Fort Prado euthanized after bout of laminitis

STICKNEY, Ill. -- Fort Prado, a 20-year-old Illinois-bred millionaire, had to be put down earlier this week due to complications from laminitis, a painful condition that afflicts the hooves and can be irreparable in advanced stages.

Bred and campaigned by Team Block and trained by Chris Block, Fort Prado won 13 stakes races, five in open company and eight in Illinois-bred competition, during a career spanning 2003-09. A successful synthetic and turf miler during his first few seasons, Fort Prado later was cut back to turf sprints, winning the 2007 Woodford over 5 1/2 furlongs at Keeneland.

By El Prado out of Fort Pond, by Fortunate Prospect, Fort Prado was retired to stud, getting 106 winners with total progeny earnings of $7.1 million. His most accomplished runner was Prado’s Sweet Ride, winner of the Grade 2 Falls City Handicap in 2018.

After Fort Prado was taken out of stud duty, Chris Block brought him to the racetrack to try and make him a stable pony, but out on the track, Block said, Fort Prado’s competitive still burned too bright. “He would get tough with the rider because he wanted to compete.” Fort Prado wintered at the Blocks’ farm in Ocala, Fla., but Block said he brought Fort Prado to the racetrack in Illinois every spring and stabled him in his barns at Arlington and Hawthorne. “We took him to the track most days to get exercise. He loved it,” said Block.

Fort Prado was residing with Block’s string at Hawthorne when he contracted laminitis, spending his final days in the barn where his racing career had begun 18 years ago.

* Voting for elected positions in the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association closed Dec. 1 and ballots were being tabulated on Friday. The ITHA presidency was contested this election, with Chris Block opposing the current president, Mike Campbell.