Three-year-old colt King Guillermo pulled off a surprising upset at the Tampa Bay Derby this weekend. Also, earning 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points in the process. The Tampa Bay Stakes was the horse’s first start since November. According to trainer Juan Carlos Avila it will also be his last start until September’s Kentucky Derby. The 146th Kentucky Derby is Saturday, September 5th, 2020. The date changed due to Coronavirus Covid-19 concerns.
Avila said King Guillermo will continue his training at Gulfstream Park. After which he will be moved to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby at an undetermined time. According to the Churchill Downs media guide, there have been only two horses that have gone as long as 42 days between starts and won the Kentucky Derby in the last 100 years: Needles in 1956 and Animal Kingdom in 2011.
Owned by former Major League Baseball All Star Victor Martinez, King Guillermo earned a 99 Beyer Speed Figure for his eye-catching 4 ¾-length win in the Tampa Bay Derby. Martinez told reporters after the race that jockey Samy Camacho will mount King Guillermo in the Kentucky Derby.
King Guillermo Kentucky Derby 2020 Odds
“He put him in the Kentucky Derby. He’ll ride him in the Kentucky Derby,” Martinez said.
King Guillermo made his last start before the Tamp Bay Derby at the Nov. 30 Pulpit Stakes at Gulfstream. This when trying winners for the first time. He finished third in the race.
Due to the fact that King Guillermo was not nominated to the Triple Crown, he is not listed on the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard yet.
However, the 50 points he earned for winning the Tampa Bay Derby are likely enough to earn him a spot in the Derby based on historical records. But, to be eligible to run in the race, Martinez will have to pay a $6,000 nomination fee before the end of the month.