Del-Valle Hopes Gunnevera Makes His U.S. Trip Special

Solomon Del-Valle owns two horses.

One, a 4-year-old With Distinction filly named Manana, is winless after 16 races and has earned $17,350. The second, Gunnevera, will run May 6 in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) looking to build on his $1.17 million bankroll to date.

Del-Valle, 66, was prowling the barn area of Churchill Downs the week leading up to the big race, part of his 52-day commitment to remain in the United States from his native Venezuela through the duration of the Triple Crown series. Every day the contingent of Venezuelans surrounding Gunnevera for his morning gallops grows, with at least a dozen crowding the rail May 3, when the son of Dialed In   gave a spirited account of himself while moving down the Churchill backstretch.

Operating as Peacock Racing Stables, along with partners Jaime Diaz Mengotti and Guillermo Guerra (Del-Valle's son-in-law), Del-Valle has been a friend and patron of Gunnevera's trainer, Antonio Sano, for 40 years. When the trainer was kidnapped in his native country for the second time, Del-Valle went around to Sano's friends and peers and collected and delivered the ransom money that won Sano's release. 

Del-Valle also came to the aid of his friend after Sano paid $16,000 for a Dialed In colt at the 2015 Keeneland September yearling auction. When the client for whom he bought the horse flaked out, Del-Valle and partners stepped in a year ago and have been handsomely rewarded for their purchase.

"It's indescribable being here—no words to explain it," Del-Valle said in a mixture of English and Spanish, helped in translation by Sano's son Alessandro. "I only have two horses, although we just bought three more at the Ocala sale."

Del-Valle no longer races in Venezuela, where he said the economy is very bad and corruption is rampant. His construction business has been hurt in the process, and many in his family want to emigrate to the U.S.

"He is a very patriotic person who loves Venezuela," Alessandro Sano said, "so even though the country is going through hard times, he is willing to face it and make the best of it."

Del-Valle became interested in horse racing at age 6, when his father started taking him to the races every day. It is a love Del-Valle has passed along to his daughter. Del-Valle has been to the U.S. on three occasions, always to see horses. On his first visit, he witnessed the Venezuelan import and Derby winner Canonero II run fourth in the Belmont Stakes in 1971. 

"Gunnevera is going to be different," Del-Valle said, "because he is going to win all three in the Triple Crown."

Gunnevera has the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes (G3) in his win column, along with last year's Saratoga Special (G2). In a wide-open Derby field, he is a logical contender.

If he wins the Derby, be prepared for one raucous celebration to break out.