Rombauer wins 146th Preakness Stakes, narrowly beating Midnight Bourbon, Medina Spirit

Rombauer created a last-second push down the stretch to pull ahead of Midnight Bourbon and Medina Spirit

Rombauer wins 146th Preakness Stakes, narrowly beating Midnight Bourbon, Medina Spirit

Rombauer came back down the final leg of the track and was able to take the lead from Midnight Bourbon and Medina Spirit at the very end to pick up the success. Midnight Bourbon finished in second position and Medina Spirit finished in third location.

Flavien Prat and Rombauer were 12-1 odds coming to the race. It was also coach Michael McCarthy's first Triple Crown success. Prat rode Country House during the 2019 Kentucky Derby.

Last year's event was held in October due to the coronavirus pandemic. There was a restricted fan capacity at the occasion. Organizers said they'd have 10,000 from the stands to get the race.

The Preakness was beneath a shroud of controversy as it had been learned Bob Baffert's Medina Spirit failed a post-Kentucky Derby medication evaluation. Medina Spirit tested positive for an elevated level of betamethasone.

Medina Spirit cleared three rounds of testing to be able to compete in the Preakness. Baffert had two horses competing at the race but opted to keep away from Pimlico.

He told reporters at a statement through his attorney"while this has been extremely challenging and emotionally draining on me and my family, today is not about Bob Baffert."

Baffert said Medina Spirit was treated for a skin condition with an antifungal ointment that comprised betamethasone, a corticosteroid which can be injected or applied topically and will help the joints in horses.