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Paddy O'Prado gives Romans more joy in Virginia Derby
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| Paddy O'Prado has won his last three turf attempts
(Jeff Coady/Coady Photography) |
The Dale Romans-trained PADDY O'PRADO (El Prado [Ire]) was hammered
into 3-5 favoritism in Saturday's $600,000
Virginia Derby (G2) at Colonial Downs, on the heels of his
impressive victory in the June 19 Colonial Turf Cup (G2) over the
course. Bettors expected him to follow in the hoofsteps of a past Romans
pupil, turf champion Kitten's Joy, who landed the 2004 Virginia Derby
(G3), and Paddy O'Prado turned in a performance worthy of that all-star.
Unleashing a tremendous rail-skimming move for Kent Desormeaux, Paddy
O'Prado burst to the front at the top of the stretch and stayed on to
post a 1 1/2-length victory over Interactif (Broken Vow).Sporting the colors of Donegal Racing, Paddy O'Prado was reserved
more than 10 lengths off the pace for the opening six furlongs. Up
front, Two Notch Road (Partner's Hero) dictated fractions of :24 1/5,
:48 3/5, 1:13 1/5 and 1:38, spurting away from the field in hopes of
springing a 17-1 upset.
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On the far turn, though, Paddy O'Prado commenced his eye-catching rally along
the fence, while Interactif was beginning to strike top gear wider out. Paddy
O'Prado shot past a weakening Two Notch Road, opened up a two-length margin in
midstretch, and safely held the sustained run of Interactif. The winner's final
time for 1 1/4 miles on the firm turf was 2:02 2/5, and the gray furnished
payouts of $3.20, $2.20 and $2.10.
Interactif, the second choice at nearly 7-2, had 1 1/2 lengths to spare over
third-place finisher Krypton (Rock Hard Ten), returning $3.40 and $2.80. The
nearly 9-1 Krypton reeled in Two Notch Road by a length, and show was good for
$3.40. The exotics totaled $9 (exacta), $32.60 (trifecta) and $83.80 (7-3-2-1
superfecta). Stately Victor (Ghostzapper) was along for fifth, followed by pace
pressers Majestictroubadour (Roman Ruler) and Awesome Dream (Full Mandate). The
withdrawn Formulaforsuccess (Broken Vow) ran in Saturday's American Derby (G2)
at Arlington Park instead, finishing ninth.
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| Paddy O'Prado sliced through to the inside of Interactif
(Corey Zamora/Coady Photography) |
Paddy O'Prado has now joined millionaires' row with a bankroll of $1,111,297
from his 10-3-2-3 mark. He has won his last three attempts on turf -- his
maiden-breaking score in the Palm Beach S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park back on March
6, and now the Colonial Turf Cup/Virginia Derby double.
Between his 2 1/2-length success in the Palm Beach and his Colonial heroics
this summer, he took a detour on the Triple Crown trail. Romans decided to give
his charge a chance in the classic events and sent Paddy O'Prado to contest the
Blue Grass S. (G1) on Keeneland's Polytrack. The gray dueled for the lead
throughout, grabbed the advantage in the stretch, but couldn't hold off the late
rush of Stately Victor. He followed up with a nice third in the Kentucky Derby
(G1), but could do no better than sixth in the Preakness S. (G1), and promptly
reverted to the grass.
As a juvenile, Paddy O'Prado suggested that he'd prefer the turf. Seventh in
his career bow on Churchill Downs' main track, he just missed by a neck in a
turf maiden at Saratoga and then ran third to Interactif in the With
Anticipation S. (G3) at the Spa.
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Bred in Kentucky by Winchell Thoroughbreds, Paddy O'Prado sold to his current
connections as a $105,000 Keeneland September yearling. He is the second
registered foal out of multiple Grade 2 victress Fun House (Prized), who has
since produced an unraced juvenile filly named Patti O'Rahy (Rahy), an unnamed
yearling colt by Street Sense and a 2010 Tapit filly. Fun House is herself out
of Bistra (Classic Go Go), making her a half-sister to Grade 2-winning sire
Early Flyer (Gilded Time).
This is the same family as sire Olympio (Naskra), who won the 1991 editions
of the Hollywood Derby (G1), Arkansas Derby (G2), American Derby (G2), Minnesota
Derby (G2) and Malibu S. (G2); last year's Forego S. (G1) hero Pyro (Pulpit);
Grade 1 winner Cuvee (Carson City); Grade 2 scorers Call Now (Wild Again), Bien
Nicole (Bien Bien) and Will He Shine (Silver Deputy); Grade 3 victress War Echo
(Tapit); and Grade 3-placed Carol's Wonder (Pass the Tab), who is the dam of
Grade 2 victor Wild Wonder (Wild Again).
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