El Padrino turned in his final work before the Florida Derby
Let’s Go Stable’s El Padrino will have his work cut out when he goes out on the field for the Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on 31 March, 2012, over a distance of 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-olds only.
El Padrino will be up against Patrick Byrne trained 3-year-old colt, Take Charge Indy, who after finish second in an allowance/optional claimer at about 1 1/16 miles at Gulfstream Park, was scratched from the Tampa Bay Derby just to focus more on the Florida
Derby.
Another top contender to win the Florida Derby is the Dale Romans trained son of Harlan’s Holiday, News Pending, is also in the Florida Derby mix. The 3-year-old colt challenged Union Rags whole heartedly in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes on 26 February,
2012, and finished a close second to the rampant colt, which in itself is a big achievement.
Both these colts will be going up against the early favourite of the Florida Derby, Union Rags, the winner of the Fountain of Youth Stakes, and he is also considered an early favourite for the Kentucky Derby, and to run him down, a horse has to be in top
shape.
Todd Pletcher trained son of Pulpit, El Padrino gave final touched to his preparations for the Florida Derby when he turned in half mile in 49 seconds flat at Palm Meadows Training Center.
El Padrino is undefeated in 2012, winning in allowance/optional claimer at Gulfstream Park, and then he downed the all important Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds in his recent start on 25 February, 2012, over a distance of 1 1/16 miles, which he
covered in 1 minute and 42.96 seconds.
“Physically, he’s a big strong colt but has good acceleration and can be pretty tactical in his races. He’s becoming more and more professional. His allowance race here was an impressive race for a young horse, sitting behind horses on the inside and having
to wait for something to open and finishing up strongly against a horse that was kind of loose on the lead,” Pletcher said.
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