Coolmore purchases interest in Verrazano

Coolmore Stud has purchased an interest in promising 3-year-old Verrazano from owner Let’s Go Stable, adding another talented sophomore to its roster of possible Kentucky Derby contenders.

The international racing and breeding entity operated by Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Susan Magnier purchased a half interest in champion juvenile Shanghai Bobby from Starlight Racing days before the Harlan’s Holiday colt captured the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Both Verrazano, by More Than Ready, and Shanghai Bobby are stabled at Palm Meadows Training Center with Todd Pletcher.

Let’s Go Stable co-manager Bryan Sullivan said that he and partner Kevin Scatuorchio have a strong relationship with Coolmore, which factored into the transaction. Kevin Scatuorchio’s father James campaigned Grade 1 winner Scat Daddy, one of the most successful young stallions standing at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in Versailles, Ky.

A $250,000 Keeneland September yearling sale purchase by Let’s Go Stable, Verrazano won his career debut by 7 3/4 lengths on Jan. 16 at Gulfstream Park. He followed that with an 16 1/4-length blowout win in a one-mile allowance race Feb. 2 at Gulfstream, earning a 105 Beyer Speed Figure, the highest so far among 3-year-olds. Pletcher is considering three races for Verrazano’s next start, including the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes on Feb. 23 at Gulfstream.[bc_video_id:283213:]

Kentucky-bred Verrazano, who is out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Enchanted Rock, is a half brother to El Padrino, winner of the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes last year. That colt, by Pulpit, subsequently finished fourth in the Grade 1 Florida Derby and 13th in the Kentucky Derby.

Out of the Grade 1 winner Chic Shirine - a full sister to champion Queena - Enchanted Rock is a half sister to graded stakes winners Waldoboro and Tara Roma. It is the family of Grade 1 winner Serra Lake and graded stakes winners Cappuchino, Coal Play, Hungry Island, Soaring Empire, Somali Lemonade and Al Khali.