El Padrino to stand at Northview Stallion Station in Pennsylvania
El Padrino, a Grade 2 winner and leading contender on last year’s Kentucky Derby trail, will enter stud in 2014 at the Pennsylvania division of Northview Stallion Station in Peach Bottom, Pa.
The 4-year-old son of Pulpit first drew attention as a juvenile, breaking his maiden in his second start by 12 3/4 lengths at Belmont Park. He followed up with a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct, and then solidified his Derby résumé in February 2012 with a win in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds.
El Padrino suffered an injury to his left foreleg coming out of the Kentucky Derby, where he finished 13th, and was given an extended break. He returned in December to finish second in an optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park, with sights on a start in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap, but nagging injuries led to his retirement in April.
El Padrino won three of eight starts during his racing career for earnings of $326,770. He ran for Bryan Sullivan and Kevin Scatuorchio’s Let’s Go Stable and was trained by Todd Pletcher, who as agent purchased El Padrino for $210,000 out of the 2010 Keeneland September yearling sale.
Bred in Kentucky by Emory Hamilton, El Padrino is out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Enchanted Rock, whose first two foals both started in the Kentucky Derby—El Padrino last year, and Grade 1 winner Verrazano in 2013. El Padrino’s second dam is Grade 1 winner and graded stakes producer Chic Shirine, a full sister to champion and graded stakes producer Queena.
“This horse was electric at the track,” Carl McEntee, bloodstock director of Northview Stallion Station, said about El Padrino. “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.”