Rombauer is back in light training, might resume racing

Rombauer, the 2021 Preakness winner who has not raced since he finished third that spring in the Belmont Stakes, is back in light training with the possibility of resuming his dormant racing career.

“Yes, he’s back in training,” said John Fradkin, who with his wife Diane bred and own the 5-year-old Twirling Candy horse. “(The) initial goal would be just to make it back to the races.”

Fradkin made his statement in a text message to confirm what Daily Racing Form reported first Thursday. He said he was cautiously eyeing the resumption of a career that led to earnings of $1,040,500.

“He’s still a long way away from a start,” Fradkin said, “but he is galloping.”

Named for a high-end wine label, Rombauer has been galloping at an unspecified training facility in Ocala, Fla. Fradkin told DRF he had been unable to reach a breeding deal to stand the two-time stakes winner, so a return to training was seen as the next viable alternative.

Ankle trouble forced Rombauer off the track in the summer of 2021. He was declared a retired horse early last year.

Michael McCarthy trained Rombauer to a record of 8: 3-1-2, but the Fradkins did not say if he would look after a second phase of the horse’s racing career, DRF said.