Grade 2 winner El Padrino was euthanized Nov. 22, according to a release from Northview Stallion Station.
After a series of bouts with colic and subsequent surgeries at New Bolton Center, the decision was made to put down the 8-year-old son of Pulpit. His first foals are 2-year-olds of 2017.
El Padrino entered stud in 2014 at Northview PA, near Peach Bottom, Pa., for a fee of $5,000 stands and nurses. Throughout his years as an active sire, that fee remained unchanged.
Bred in Kentucky by Emory A. Hamilton out of the Giant's Causeway mare Enchanted Rock, El Padrino was a half brother to grade 1 winner Verrazano (More Than Ready ), who stands at Ashford Stud. His dam sold for $2 million to White Birch Farm when consigned for Hamilton by Gainesway at the 2017 Keeneland November sale. She is back in foal to More Than Ready.
El Padrino was a $210,000 purchase by Todd Pletcher as agent from Middlebrook Farm's consignment to the 2010 Keeneland September sale, and was campaigned by Let's Go Stable. He placed in the 2011 Remsen Stakes (G2) and won the 2012 Risen Star Stakes (G2) en route to a 3-2-1 record from eight starts, for earnings of $326,770.
El Padrino earned a spot in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) with his Risen Star win, and finished 13th on the first Saturday in May after running fourth in the Florida Derby (G1). He was rested after that effort with an injury to his left fore, and returned late in the year to finish second in an allowance-optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park, which would wind up serving as his final career start. His old injury came up again when he was pointing toward a start in the 2013 Donn Handicap (G1), and he was retired.
According to Equineline reports, El Padrino had 22 foals born this year from his total 133 foals from three crops to date. As of Nov. 24, he bred 55 mares during the 2017 season. His leading performers are Enchanted Star and Whereshetoldmetogo.
"We hope that his legacy will be carried on through his final crops of foals," read the Northview release. "He will be sorely missed."
