Paddy O'Prado to stand at Spendthrift

Grade 1 winner PADDY O'PRADO (El Prado [Ire]) will stand his first season at

stud in 2012 at B. Wayne Hughes' Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. The

announcement was made Friday.

"We are thrilled with the addition of Paddy O'Prado to the Spendthrift Farm

stallion roster and to our very popular Share The Upside program," said Ned

Toffey, Spendthrift Farm General Manager. "He is a grand-looking animal with a

world of talent on the racetrack. That, coupled with the success of sons of El

Prado at stud such as Medaglia d'Oro and Kitten's Joy, will make Paddy O'Prado a

very attractive stallion prospect."

A five-time graded stakes winner, Paddy O'Prado recently retired after

winning the Dixie S. (G2) at Pimlico. Last year, Paddy O'Prado was widely

considered as one of the top three-year-old performers in North America, winning

four graded stakes including his biggest triumph in the Secretariat S. (G1) at

Arlington Park. He showed he was top class on all surfaces, placing second in

the Blue Grass S. (G1) over Keeneland's Polytrack before running third in the

Kentucky Derby (G1) three weeks later. Earlier at three, Paddy O'Prado broke his

maiden in the Palm Beach S. (G3) at Gulfstream.

The four-year-old gray colt retired with a record of 5-3-3 from 14 starts

with earnings of $1,721,297 for owners Donegal Racing and trainer Dale Romans.