El Padrino overhauls Take Charge Indy

Bartolome grabbed the early lead from the rail and splashed through fractions

of :23 2/5 and :47. Take Charge Indy prompted the pace in second, and El Padrino

secured a tracking spot behind the leader on the inside. Casual Trick, who

stumbled at the start, improved into a stalking position.

Take Charge Indy took charge on the far turn and opened up by daylight,

getting six furlongs in 1:10 4/5. Casual Trick found himself in second as the

early leader Bartolome beat a retreat, but he too gave way abruptly and drop

well back.

Seeing Take Charge Indy steal away, Javier Castellano sent El Padrino after

him, and he rapidly erased the gap and bore down on the leader. Although Take

Charge Indy tried to take advantage of the short stretch run in the 1 1/16-mile

affair, El Padrino had too much momentum. The mud-splattered chestnut powered

past and pulled away by two lengths. After stopping the teletimer in 1:42 3/5,

El Padrino returned $7.20, $3.60 and $3.20.

The top two were in a race of their own. There was a chasm of 13 3/4 lengths

back to Argentine Tango, who closed from last to get up for third. Big Screen

reported home fourth, followed by A Boy Named Em, In the Beat, Bartolome and

Casual Trick. Gaelico was pulled up once hopelessly beaten.

El Padrino was already known to relish an off track, having crushed a maiden

by 12 3/4 lengths in the Belmont Park slop on October 29. His two tries on a

fast track were more than respectable as well. Despite a troubled trip in his

debut at Saratoga, he flew late for second, beaten just three-quarters of a

length by the well-regarded B Shanny. El Padrino stepped up off his big maiden

win straight into the November 26 Remsen, and closed strongly for third.

The Pulpit colt was originally penciled in for the Grade 3 Lecomte at Fair

Grounds on January 21, but Pletcher decided to give him another week. He has now

bankrolled $86,100 from his 4-2-1-1 record.

Bred by Emory A. Hamilton in Kentucky, El Padrino was sold for $210,000 as a

Keeneland September yearling. He is the first registered foal from the Giant's

Causeway mare Enchanted Rock, herself a half-sister to Grade 2 winners Waldoboro

and Tara Roma. Immediate family members include Grade 1 winner Serra Lake; Grade

2 scorers Al Khali and Hungry Island; and Grade/Group 3 winners Soaring Empire,

Coal Play, Cappuchino, Somali Lemonade and Baraan.

Enchanted Rock's dam is Grade 1 queen Chic Shirine, a full sister to champion

Queena, who is in turn the dam of Grade 1 hero Brahms. Chic Shirine and Queena

were both produced by Grade 1 victress Too Chic.