Illness sidetracks Wildcat Red

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Hallandale Beach, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - The expected entry of Wildcat Red into the $400,000 Holy Bull Stakes on Saturday at Gulfstream Park failed to come off after the 3-year-old colt became ill.

"We decided not to enter because the horse got sick," trainer Jose Garoffalo said. "He's got a little cold. He wasn't a hundred percent good for the race, so we decided to skip the race. He's in good shape. It's just a routine cold, so we're treating him and he'll be better for the next time."

The absence of Wildcat Red meant that 11 3-year-olds were entered in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull. Garoffalo's colt would have been one of the favorites for the stakes won last year by Itsmyluckyday.

"He just wasn't reacting like he usually does. He wasn't too happy (Monday) morning," Garoffalo said about Wildcat Red. "Maybe it was the change of weather or something related to that, I don't know. We hopefully have many races ahead for him.

"We have to evaluate the horse in the next couple of weeks. He's OK. We didn't want to take the chance, so we just do what's best for the horse."

The Holy Bull would have been Wildcat Red's second race of the year following a second-place finish behind General a Rod in the Gulfstream Park Derby on Jan. 1. The colt, winner of his first three career starts, has earned $100,850.