Unhappy: Borell Sacked Day After Breeders' Cup Sprint Victory - Horse Racing News | Paulick Report
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Unhappy: Borell Sacked Day After Breeders’ Cup Sprint Victory

Maria Borell, following the Breeders’ Cup Sprint victory by Runhappy in 2015

Just a day after winning the Breeders' Cup Sprint with Runhappy, trainer Maria Borell took to Twitter with the news that she was being fired.

The Blood-Horse's Jeremy Balan confirmed through racing manager Laura Wohlers that Borell was indeed no longer the trainer of Runhappy and that Wohlers had taken over.

Borell tweeted that Wohlers wanted to send Runhappy to the track this morning. When Borell refused, Wohlers told her she would be taking over Runhappy's training. Borell said on Twitter she reached out to the colt's owner James McIngvale, but he had not returned her texts or calls.

Wohlers was trainer of Runhappy in the colt's first two starts, a romping maiden win at Turfway Park in December 2014 and a ninth-place finish in the G3 LeComte Stakes Jan. 17. He was transferred to Borell soon after that and has won all five of his starts since, including two Grade 1 events.

“My heart is in a million pieces,” tweeted Borell.

Wohlers said in the Blood-Horse story that the decision to “move in a different direction” was not made Sunday.

“This morning there was no filling,” she said. “I've checked horses 100,000 times in my life. He had some heat, but nothing more than any other horse who ran 1:08 and change. We jog him after races to get rid of lactic acid buildup and (Borrel) has disagreed in the past.

“We really respect Maria. We think she's done a great job, but unfortunately it was time for us, as a team, to move forward.”

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