BALTIMORE - Though the first two victories of Rombauer’s career came on turf and synthetic, there was never any doubt in trainer Michael McCarthy’s mind the colt would be successful on dirt as well. Rombauer’s first start on dirt resulted in a second-place finish in the Grade 1 American Pharoah at Santa Anita last September. Subsequent starts in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Blue Grass Stakes - while both defeats at Keeneland - also gave McCarthy reasons for optimism. On Saturday, Rombauer earned his first victory on dirt by rolling past pace combatants Midnight Bourbon and Medina Spirit on his way to a decisive 3 1/2-length victory in the $1 million Preakness Stakes at Pimlico. Despite owner John Fradkin hinting after the race that a return to turf could be possible for Rombauer’s next start, McCarthy said Sunday morning the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes on June 5 is where he will be pointed. :: Bet the races with confidence on DRF Bets. You're one click away from the only top-rated betting platform fully integrated with exclusive data, analysis, and expert picks. “I think we’ll worry about the dirt right now and think about some of those turf races somewhere down the road,” McCarthy said Sunday morning at Pimlico. McCarthy was pleased with how Rombauer came out of the race. Rombauer was scheduled to ship by van to Belmont Park on Monday and have a few easy days before returning to the track. While McCarthy is based in Southern California, the Belmont Stakes will be a homecoming of sorts as he was based there several years when working as an assistant to Todd Pletcher. McCarthy went out on his own in 2014. Prior to the Preakness, Rombauer had won the El Camino Real Derby over the Tapeta surface at Golden Gate Fields. That win earned him a free entry into the Preakness. Rombauer then finished third to Essential Quality in the Blue Grass on April 3 and McCarthy was keen to run him in the Kentucky Derby, but Fradkin didn’t think the race would have suited the horse. In hindsight, McCarthy thinks Fradkin may have been correct. “The way speed was that day, the way speed has been the last few Kentucky Derbies, maybe it wouldn’t have worked out quite as well,” McCarthy said. “But to come here, win under the circumstances with a horse no one had really given much thought to or there was much buzz about, the style with which he did it yesterday feels pretty good.” Rombauer, a son of Twirling Candy, earned a career-best 102 Beyer Speed Figure for the performance. Midnight Bourbon, who pressed Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit through six furlongs in 1:10.97 in the Preakness, finished two lengths clear of that rival in finishing second. That followed a sixth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, in which the horse didn’t break as well. Trainer Steve Asmussen shipped Midnight Bourbon back to Churchill Downs on Sunday morning and said he would evaluate the horse, the prospective Belmont Stakes field, and discuss with owner Ron Winchell and racing manager David Fiske where to run the horse next. “He will be in consideration for all the major 3-year-old races this year,” Asmussen said. “Solid horse, yesterday was the best he’s ever run, and he’s getting better.” Medina Spirit, beaten 5 1/2 lengths while in third, was vanned back to Churchill Downs on Sunday and his future plans are to be determined. It is not expected that he would be under consideration for the Belmont Stakes. Assistant Jimmy Barnes said trainer Bob Baffert “will call me this evening and let me know what we’re doing,” he said. “Everybody came out of the race in good shape, so that’s good.” That included Concert Tour, who ran a head-scratching ninth as the 7-2 third choice. Keepmeinmind, fourth in the Preakness after running seventh in the Kentucky Derby, was scheduled to van to Churchill on Monday. Robertino Diodoro said he would consider the Belmont. France Go de Ina, who finished seventh in the Preakness, is scheduled to run in the Belmont. The New York Racing Association is offering a $1 million bonus to any horse based in Japan that could win the Belmont Stakes. Rebel’s Romance, who won the UAE Derby for Godolphin Racing in March, is already in New York and pointing to the Belmont. The Belmont is expected to draw several horses from the Kentucky Derby. Hot Rod Charlie (3rd), Essential Quality (4th) Known Agenda (9th), Bourbonic (13th), Brooklyn Strong (15th) and Rock Your World (17th) are all under strong consideration. Known Agenda and Bourbonic are probable for the Belmont, their trainer Todd Pletcher said. Pletcher, a three-time Belmont Stakes winner, is also considering Peter Pan Stakes 1-3 finishers Promise Keeper and Overtook as well as Malathaat, the undefeated filly who won the Kentucky Oaks on April 30. Rick Nichols, the racing manager for Shadwell Stable, which owns Malathaat, said discussions with Pletcher will soon take place regarding Malathaat’s next race. Nichols noted that Medina Spirit’s loss should free up John Velazquez, who is Malathaat’s regular rider, for the Belmont. “Lot of things to consider,” Nichols said Sunday. “She’s training very well, very happy. Hopefully, by midweek or a little later, we’ll have a decision.” In 2007, Pletcher won the Belmont Stakes with the filly Rags to Riches. One of his assistants back then was McCarthy. On Saturday, Pletcher was one of the first people to congratulate McCarthy, giving him a bear hug on the track. “He did a great job preparing the horse, very happy for him and his team,” Pletcher said.