurrence of the inflammation plus a bad step taken as he was training toward a 4-year-old comeback ended his racing career.
Race record
8 starts, 3 wins, 1 second, 2 thirds, US$1,040,500
2020:
2021:
Assessments
Rated at 118 pounds in the Intermediate category on the 2021 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 11 pounds below overall highweight Knicks Go (who also topped the Intermediate category with the same 129-pound rating) and 6 pounds below Flightline, Life Is Good, and Medina Spirit, who were tied as the best 3-year-old males on dirt.
As an individual
A medium-sized bay horse, Rombauer was light on his feet and a good mover. He shipped well and won over dirt, turf, and synthetics.
As a stallion
Stallion plans are to be announced. Because of the horse’s relatively late retirement (in early January 2022), John Fradkin indicated that he was considering seeing if the horse could start his stud career on Southern Hemsiphere time in Australia.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Rombauer raced as a homebred for John and Diane Fradkin. He was trained by Michael McCarthy and was ridden to his Preakness win by Flavien Prat.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 2010 Malibu Stakes (USA-G1) winner Twirling Candy, Rombauer is inbred 4x5x4 to two-time American champion sire Mr. Prospector. He is out of Cashmere (by multiple Grade 2 winner Cowboy Cal, by Giant’s Causeway), an unraced half sister to multiple Grade 3 winner and 2009 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (USA-L) winner California Flag (by Avenue of Flags) and to 2006 Las Cienegas Handicap (USA-G3) winner Cambiocorsa (by Avenue of Flags), a mare that became a huge Santa Anita fan favorite by winning six straight races over Santa Anita’s downhill turf course. Cambiocorsa, in turn, is the dam of Grade 2 winners Schiaparelli (by Ghostzapper) and Moulin de Mougin (by Curlin) and stakes winners Alexis Tangier (by Tiznow) and Bronson (by Medaglia d’Oro). Through her Grade 1-placed daughter Vionnet (by Street Sense), Cambiocorsa is the second dam of 2018 European Horse of the Year Roaring Lion.
Cashmere and her siblings are out of unplaced Ultrafleet (by Afleet), a “skinny” and small but correct mare that the Fradkins purchased for US$10,500 from the 1993 Keeneland September yearling sale. Ultrafleet is a half sister to Social Service (by Green Forest), dam of multiple restricted stakes winner Princess Deelite (by Afternoon Deelites), and is out of the stakes-placed Vigors mare Social Conduct, a half sister to stakes winner Brief Remarks (by Talc). The next dam in Rombauer’s tail-female line, Jostling Queen (by Knightly Manner), is a winning half sister to stakes winner Inquire (by Star Envoy; dam of Grade 3 winner Ask de Naskra, by Star de Naskra) and to Stage Door Flirt (by Stage Door Johnny; dam of stakes winner Blonde Actress, by Lyphard’s Ridge) and is out of Day O., a Nail half sister to 1966 Sorority Stakes winner Like a Charm (by Pied d’Or) and Irish stakes winners Vaquero II (by Mustang) and Isle of Shine (by Luminary II).
Fun facts
Last updated: December 19, 2022
Race record
8 starts, 3 wins, 1 second, 2 thirds, US$1,040,500
2020:
- 2nd American Pharoah Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
2021:
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won El Camino Real Derby (USA-L, 9FA, Golden Gate)
- 3rd Belmont Stakes (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Keeneland)
Assessments
Rated at 118 pounds in the Intermediate category on the 2021 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 11 pounds below overall highweight Knicks Go (who also topped the Intermediate category with the same 129-pound rating) and 6 pounds below Flightline, Life Is Good, and Medina Spirit, who were tied as the best 3-year-old males on dirt.
As an individual
A medium-sized bay horse, Rombauer was light on his feet and a good mover. He shipped well and won over dirt, turf, and synthetics.
As a stallion
Stallion plans are to be announced. Because of the horse’s relatively late retirement (in early January 2022), John Fradkin indicated that he was considering seeing if the horse could start his stud career on Southern Hemsiphere time in Australia.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Rombauer raced as a homebred for John and Diane Fradkin. He was trained by Michael McCarthy and was ridden to his Preakness win by Flavien Prat.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 2010 Malibu Stakes (USA-G1) winner Twirling Candy, Rombauer is inbred 4x5x4 to two-time American champion sire Mr. Prospector. He is out of Cashmere (by multiple Grade 2 winner Cowboy Cal, by Giant’s Causeway), an unraced half sister to multiple Grade 3 winner and 2009 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (USA-L) winner California Flag (by Avenue of Flags) and to 2006 Las Cienegas Handicap (USA-G3) winner Cambiocorsa (by Avenue of Flags), a mare that became a huge Santa Anita fan favorite by winning six straight races over Santa Anita’s downhill turf course. Cambiocorsa, in turn, is the dam of Grade 2 winners Schiaparelli (by Ghostzapper) and Moulin de Mougin (by Curlin) and stakes winners Alexis Tangier (by Tiznow) and Bronson (by Medaglia d’Oro). Through her Grade 1-placed daughter Vionnet (by Street Sense), Cambiocorsa is the second dam of 2018 European Horse of the Year Roaring Lion.
Cashmere and her siblings are out of unplaced Ultrafleet (by Afleet), a “skinny” and small but correct mare that the Fradkins purchased for US$10,500 from the 1993 Keeneland September yearling sale. Ultrafleet is a half sister to Social Service (by Green Forest), dam of multiple restricted stakes winner Princess Deelite (by Afternoon Deelites), and is out of the stakes-placed Vigors mare Social Conduct, a half sister to stakes winner Brief Remarks (by Talc). The next dam in Rombauer’s tail-female line, Jostling Queen (by Knightly Manner), is a winning half sister to stakes winner Inquire (by Star Envoy; dam of Grade 3 winner Ask de Naskra, by Star de Naskra) and to Stage Door Flirt (by Stage Door Johnny; dam of stakes winner Blonde Actress, by Lyphard’s Ridge) and is out of Day O., a Nail half sister to 1966 Sorority Stakes winner Like a Charm (by Pied d’Or) and Irish stakes winners Vaquero II (by Mustang) and Isle of Shine (by Luminary II).
Fun facts
- Rombauer was named for Rombauer Vineyards, a Napa Valley winery owned by Koerner and Joan Rombauer. The winery is particularly well-known for its Chardonnay.
- While the Fradkins had planned to sell Rombauer after his maiden win on the turf at Del Mar, the race was timed in a slow 1:38.30 for the mile and there were no worthwhile offers, leading the couple to decide to keep the colt. The slow time turned out to be due to a malfunctioning timer that affected all of Del Mar’s turf races that day, and John Fradkin was encouraged by the colt’s final quarter in a very fast :22.93, contributing to the decision to retain Rombauer.
Last updated: December 19, 2022