Donegal Racing announced Monday that stable star Paddy O’Prado has been
retired from racing following a sesamoid injury sustained while winning the
Dixie S. (Grade 2) at Pimlico on Saturday.
Paddy’s career started three years ago when Jerry Crawford, Donegal Racing
managing partner, suggested a group of mostly Iowa investors buy the horse at
the Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $105,000. The group hired
trainer Dale Romans, who nurtured and guided the horse to a career record of
record of five wins, three seconds, and three thirds from 15 starts and earnings
of $1,721,297.
“Today is bittersweet,” said Romans, who also trained Shackleford to a
victory in Saturday’s Preakness S. (Grade 1). “Paddy returned to training like a
big, gray monster, and we thought we were sitting on the Horse of the Year. But
now he will be able to go on and be a champion sire.”
Paddy O’Prado broke his maiden in spectacular fashion by winning the Palm
Beach S. (Grade 3) at Gulfstream Park early in his three-year-old campaign. His
next start was in the Blue Grass S. (Grade 1) at Keeneland, and his second-place
finish earned him a place in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby (Grade 1).
Paddy O’Prado finished third in that classic race and wheeled back to run in the
Preakness.
From there, “Iowa’s horse,” as Paddy became known for the native state of the
majority of his ownership group, embarked on a summer turf campaign that
established him as one of the best turf horses in North America. Paddy O’Prado
captured the Colonial Turf Cup (Grade 2) and Virginia Derby (Grade 2), both at
Colonial Downs. Paddy O’Prado then won the biggest race of his career making a
powerful run down the lane to take the Secretariat S. (Grade 1) at Arlington
Park.
In his final two starts of 2010, Paddy finished second in the Joe Hirsch Turf
Classic Invitational (Grade 1) at Belmont Park and fifth — beaten by only five
lengths — in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (Grade 1) at Churchill Downs. Paddy
O’Prado was named an Eclipse Award finalist for three-year-old champion colt.
“He was as versatile as any horse I’ve ever trained, and competed at the
highest levels on turf, dirt and Polytrack. It takes a special horse to win or
place in Grade 1 races on all three surfaces,” Romans said. “He never gave less
than full effort, and every time we led him to the track, I was confident that
he could compete against any other horse.”
Paddy’s only start at four was his dramatic last-to-first win in the Dixie.
“We are very disappointed today to see Paddy’s career end so suddenly,”
Crawford said. “This is what is best for Paddy; he will make a full recovery and
embark on the next stage of his career. The thrills that he has given us are
priceless and we were so proud and honored to share them with family, friends
and fans in Iowa and around the country.”
Stud plans have not been finalized at this time.