Rombauer might point to Santa Anita Derby, not Wood Memorial

Trainer Michael McCarthy said he is opting toward staying in Southern California with Rombauer, who was under consideration for the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial on April 3.

Currently at No. 17 on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, Rombauer was a close second in last year’s American Pharoah (G1) at Santa Anita, where he earned four Kentucky Derby qualifying points. He picked up 10 more qualifying points with a last out victory in the El Camino Real Derby on Feb. 13 over the Golden Gate Fields synthetic.

The defection of unbeaten Kentucky Derby trail standout Life Is Good made the Santa Anita Derby (G1), held on the same day as the Wood Memorial, a more viable option for the son of Twirling Candy.

“I’d say the Wood is a second choice,” McCarthy said. “We’re just going to monitor what’s happening out here. Both races are in play, but I’m leaning more toward staying out here.”

A debut winner on turf and a stakes winner on synthetic, Rombauer is still in search of his first career victory on dirt. He worked five-eighths in 59.20 Saturday on the Santa Anita main track.

Bred in Kentucky by his owners, John and Diane Fradkin, Rombauer is out of the Cowboy Cal mare Cashmere – a half-sister to multiple stakes-winning millionaire California Flag and California-bred champion Cambiocorsa.