Pico Central stud deal set

Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky and Florida-based Padua Stables have purchased a 50-percent interest in Grade 1 winner Pico Central.

A 6-year-old Brazilian-bred, Pico Central will stand at Padua in Sumerfield, Fla., after his retirement at the end of this season.

Pico Central, a son of Spend a Buck and the Brazilian mare Sheila Purple, was Brazil's champion sprinter in 2003 and its Horse of the Year in 2004. Trained by Paulo Lobo for Gary Tanaka, Pico Central came to the United States in 2003. In this country, he won the 2004 Met Mile, Vosburgh, and Carter, all Grade 1 races. He also won the Grade 2 San Carlos Handicap and finished third in the Grade 1 Cigar and Pat O'Brien Breeders' Cup handicaps.

"Pico Central will race the remainder of the year for Gary Tanaka, with trainer Paulo Lobo, and his main target for 2005 is the Breeders' Cup Sprint," said Lincoln Collins, Tanaka's racing manager.

Pico Central's record stands at 16-9-0-3 with $1,283,145 in earnings.