Pletcher still not sure if El Padrino will make the Kentucky Derby field
The son of Pulpit, El Padrino, as of now has amassed $250,000 in graded stakes earnings and right now he ranks 23rd on the graded earnings list, but trainer Todd Pletcher hopes his 3-year-old colt makes it to the field for the Run for the Roses
on 5 May, 2012, at Churchill Downs.
Let’s Go Stables owned, El Padrino, has had three starts as a juvenile, and also had three starts as a sophomore, but he has been far more successful as a three-year-old, and this year he has downed an allowance/optional claimer at Gulfstream Park going
over a distance of 1 1/16 miles on 29 January, 2012, with the winning time of 1 minute and 42.68 seconds.
After his successful start to the season, El Padrino was sent to run in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course on 25 February, 2012.
In a possible Kentucky Derby hopeful field, El Padrino came out as a victor, downing Mark Valeski in the stretch and Z Dager in third place, while in the process he covered the 1 1/16 mile distance on dirt in 1 minute and 42.96 seconds.
Fourth in the Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby, El Padrino had to finish on the money or a bit closer to the winner than he did to amass just about enough earnings from the highly pursed race to be in the safe zone for the Kentucky Derby.
Pletcher told Daily Racing Form, "Right now we’re going to prepare this horse as if he’s going to get into the Derby. As far as that goes, it’s out of our control.”
“I thought we had about as good a day as we could hope for on Saturday, not getting passed by too many horses on the earnings list,” Pletcher told DRF. “Right now we’re still hopeful he’ll get in.”
Right now Todd Pletcher is training El Padrino for the Kentucky Derby, and according to the trainer El Padrino will need a little assistance to make the field.
El Padrino, at Palm Meadows breezes four furlongs in 49.10 seconds, working company with the Grade 1 Travers Stakes winner, Stay Thirsty, who also clocked the distance with the same time.
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