Preakness Stakes winner Rombauer springs 14-1 shock as Bob Baffert’s Kentucky Derby champ Medina Spirit finishes third

PREAKNESS Stakes winner Rombauer sprung a 14-1 shock to end controversial favourite Medina Spirit’s hopes of securing the Triple Crown.

French jockey Flavien Prat stormed home on the outsider to claim the £437,956 first-place prize in style.

Prat punches the air after winning the Preakness on 14-1 shot RombauerThe French jockey romped home on the outsider to leave the favourite and second favourite behind

Bob Baffert’s horse Medina Spirit – who failed a drugs test after winning the Kentucky Derby – came third, with Midnight Bourbon in second.

Rombaeur gave trainer Mike McCarthy Preakness success at his first attempt to win any American Triple Crown race.

And the ecstatic trainer said seeing his horse pass the post in first was like an ‘out of body experience’.

Prat recorded his first victory in the race, romping home by three-and-a-half lengths from the 3-1 second-favourite.

The former Kentucky Derby winner, who left his homeland for the US in 2015, said: “This does feel different (to my Kentucky Derby win) – what a feeling. I’m so thankful to Michael (McCarthy) and all his team. When I left France it was to do better than I was doing there.

“I didn’t know the magnitude of the Triple Crown races, but I’ve since realised there is so much history behind them.

“To win one was amazing – to win the Preakness is even better.”

McCarthy said: “I’m so proud of this horse and everybody involved. It means a lot to be here, participating on a day like this. Hats off to everyone – this is fantastic.

Jubilant trainer McCarthy hoists the trophy aloft

Owner John Fradkin and his wife celebrate victory with their 14-1 shot

Medina Spirit, right, and Midnight Bourbon contested the lead for much of the race but were overtaken by the winner late on

“I reached over my shoulder and said to someone ‘he’s a little bit closer today, but it looks like he’s travelling well’.

“At the three-and-a-half-furlong pole, I saw some horses around him moving and not really going anywhere.

“Coming to the quarter pole, I started to get a little excited.

“Then at the eight pole, it was like an out-of-body experience.”

Medina Spirit – who went off 5-2 favourite – tried to lead from the front the entire way round but ran out of gas at the end.

The horse was allowed to run despite testing positive for anti-inflammatory drug betamethasone in the wake of his Derby win.

FREE BETS GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE

Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to SE. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org

---

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chase their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.sportingexcitement.com/horse-racing/jockey-nooresh-juglall-dies-aged-29-after-horrific-mid-race-fall