Gunnevera Headed to Pimlico for Preakness

HorseRacingFLA Staff Report

Gunnevera is scheduled to leave Churchill Downs in Louisville. Ky., by van at 4 a.m. on Saturday for a trip to Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

Trainer Antonio Sano plans to enter Gunnevera in 1 3/16 mile Preakness (Grade 1) at Pimlico on Saturday May 20.

Gunnevera, owned by Peacock Racing Stables, finished seventh in the  20-horse  field  in last Saturday’s  Kentucky Derby (Grade 1) at Churchill Downs.  He moved up from 14^th place after three-quarters of a mile in the 1 ¼ mile race.

When Gunnevera is not on the road, he is stabled year-round in Sano’s barn at Calder (Gulfstream Park West) in Miami Gardens.

On Friday morning Gunnevera had his final training session at Churchill Downs.

“He went perfect,” Sano told the Churchill Downs media office.” 

“We’re very happy with how he looks after the race (Kentucky Derby),” he added. “He didn’t really lose any weight, in fact, he looks similar to when he won the Delta Jackpot.”

Gunnevera won the 11/16 mile Delta Jackpot (Grade 3) last Nov. 19 at Delta Downs in Vinton, La.

This year, Gunnevera had three starts prior to the Kentucky Derby. All of those races were at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach.

He finished second in the 1 1/16 mile Holy Bull (Grade 2) on Feb. 4 and won the 1 1/16 mile Fountain of Youth (Grade 2) on March 4.

Gunnevera finished third in the 1 1/8 mile Florida Derby (Grade 1) on April 1.

Always Dreaming won the Florida Derby and then won the Kentucky Derby.

“Going into the race I thought Always Dreaming was the horse to beat,” Sano said of the Kentucky Derby. “We’ll go into the Preakness to try and win the race, not try to beat him.”

He added: “The (Kentucky) Derby was a tough race. With the weather that we dealt with and the competition, I’m very proud of my horse for what he accomplished.”