Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) is headed for the GI Whitney S., trainer Kenny McPeek said Wednesday.
McPeek said that the EHV-1 quarantine that has affected his barn at Saratoga prompted him to reschedule his plans for Peter Callaghan's 4-year-old filly, the winner of the 2020 Preakness against colts. She was originally scheduled to run in the GIII $200,000 Shuvee this Sunday, but the quarantine in his barn has prevented him from entering any horses at Saratoga.
The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) have placed Barn 86 at Saratoga Race Course under a precautionary quarantine until further notice due to a positive case of Equine Herpesvirus-1 in that barn.
The unnamed, unraced filly, who is trained by Jorge Abreu, was sent to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital on Sunday, July 11 after developing a fever. She was subsequently tested for a number of potential ailments, and a positive test for EHV-1 was returned on Thursday afternoon. The filly began treatment immediately, and is improving under the care of Dr. Luis Castro, DVM.
The New York Racing Association has announced that during the length of the 21-day quarantine, retroactive to July 11, no horses can train with the generation population or enter races. The quarantine is scheduled to run through August 1, should no additional horses test positive, which is standard protocol in New York.
“There might be a silver lining to this after all,” said McPeek, indicating that the $1 million Whitney at nine furlongs is a good fit for her, and that she is training very well. She won the 2020 Alabama at Saratoga.
This story will be updated.
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