Verrazano postpones stud duty, switches to O'Brien
Verrazano postpones stud duty, switches to O'Brien
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Coolmore announced Sunday that multiple Grade 1 star Verrazano, who was slated to begin his stallion career at Ashford Stud in 2014, will instead prolong his racing career. But rather than returning to the barn of Todd Pletcher, the four-year-old has crossed the Atlantic to join trainer Aidan O'Brien in Ireland, where he will prepare to transfer his game to turf. "Being the best son of More Than Ready, who is doing so well as a sire in Australia, we feel that a European campaign would raise his profile when the time comes for him to shuttle there," Ashford Stud Manager Dermot Ryan said in the press release. Verrazano never took the opportunity to try turf in the United States, primarily because he was so impressive at times on dirt. A 7 3/4-length debut winner sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs at Gulfstream Park on January 1, 2013, the bay came back one month later to crush an entry-level allowance at a mile by 16 1/4 lengths. Following that rout, the Coolmore principals of Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith purchased an interest in Verrazano from Let's Go Stable. The Tampa Bay Derby marked his first start for the new partnership, as well as his two-turn and stakes debut. Verrazano promptly galloped to a three-length decision, heightening his profile on the Kentucky Derby trail. He was more workmanlike when prevailing in the Wood Memorial, but did enough to bring a perfect four-for-four mark to Churchill Downs.
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Regular rider John Velazquez opted to stick with Verrazano over Orb in the
Kentucky Derby. As his old partner Orb rallied to glory, Verrazano faded to 14th
of 19. Pletcher, who revealed that the colt's left hock had been struck into,
believed that he was never really comfortable in the slop.
Verrazano returned with a vengeance over the summer at Monmouth, romping by 9
1/4 lengths in the Pegasus and by a record 9 3/4 lengths in the Haskell
Invitational. He lost his spark thereafter, however. Only seventh in the
Travers, he was fourth in his expected swan song in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile
at Santa Anita. Connections gave him another chance in the November 30 Cigar
Mile, but he could do no better than fourth.
"It makes sense for Verrazano to move to Europe," Pletcher said, "as he
has achieved so much already here.
"The owners love to have their best horses run at Royal Ascot, and a win
there would be of great benefit to his stallion career."
Verrazano is bred to relish turf. Aside from being by More Than Ready, he is
out of the Giant's Causeway mare Enchanted Rock, and a close relative of
multiple Grade 2 turf vixen Hungry Island. Enchanted Rock is a half-sister to
the dam of Hungry Island, who like Verrazano, is by More Than Ready.
Verrazano's half-brother, 2012 Risen Star hero El Padrino, enters stud in
2014 at Northview near Peach Bottom, Pennsylvania, for a fee of $5,000, live
foal.
No fee had been set for Verrazano when he was listed on the roster of Ashford
stallions.
Bred by Emory A. Hamilton in Kentucky, Verrazano was sold for $250,000 as a
Keeneland September yearling. He settles into Ballydoyle with a record of
10-6-0-1, $1,691,300.
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