Forbidden Kingdom, Slow Down Andy recovering from illnesses

Graded stakes winners Forbidden Kingdom and Slow Down Andy are recovering from recent illnesses that kept them out of the Triple Crown this year.

Forbidden Kingdom, winner of two Grade 2 races earlier this year, was diagnosed with a swollen throat after finishing last of six as the even-money favorite in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 9.

“The throat is improving, but we will scope it each week and see,” trainer Richard Mandella said. “We’ll probably miss another two weeks” of training.
Mandella said Forbidden Kingdom’s exercise has been limited to “just walking a lot” at his Santa Anita stable.

Forbidden Kingdom has won 3 of 6 starts and earned $434,500 for Spendthrift Farm and the My Racehorse syndicate. Forbidden Kingdom rose to prominence earlier this year with wins in the San Vicente Stakes at seven furlongs in February and the San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles in March.

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Slow Down Andy has recovered from a virus detected in mid-April, trainer Doug O’Neill said.

“He’s much better,” O’Neill said. “His blood work looks great. He’s back under tack and slowly moving forward. The virus is behind us.”

Slow Down Andy will not have an extensive exercise schedule this weekend and into early May, O’Neill said.

“It’s like watching grass for the next week or so,” O’Neill said.

Owned by breeder Paul and Zillah Reddam, Slow Down Andy has won 3 of 5 starts and earned $544,850. He won the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity in December, beating Kentucky Derby hopeful Messier, and won the Grade 3 Sunland Park Derby in New Mexico on March 27.