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King Guillermo Fires Bullet Ahead of Kentucky Derby

Victoria Ranch’s King Guillermo (Uncle Mo) tuned up for the $3-million GI Kentucky Derby with a five-furlong drill that was clocked in :58.20 (see below), the quickest of 40 works at the distance. It was the second consecutive Churchill bullet for the strapping bay, who went the same distance in :59.40 (1/46) Aug. 15.

With Miguel Mena in the irons, the GII Tampa Bay Derby upsetter broke off in :11.40 for the opening eighth of a mile, then was timed in subsequent splits of :23 (flat) (:11.60 interval), :34.80 (:11.80) and :46.60 (:11.80) before covering his final furlong in :11.60. He galloped out three-quarters of a mile in a very strong 1:10.80 (:12.60) and was up seven furlongs in 1:24.20 (:13.40) according to a tweet from Churchill Downs’s Kevin Kerstein. Samy Camacho, who rode King Guillermo in the Tampa Bay Derby and guided the colt to his runner-up effort in the faster division of the GI Arkansas Derby May 2, has the call in the Run for the Roses.

“You can sometimes get a little bit worried when horses work that fast, but he did it so effortlessly,” Mena said. “He has an unbelievable stride and is pretty tough in the bridle. When I broke off from the pony, he really wanted to go. He continued out really well around the turn and onto the backside.”

Mena has picked up the call on GIII Indiana Derby and Runhappy Ellis Park Derby third Necker Island (Hard Spun).

In other activity Saturday morning, GI Longines Kentucky Oaks hopeful Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) breezed six furlongs in 1:11.60 beneath exercise rider Edwin Vargas in sectional times of :12.60, :24.20, :35.40 and :59 flat. Florent Geroux has the call for trainer Brad Cox, who also oversaw a routine track gallop for Juddmonte Farms’s GSW/GISP Bonny South (Munnings).

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Donna Veloce Works Ahead of Ky Oaks

GSW Donna Veloce (Uncle Mo) posted a six-furlong work at Del Mar Friday afternoon in advance of an upcoming start in the GI Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs Sept. 4. Campaigned by Kaleem Shah, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, the filly completed the task in 1:11.60, the fastest of seven moves at the distance Friday. Commencing at the five-furlong pole, she completed her first quarter in :25.00 followed by a half :47.80 before hitting the wire :59.80. She galloped out seven eighths in 1:26.20.

An $800,000 2-year-old in training sale buy at the Fasig-Tipton Florida sale in 2019, she realized $450,000 at Keeneland September a year earlier. A first out winner at Santa Anita last September, she closed out her juvenile campaign with seconds in both the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and GI Starlet S. before resuming in 2020 with a victory in her most recent start in the GIII Santa Ysabel S. Mar. 8.

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Keeneland & Fasig Credentials Available Via the Virtual Badge App

Earlier this week, Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton released their joint safety protocols for their upcoming September Sales, which included a credential system for all attendees, including buyers. All consignors and their staffs, vets and their staffs and media are required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test 10 days prior to the start of the Sept. 9-10 Fasig-Tipton Sale.

Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton have partnered with a trusted technology provider, Virtual Badge, to serve their digital credential needs for both September sales. Both sales companies will share a common credential, accessible from your mobile device on the Virtual Badge app. In order to request a credential, interested parties must complete the following steps:

Download the Virtual Badge app on your smartphone in your App Store or Google Play. Create an account within the app, log in and select “Keeneland” or “Fasig-Tipton” under Organization.
Complete the credential application. Select your role at the sale and complete the questionnaire.

Buyers and their agents should complete the form and submit your request. No other action is needed.

All other sales participants should indicate whether you will be testing at Keeneland/Fasig-Tipton or off site. If testing at Keeneland or Fasig-Tipton, your results will be linked to your Virtual Badge account once a negative test is received. If testing off site, upload a copy of your test result into the app.

Credential approved. You will receive notification within 48 hours after submitting your request and test results are received. Your approved credential will appear in the Virtual Badge app on your phone, which will be scanned at entry to the sales ground each day.

An approved credential issued by Keeneland or Fasig-Tipton will be valid for both sales, and therefore you will only need to complete this process once. Please apply with the organization that you will first enter within 10 days of your COVID-19 test.

The release also expanded on other sales protocols, such as the policies in the back ring and barn areas.

Barn Area

– The barn area is open to credentialed participants.

– Participants must wear a face covering and socially distance at all times. Only consignors and their staff will be permitted to enter barns and shedrows.

– Van drivers are not permitted to leave their vehicles, and therefore consignors must meet their horses at the receiving chute to unload.

Back Holding Ring & Sales Ring

– Capacity in the Back Holding Ring will be reduced to two horses at a time with a maximum of three representatives per horse (one groom, one showperson and one consignor). No one else may enter this area or congregate in the chute area.

– To limit contact, the show person responsible for the horse will also lead the horse while in the Sales Ring.

Sales Pavilion

– Capacity will be limited in the Sales Arena to 40%. No seating will be permitted on the benches encircling the Sales Arena.

– Bidding locations have been expanded to allow for social distancing. In addition to the Sales Arena and Back Holding Ring, buyers may bid in the Show Ring.

Sales Offices

– The Sales Counter will operate as normal but we have constructed plexiglass to protect sales participants and staff. Access to this area will be limited based on the number of people in the office at a given time.

– The Sales Accounting Offices will be expanded for increased space and distancing. Signage will be available to point to this area located to the left of the Sales Counter.

The Administrative Offices at Keeneland are closed. All paperwork should be submitted to the Sales Counter or the Stable Office.

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Black-Eyed Susan Added to Preakness Day Card

The $250,000 GII Black-Eyed Susan S., traditionally run the day before the GI Preakness S., will join the Oct. 3 Preakness day card at Pimlico this year. The $250,000 GIII Pimlico Special will be held Oct. 2.

The $100,000 Weber City Miss, to be contested at 1 1/16 miles Sept. 7 at Laurel Park, will once again serve as a ‘Win and In’ race for the Black-Eyed Susan, offering automatic entry for the winner. Also on Laurel’s Labor Day card, the Federico Tesio S. will serve as a ‘Win and In’ event for Triple Crown-nominated horses to the Preakness.

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