Grade I Winner Taste of Paradise to Crestwood

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Grade I winner and millionaire Taste of Paradise, who came close to winning the TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) at Belmont Park, will enter stud at Pope McLean's Crestwood Farm near Lexington. Owned by David P. Bloom, the 6-year-old son of Conquistador Cielo will stand for $6,000.

Taste of Paradise finished fastest of all in the Sprint and came within a head of Silver Train in a runner-up performance. The time for the six furlongs was 1:08.86, and both horses received a 114 Beyer Speed Figure.

Taste of Paradise won two stakes at six furlongs, and both were in faster time than the Sprint. He captured the Vosburgh Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont in 1:08.82 four weeks before the Sprint. Last year at Hollywood Park, he won the Vernon O. Underwood Stakes (gr. III) in 1:08.04. Taste of Paradise also was a graded winner at 1 1/16 miles, taking the 2003 San Diego Handicap (gr. II) at Del Mar.

"We're really impressed with him," McLean said. "He's a gorgeous horse with tremendous conformation. He's a sprinter who can go two turns."

Taste of Paradise, who was produced from the What Luck mare Tastetheteardrops, retired with six wins from 28 starts and earnings of $1,019,455. He was bred by Bloom in partnership with Keith Abrahams and Robert Snukal, and initially raced for Bloom and Abrahams before the former bought out his partner in January of 2004. Bloom will retain a majority interest in Taste of Paradise, who was trained the latter part of his career by Gary Mandella.

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