With staffing thin, Kimmel sends Mr. Buff to the farm

Trainer John Kimmel has resisted the urge to ship Mr. Buff to Oaklawn Park for the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap on May 2, and due to a coronavirus situation at his Belmont Park barn he has shipped the 6-year-old New York-bred gelding to the farm for a little while.

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Kimmel said that Jorge Munoz, a key cog in operating Kimmel’s New York operation, has tested positive for the coronavirus and is in isolation. Kimmel said a couple of other of his employees have felt ill and are awaiting results of coronavirus tests.

Since he is down to a minimum crew, Kimmel said he has sent Mr. Buff and four other horses to the farm.

Mr. Buff has not run since he won the Haynesfield Stakes for New York-breds by 20 lengths on Feb. 22 at Aqueduct. It was his 10th win in his last 14 starts dating back to November 2018. Three of those four losses have come in graded stakes, two in races outside of New York.

“I’m not going to send him out of town,” Kimmel said Thursday by phone from Florida. “It’s unfortunate for a horse that was right at the top of his game to go to the shelf for forced time off.”

Kimmel’s most recent victory at Gulfstream came last Sunday with the New York-bred Gotta Go Mo, who won an open-company maiden turf sprint by 2 3/4 lengths. Kimmel said he hopes to be able to run the son of Uncle Mo next in New York.