Arnaldo Monge often refers to destiny, and perhaps that best explains how he joined Rey Hernandez as unlikely Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve owners with improbable one-eyed starter Finnick the Fierce.
Author: News
Updated: King Guillermo Out Of Kentucky Derby After Spiking A Fever
King Guillermo, 20-1 on the morning line for this year's Kentucky Derby, will be forced to scratch from the race after spiking a temperature on Wednesday afternoon. According to a tweet from trainer Juan Carlos Ávila Thursday, the colt will instead point for a start in this year's Preakness if his health is restored.
“First is the health of our King Guillermo,” wrote Ávila. “He will be ready to show that he is one of the best in the country sooner rather than later.”
Ávila thanked the horse's followers for their support along the Derby trail.
King Guillermo, who is owned by Victoria's Ranch, comes to the race the runner-up in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby, and winner of the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby. Samy Camacho has been named as the rider for the son of Uncle Mo.
Speculation as to the horse's status had swirled throughout Thursday after the colt did not come out to train in the morning as expected. Ávila told media then he anticipated consulting with veterinarians through the afternoon before finalizing his announcement.
“To race in a race like the Derby we need him at 100 percent,” Avila told the Churchill notes team. “We aren't going to be able to demonstrate how good he is like this. I think we are going to have plenty of time to show his quality. He's going to be a great horse and everybody knows we have to take care of the horse first. The next step is to try to get him ready for the Preakness and go from there.”
Owner Victor Martinez added, “The sad part is that Juan said yesterday was his best day here. When we left the track in the morning following training and came back in the afternoon for feed time, we discovered he had a fever. It's just the sad part about this game.”
Prior to the scratch of King Guillermo, the 18-horse field was expected to leave stalls 1 and 20 open on the new 20-horse starting gate. Now, according to Churchill Downs, stalls 1, 2, and 20 will be left open.
The post Updated: King Guillermo Out Of Kentucky Derby After Spiking A Fever appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
Big Race Showdown: Picks for Longines Kentucky Oaks
For the fourth year in a row, America’s Best Racing is challenging some of the brightest minds in horse betting to come up with their top three picks for key races every weekend leading up to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. The handicappers face off in what we like to call “Big-Race Showdown.”
Hernon Launches Bloodstock Agency
Michael Hernon, who served as Gainesway Farm’s Director of Sales for the past 24 years, has launched his own bloodstock agency, Michael Hernon Bloodstock LLC. Starting in the mid-1990s, Hernon managed the stallion books of sires including Broad Brush, Cozzene and Mt. Livermore. More recently, he oversaw the books of leading sires Tapit and Empire Maker, as well as the emerging young sire Karakontie (Jpn).
“Two decades of selling at the highest level of the stallion market was a rare experience, but as Gainesway expanded their bloodstock sales agency, I worked on the farm consignment and
started helping our outside clients with everything they needed to be successful at the sales. We enjoyed a lot of success,” said Hernon.
“Before Michael took over, we were breeding for the top of the market, but not always succeeding at the sales,” said Waymore LLC’s Tom Conway. “He put us on the right track, from sales prep to setting reserves, and suddenly we were on fire with two yearlings selling for $800,000 and another for $700,000. We became fast friends and last year I was proud to attend when Michael became a U.S. Citizen.”
Additionally, Hernon is the co-breeder of champion 3-year-old filly Monomoy Girl, winner of the GI Kentucky Oaks and
GI Breeders Cup Distaff. From a small broodmare band, Hernon also co-bred two-time Grade I-winner Zazu, and graded-stakes winner Flashback, sire of champion British Idiom. This year in the U.S., he co-owns stakes-winning 2-year-old Spanish Loveaffair and while in his native Ireland, Hernon campaigned group-placed juvenile Sussex Garden. Prior to his tenure at Gainesway, Hernon served stints at Pedigree Associates, Fasig-Tipton and Walnut Green.
“I feel everything I have done in this industry has brought me to this new position. Helping people find the right horses and succeed in sales and racing is very satisfying. I look forward to
operating as a bloodstock agent and attending Thoroughbred racing and sales both in the U.S. and in Europe,” Hernon said.
The post Hernon Launches Bloodstock Agency appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
