Rombauer Arrives at Belmont Park for Belmont Stakes

John and Diane Fradkin's homebred colt Rombauer , a decisive winner of the May 15 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course, arrived at Belmont Park May 17 to prepare for the June 5 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1). 

The Twirling Candy   bay arrived at Belmont at around 10:00 a.m. ET Monday and will be stabled with trainer Jonathan Thomas.

Accompanying the Preakness champ on the van ride from Maryland was groom Leonel Orantes Aguilar, who reported that the horse shipped to New York "very well." 

Trainer Michael McCarthy returned to Southern California, where he is primarily based at Santa Anita Park, but gave positive reports on how the horse emerged from his breakthrough performance. 

"It seems like he's in good physical shape," McCarthy said. "He was pretty bright and alert on Sunday morning. He's a horse that takes very good care of himself, so we sort of read the signs from him and see what he's telling us. From what I can tell, he's no worse for wear."

The Preakness was a first American classic triumph for McCarthy, who was previously a longtime assistant to newly minted Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher. 

"I got a lot of nice messages from people and there were a lot of people that reached out who I hadn't heard from in quite some time, so it was very nice," McCarthy said.

McCarthy went on to say that Bo Hirsch's Ce Ce  is a possibility for the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1), a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series event on Belmont Stakes Day for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the main track. The race winner receives an automatic berth in the Nov. 6 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Del Mar.

Yuji Inaida's Japan-based France Go de Ina , trained by Hideyuki Mori, also arrived at Belmont Monday following his seventh-place finish in the Preakness.

Mori's traveling assistant Masaki Takano will oversee the two-time winner's preparations heading into the Belmont Stakes. 

"He seemed to travel really well, it was a trouble free trip," said Takano through translator Kate Hunter. "This is a good experience for the horse because the racing here is so different. Over the course of the time that he's been here, he's been able to get used to the American style of doing things. That's helped him relax into the routine and hopefully it will lead to a better performance in the future."

Takano said that France Go de Ina has settled into a nice rhythm training in North America and should be well prepared heading into his next engagement. 

"The extra length of the Belmont, and the experience he's gotten from racing once here already, it's likely we'll have a better chance to perform better based off his pedigree. We're looking forward to giving it another go," said Takano.

Takano said France Go de Ina will resume training Friday morning. 

A $1 million bonus is offered to the connections of any Japan-based horse who wins the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes.