Trainer says King Guillermo out of Saturday's Kentucky Derby after spiking fever
Trainer Juan Carlos Avila announced Thursday afternoon via Twitter that King Guillermo will not run in Saturday's Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs because of a fever.
"Unfortunately we will not be running this Saturday at the (Kentucky Derby)," Avila wrote. "A fever yesterday afternoon took us away from this great dream. First it is the health of our King Guillermo, who will be ready to show that he is one of the best in the country sooner rather than later."
King Guillermo did not train at Churchill Downs on Thursday morning, and Avila noted, "We have a little problem."
“It’s a big race, and a little problem is a big problem for me,” Avila said.
King Guillermo, owned by former major league baseball star Victor Martinez, has not raced since May 2 when he was second in Division Two of the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park.
He had worked well since arriving at Churchill Downs, firing back-to-back bullet works on Aug. 15 and Aug. 22.
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King Guillermo drew the No. 6 post position in the Derby and was 20-1 in the morning line. The son of Uncle Mo was scheduled to be ridden by Samy Camacho.
The scratch leaves a 17-horse field for the Derby.
Contact Frakes at jfrakes@courier-journal.com. Follow him on Twitter: @KentuckyDerbyCJ.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: King Guillermo out of 2020 Kentucky Derby with fever, trainer says
