ROMBAUER EARNS 10 KENTUCKY DERBY POINTS, FREE BERTH INTO THE PREAKNESS WITH EL CAMINO REAL DERBY WIN
3-year-old colt Rombauer made his sophomore seasonal debut a winning one in the feature race at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday, the $100,000 El Camino Real Derby for 3-year-olds at one mile and an eighth. With the victory, Rombauer earned 10 Kentucky Derby points and an all-expenses paid, free berth into the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, on Saturday, May 15. Jockey Kyle Frey guided the son of Twirling Candy to victory for trainer Michael McCarthy.
Sent off as the 6-5 favorite in the field of eight, Rombauer sat last for the first three quarters of a mile before making an outside move on the far turn. Swinging for home while still in the clear, Rombauer quickly picked off six rivals in midstretch before digging down deep to collar runner up finisher Javanica in the final 50 yards. Javanica, a filly racing against boys for Team Godolphin, finished a neck off of Rombauer at the finish. 99-1 shot Govenor’s Party completed the trifecta and It’s My House, who set the pace before fading in the final furlong, held on for fourth place. Waspirant, Petruchio, Tesoro and Play Chicken completed the order of finish.
Rombauer covered nine furlongs on Tapeta in 1:51.64 seconds. With the El Camino Real Derby victory in the bag, Rombauer improved his overall record to 2 wins and 1 second place finish from 5 lifetime starts, with career earnings of $210,500. Rombauer is a homebred colt bred by owners John and Diane Fradkin. Winning trainer Michael McCarthy picked up his second El Camino Real Derby victory with today’s score, having finished first with Paved in 2018.
This is the second El Camino Real Derby win for Jockey Kyle Frey who won aboard Zakaroff in 2017.
See below for race photos, race replay and jockey interview.
