King Guillermo Stretches Legs at Oaklawn Park

Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) winner King Guillermo took to the Oaklawn Park track April 25 for the first time since arriving Thursday afternoon at the Arkansas oval. The 3-year-old Uncle Mo  colt jogged the wrong way after the renovation break for trainer Juan Carlos Avila in advance of the May 2 Arkansas Derby (G1).

Owned by five-time major league All-Star Victor Martinez's Victoria's Ranch, King Guillermo and stablemate Trophy Chaser will represent the first local starters for the Florida-based Avila, who amassed roughly 3,000 victories in his native Venezuela before saddling his first United States winner in March 2018. Trophy Chaser, who is owned by Avila's JCA Racing Stable, is pointing for the May 2 Oaklawn Handicap (G2).

Avila said he originally planned to train King Guillermo up to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), previously scheduled for May 2, off the colt's March 7 Tampa Bay Derby win but, like numerous horsemen across the country, called an audible because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Kentucky Derby was rescheduled for Sept. 5, and Oaklawn then pushed back the Arkansas Derby from its April 11 date.

"I didn't have to change my training schedule," Avila said after King Guillermo returned to Oaklawn's Heavenly Prize barn. "He worked very well Wednesday, very nice, at Gulfstream. He's ready to run."

King Guillermo covered a half-mile on a fast track in :48.18, his third published work at Gulfstream Park since the Tampa Bay Derby. King Guillermo and Trophy Chaser were vanned to Oaklawn, arriving at 2 p.m. CT Thursday, Avila said.

"He's a nice horse," Avila said of King Guillermo. "The perspiration, the aerobic, it's very nice. He seems like he can run two miles. It's excellent. It's amazing, this horse. I've only been in the United States three years. I worked for 30 years in Venezuela. I've never seen one horse like this. I have 3,000 wins and won many stakes internationally. This is an amazing horse."

A late Triple crown nominee, King Guillermo has 50 points to rank 10th on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. The Arkansas Derby will award 170 total points (100-40-20-10) to the top four finishers toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby. Currently slated for a $750,000 purse, the race could be split into two divisions. Each division would carry a $500,000 purse and award 170 points, according to Oaklawn racing secretary Pat Pope. Oaklawn officials are targeting 22-24 starters to split.

Post positions for the Arkansas Derby will be drawn Sunday. If not split, the race is limited to 14 starters, based on earnings. 

The Oaklawn racing department listed at least 17 probables Saturday morning: Amen Corner, Anneau d'Or, Basin, Blackberry Wine, Charlatan, Farmington Road, Fast Enough, Gouverneur Morris, King Guillermo, My Friends Beer, Nadal, Shooters Shoot, Silver Prospector, Sole Volante, Storm the Court, Taishan, and Wells Bayou.

Blackberry Wine completed major Arkansas Derby preparations by working a half-mile in :48 on a good track Saturday morning. Shooters Shoot also breezed Saturday, covering five furlongs in 1:00. It was the fastest of 10 works at the distance.