Grade 2 hero El Padrino (Pulpit) will enter stud in 2014 under the
Northview
Stallion Station banner, standing his first season at Northview PA near
Peach Bottom, Pennsylvania.
“We were thrilled to acquire El Padrino. He has all the makings of a top
stallion,” said Richard Golden, owner of Northview Stallion Station. “He was a
good racehorse with outstanding conformation and he has an exceptional
pedigree.”
El Padrino opened his racing career at Saratoga for trainer Todd Pletcher,
finishing a close second in his debut before romping by 12 3/4 lengths in his
first victory two months later at Belmont Park. The chestnut wrapped up his
juvenile season with a third-placing, beaten just a length, in the Remsen (G2)
at Aqueduct in late November.
The Kentucky-bred was a winner at
Gulfstream Park and Fair Grounds in his first two starts of 2012, surging past
eventual Florida Derby (G1) victor Take Charge Indy (A.P. Indy) to win a 1 1/16-mile
allowance in his three-year-old debut in Florida and following that with a nose
score in the Risen Star (G2) as the heavy favorite.
El Padrino contested the Florida Derby, finishing three lengths behind
Take Charge Indy while missing third to eventual classic winner Union Rags.
He lost all chance in the Kentucky Derby next out when steadied and roughed up,
eventually settling for 13th in that contest, and rounded out his racing career
with seven months later with a second-placing in an allowance/optional claimer
at Gulfstream.
Campaigned by Let’s Go Stable, El Padrino retired with a record of 8-3-2-1 and earnings
of $326,770 in lifetime earnings.
El Padrino is the first
foal out of Enchanted Rock (Giant’s Causeway), who would next foal this year’s
Wood Memorial (G1) and Tampa Bay Derby (G2) star Verrazano (More Than Ready).
The duo are from a prolific family that counts among its members dozens of graded stakes
winners, including Brahms, Serra Lake, Coal Play, Hungry Island, Cappuchino,
Soaring Empire and La Reina.
Champion Queena (Mr. Prospector), a three-time Grade 1 winner, is a
full sister to El Padrino’s second dam, Grade 1 winner Chic Shirine. His third
dam is Grade 1 winner Too Chic (Blushing Groom).
“This horse was electric at the track,” said Carl McEntee, bloodstock director
of Northview Stallion Station. “It is rare to have a freshman sire with this
kind of pedigree. Obviously being by Pulpit is a huge positive and out of a
young mare who’s first two foals to race are graded stakes winners, the family
is very active. In addition to the depth throughout the pedigree including Queena, Brahms and La Reina, you couldn’t ask for more from a stallion’s
pedigree.”