King Guillermo Aims to Return in Cigar Mile

Victoria's Ranch's grade 2 winner King Guillermo is aiming to make his comeback in the Cigar Mile Handicap (G1) Dec. 5 at Aqueduct Racetrack. The 3-year-old trained by Juan Carlos Avila missed the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) after developing a fever three days before the race.

"We're going to train towards the Cigar Mile. We'd like to find him a grade 1 win," Avila said. "I think the one-turn mile suits him for his first race back."

King Guillermo has not raced since finishing second in a division of the Arkansas Derby (G1) May 2 at Oaklawn Park. He captured the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) at Tampa Bay Downs one start earlier March 7.

The Uncle Mo  colt returned to the work tab Oct. 17 at Gulfstream Park and breezed a half-mile in :51.78. He drilled another half-mile in :49.26 Oct. 24 before firing a bullet half-mile in :46.48 Nov. 1. 

"It was a very good breeze," Avila said of the bullet. "He's doing perfect."

King Guillermo did not breeze Nov. 8 after Tropical Storm Eta brought heavy rain and gusty winds to South Florida. Avila said the bay will ship to New York Nov. 29.

The Cigar Mile will be a cut back in distance after King Guillermo raced nine furlongs in the Arkansas Derby and 8 1/2 furlongs in the Tampa Bay Derby. His last start at a mile came in November 2019 when he was third in the Pulpit Stakes on turf at Gulfstream. He broke his maiden at the distance at second asking on turf that same month at Gulfstream Park West.