EL PADRINO SOLD AS STALLION PROSPECT

Superbly-bred graded stakes winner El Padrino (09, Pulpit x Enchanted Rock, by Giant’s Causeway) will enter stud in 2014 under the Northview Stallion Station banner, making his first season at Northview PA in Peach Bottom.

A half-brother to 2013 Grade 1-winning Verrazano from the family of champion Queena, El Padrino was graded stakes-placed at 2, and a graded winner at 3. Never off the board as a juvenile, he captured a 1-mile maiden special weight at Belmont in his second start by nearly 13 lengths and came back in three weeks to finish third in the 1 1/8-mile Gr.2 Remsen Stakes, beaten less than a length.

El Padrino was a winner at Gulfstream Park and Fair Grounds in his first two starts of the 2012 campaign. The flashy chestnut surged past Take Charge Indy to win a 1 1/16-mile allowance in his 3-year-old debut in Florida and followed with the Gr.2 Risen Star, getting the job done as the heavy favorite while defeating Mark Valeski, with future graded winner Optimizer also in the beaten field.

El Padrino contested the Gr.1 Florida Derby, finishing three lengths behind winner Take Charge Indy and missing third to classic winner Union Rags. He retired with a record of 8-3-2-1 and earnings of $326,770.

El Padrino is from a prolific family that counts dozens of graded stakes winners, including Brahms, Serra Lake, Coal Play, Hungry Island, Cappuchino, Soaring Empire and La Reina. Champion Queena, a three-time Grade 1 winner, is a full sister to El Padrino’s second dam, Grade 1 winner Chic Shirine (by Mr. Prospector). His third dam is Grade 1 winner Too Chic. El Padrino is the first foal out of the young Giant’s Causeway mare Enchanted Rock; her second foal is Verrazano, who won the Gr. 1 Wood Memorial S. and Gr. 2 Tampa Bay Derby.