Coolmore announced
“Verrazano was found to be lame after the Eclipse, and although it is not a
“It’s very disappointing as he ran two lovely races on his first two starts
Verrazano made his turf debut in the May 17 Lockinge, finishing third to
Coolmore acquired an interest in Verrazano early in his three-year-old season
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Verrazano stayed unbeaten through the Tampa Bay Derby and Wood Memorial, but
lost his perfect mark when 14th in the Kentucky Derby. The bay colt rebounded at
Monmouth Park last summer, romping by 9 1/4 lengths in the Pegasus and by 9 3/4
lengths in the Haskell Invitational. He failed to duplicate that brilliance in
his final three outings for Pletcher. Seventh in the Travers, fourth in the
Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and third in the Cigar Mile, Verrazano was scheduled to
enter stud at Ashford this year, until his Coolmore connections came up with a
bold change of plan.
“Verrazano is a striking individual to a look at — a really gorgeous horse,”
Pletcher said. “He always impressed me, both in the mornings and in the
afternoons. His run in the Haskell was a monstrous effort. He just blew them
away that day.”
Out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Enchanted Rock, and thus a half-brother to
Grade 2 victor El Padrino, Verrazano comes from the black-type rich family of
current Grade 1 star Somali Lemonade. Most recently successful in the July 19
Diana, Somali Lemonade will seek to add another laurel in Saturday’s Beverly D.
at Arlington.
Verrazano, who compiled a mark of 13-6-1-2, $1,877,983, will now begin his
stud career at Coolmore’s Ashford near Versailles, Kentucky, in 2015.
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