Sano survives, thrives
Harrowing ride leads trainer to Churchill
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Antonio Sano awoke each morning during 36 days of captivity nearly eight years ago wondering if the members of a Venezuelan kidnapping gang who had held guns to his head on a regular basis would finally decide to pull their triggers.
“I thought every day for a moment that it was possible. I thought about them killing me,” said the Venezuelan training legend who was a prime target for the many kidnapping gangs that held prominent people or their family members for ransom in a country mired in political and economic upheaval. “What kept me going was thinking about my family and my kids.”
Seven men in a pair of SUVs had blocked the married father of three from leaving his home on an early July morning in 2009. They kidnapped him, demanding an enormous ransom for his release after waiting an agonizing two weeks before contacting his wife, Maria Cristina.
The kidnapping had hardly come as a complete surprise, considering that Sano had already been the victim of a kidnapping that lasted several hours while he was forced to withdraw as much money as he could from a number of ATMs.
Sano’s family was unable to meet the ransom demands by the second kidnapping gang, but the contributions of many friends finally amassed enough money — reportedly more than $300,000 — to gain his release.
“When I got out, the first thing was to leave Venezuela. No more Venezuela,” Sano said. “The most important thing was the security for my kids and family. In Venezuela, there was no more security.”
At the urging of his wife, Sano dispersed his stable and ventured to South Florida after a brief stay in Italy to start over.
“For me, I went from 160 horses to no horses. No problem,” said Sano, who had saddled the winners of a record 3,338 races in Venezuela.
The 54-year-old trainer’s consummate horsemanship has allowed him to enjoy a new life in the United States, where he has won several training titles in South Florida and 500 races in a little more than seven years.
“I’m proud that the people of the United States have opened their arms and support me,” said the father of Allessandro (20), Maurizio (18) and Marielena (11). “The people in the United States have been nice. I thank the people for my new life in the United States.”
Tomorrow, Sano will reach new heights in the states when he saddles Gunnevera for a scheduled start in the $2 million Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
“Every day, I get more excited. I get nervous. It’s my first time at Churchill Downs. I am proud my horse is in the Kentucky Derby. All of the horses in the Kentucky Derby can win,” Sano said. “I hope he can win the Kentucky Derby. It would be a big gift for the people of Venezuela at this moment. In Venezuela, people are killing people. People have no food. Very sad.”
Gunnevera has already banked more than $1.2 million in purses for Peacock Racing Stable, whose majority partner is Solomon Del-Valle, a Venezuelan construction company owner who was one of Sano’s friends who contributed to the ransom fund that won his freedom in 2009.
Del-Valle, who is visiting Churchill Downs for the first time, made his initial trip to the United States in 1971 to watch Venezuelan horse Canonero II make a failed bid to sweep the Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes after winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.
“I’m very excited. This is the best horse I’ve ever owned,” said Del-Valle, for whom Sano once trained in Venezuela.
The son of Dialed In, who was purchased for only $16,000 at the 2015 Keeneland September sale, has won three graded stakes, including the Saratoga Special and the Delta Jackpot last year and the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park this year. The Kentucky-bred colt finished strongly in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream April 1 to place third behind Always Dreaming and State of Honor, who are also slated to run for the roses tomorrow.
Javier Castellano, who left Venezuela as a young man to become the top jockey in the United States the past four years, has the mount on Gunnevera, who has drawn the No. 10 post position in a field of 20 and is rated at 15-1 in the morning line.