Our standout three-year-old colt, El Padrino by Pulpit ex Enchanted Rock by Giant’s Causeway, will take off from the eight slot in the eleven horse field going 1 1/16 miles. El Padrino garnered the attention of racing fans, handicappers, and writers with his impressive two length win last month, besting a competitive field in an allowance race at Gulfstream Park.
El Padrino, accompanied by Todd Pletcher's assistant trainer Whit Beckman, will arrive in New Orleans on Wednesday. After strong performances on the New York circuit and at Gulfstream Park, we're eager to see how he will handle the Fair Grounds. He will train over the track on Thursday and Friday, and will be paddock schooled to make him more comfortable in his new surroundings.
Since his latest victory in the Gulfstream allowance race, he's been ranked fourth on Steve Haskin’s derby dozen ranking and fourth on the Daily Racing Form’s Derby Watch List, has appeared on derby lists from theCourier-Journaland Triple Crown Insider, as well as having been featured in articles by Bloodhorse, Daily Racing Form, theNew York Post, Thoroughbred Times, Thoroughbred Daily News, and ESPN. With the Kentucky Derby Futures Pool-1 closing with El Padrino at odds of 16-1, it seems as though we're not the only ones excited and hopeful for our colt's future.
El Padrino has trained consistently well working an easy 1/2 mile in :48 3/5 at Palm Meadows Training Center under Javier Castellano on Sunday. He worked similarly well the previous week going 1/2 mile in :48 2/5. Between his strong works and Castellano in the irons, we have high hopes that we will have our own Mardi Gras celebration in the winner's circle Saturday afternoon.