El Padrino retired by Let’s Go Stable

El Padrino, Verrazano’s half-brother who won last year’s Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes, has been retired from racing.

The 4-year-old Pulpit colt missed his planned seasonal debut earlier this year in the Donn Handicap due to the recurrence of an old injury, according to Let’s Go Stable principals Bryan Sullivan and Kevin Scatuorchio.

“El Padrino exited the (2012) Kentucky Derby with a minor injury to his left fore, and though he was poised for a big 4-year-old campaign, a recurrence of that same injury knocked us off course for the Donn this winter,” the pair said in a statement issued Tuesday.

Let’s Go Stable’s trainer, Todd Pletcher, bought El Padrino for $210,000 at Keeneland’s 2010 September yearling sale. The chestnut colt went on to win three of his eight lifetime starts, including the Risen Star at Fair Grounds.

El Padrino broke his maiden by 12 3/4 lengths at 2 before finishing third in the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct. He came back to beat Take Charge Indy in allowance/optional claiming company, then followed up with a nose decision over Mark Valeski in the Risen Star. He then finished fourth in the Florida Derby and 13th in the Kentucky Derby. El Padrino last ran on Dec. 19 last year, finishing second in a Gulfstream allowance/optional claiming race won by Citrus Kid. He retires with $326,770 in earnings.

Let’s Go Stable also campaigns El Padrino’s 3-year-old half-brother, Verrazano, in partnership with Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith. The More Than Ready colt has won all four of his starts, most recently taking the Wood Memorial by three-quarters of a length over Normandy Invasion. Emory A. Hamilton bred both El Padrino and Verrazano from her Giant’s Causeway mare Enchanted Rock.

Stud plans for El Padrino will be announced at a later date.