Verrazano Profile, News, Entries, Results, Video, and Blogs

Ashford Stud Releases 2015 Fees

By Blood-Horse Staff
November 6, 2014
Breeding, Kentucky

Coolmore's Ashford Stud, which features three new stallions at the Central Kentucky farm, announced its stud fees for 2015.

GI Winner Verrazano Retired to Ashford Stud

By Blood-Horse Staff
August 14, 2014
Racing, Breeding, International, Breeders' Cup, Kentucky

After a 2014 season that saw him add a pair of group I placings on turf to his resume, grade I winner Verrazano has been retired. The 2013 William Hill Haskell Invitational Stakes (gr. I) winner will stand at Ashford Stud.

The Fugue Favorite for Coral-Eclipse

By Myra Lewyn
July 3, 2014
Racing, International

Dazzling Royal Ascot winner The Fugue is the favorite for the Coral-Eclipse Stakes, which attracted five other group I winners among a field of 11 for the July 5 race at Sandown Park.

Toronado Opens Season With Queen Anne Victory

By Frank Angst
June 17, 2014
Racing, International

Toronado proved up to the challenge of facing top competition in his seasonal debut when the 4-year-old held off a late challenge from Verrazano to secure a victory in the Queen Anne Stakes (Eng-I) June 17 at Royal Ascot.

Toronado, Verrazano Meet in Queen Anne

By Myra Lewyn
June 15, 2014
Racing, International

Al Shaqab Racing's group I winner Toronado heads a field of 10 entered for the Queen Anne Stakes (Eng-I) June 15, opening day at Royal Ascot.

Olympic Glory Takes Lockinge, Verrazano Third

By Myra Lewyn
May 17, 2014
Racing, International

Olympic Glory hit the lead in the final quarter mile and kicked clear to win the JLT Lockinge Stakes (Eng-I) May 17 at Newbury, while United States grade I winner Verrazano finished third in his European debut.

Verrazano Set for European Debut in Lockinge

By Myra Lewyn
May 16, 2014
Racing, International

Two-time United States grade I winner Verrazano, a prominent 3-year-old last year, makes his first European start May 17 in the JLT Lockinge Stakes (Eng-I) at Newbury.

And They're Off: Groundhog Day Edition

By Steve Haskin
February 5, 2014
Triple Crown

Lenny Shulman and Steve Haskin talk about Verrazano going to Ireland, the Kentucky Derby Trail, including Vinceremos, the Derby Future Wager, Eblouissante, and more. Sponsored by Darby Dan Farm. Watch Video

Verrazano to Race in Europe in 2014

By Blood-Horse Staff
February 2, 2014
Racing, Breeding, International, Kentucky

Dual grade I winner Verrazano will remain in training in 2014, rather than retiring to stand at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky.

Record Sixth Eclipse for Pletcher

By Jack Shinar
January 18, 2014
Racing

Todd Pletcher's deep bench of top quality runners sometimes make it difficult to gauge his accomplishments when compared to those of other trainers. But in 2013, he was in a league of his own.

Novak at the Track: Road to Derby Retrospect

By Claire Novak
December 13, 2013
Racing

Catching up with the winners of last year's Kentucky Derby prep races -- including returns for Vyjack, Itsmyluckyday, Super Ninety Nine, and more. read blog

Old Pro Flat Out Powers Home in Cigar Mile

By Claire Novak
November 30, 2013
Racing, Northeast Region

Preston Stables' hard-knocking Flat Out took the overland route to victory Nov. 30 in the Cigar Mile (gr. I), a race worth $753,000 due to the winner's previous grade I-winning status.

Groupie Doll at Peak Level for Cigar Mile

By Claire Novak
November 28, 2013
Racing, Northeast Region

Top female sprinter Groupie Doll nearly won the Cigar Mile (gr. I) a year ago. Now she's back with a new slate of rivals to contend with, including grade I winners Goldencents and Verrazano.

Nine Expected in Cigar Mile

By Blood-Horse Staff
November 24, 2013
Racing, Northeast Region

Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) winner Goldencents has been assigned 120 pounds and is the high weight among the nine expected starters for the Nov. 30 $500,000 Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I) at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Pletcher's Cigar Mile Trio Breezes at Belmont

By Blood-Horse Staff
November 17, 2013
Racing, Northeast Region

Trainer Todd Pletcher's three contenders for the Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I)--Forty Tales, Capo Bastone, and Verrazano--took to the Belmont Park training track Nov. 17 to turn in their penultimate breezes prior to the race.

Groupie Doll Breezes Half Mile for Cigar Mile

By Blood-Horse Staff
November 16, 2013
Racing, Northeast Region

Reigning champion female sprinter Groupie Doll breezed a half mile Nov. 16 on the Belmont Park training track as she prepares for her second career start against males in the Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I) Nov. 30 at Aqueduct.

Ashford Announces 2014 Stud Fees

By Blood-Horse Staff
November 10, 2013
Breeding, Kentucky

Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky., has announced its 2014 stud fees, led by Giant's Causeway (Storm Cat--Maria's Storm, by Rahy), who will stand for $85,000, the same fee as last year.

Breeders' Cup News Minute: 10/29/2013

By Steve Haskin
October 29, 2013

Steve Haskin brings us today's news update on who arrived, what horses were on the track, and comments on Aidan O'Brien's chances of victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic. watch video

BC Dirt Mile to be Last Race for Verrazano

By Claire Novak
October 29, 2013
Racing, Breeding, Breeders' Cup, West Region, Kentucky

As expected, Haskell Invitational (gr. I) winner Verrazano will retire to Ashford Stud, it was announced Oct. 29. His final race will come Nov. 1 in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I).

Full Field Awaits Verrazano in BC Dirt Mile

By Lenny Shulman
October 28, 2013
Racing, Breeders' Cup

East meets West when Verrazano, Alpha, and Pants On Fire head to California to do battle with locals Fed Biz, Centralinteligence, and Goldencents in $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

WGOH: Intrigue Times Three - By Eric Mitchell

By Eric Mitchell
October 23, 2013

Tight race for 3-year-old champion male read blog

Verrazano Works Bullet for BC Dirt Mile

Let's Go Stable and Coolmore partners' Verrazano worked a bullet five furlongs in 1:01.08 Oct. 12 on the dirt training track at Belmont Park, gearing up for the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park.

Pletcher vs. Pletcher in JC Gold Cup

By Steve Haskin
September 24, 2013
Racing, Breeders' Cup

Todd Pletcher's mantle, assuming he has a mantle, is filled with so many Eclipse Awards it must look like a row of war horses lined up for battle. But there is always room for more.

Lukas Mulls Gold Cup for Will Take Charge

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas is keeping the logical options open for Travers (gr. I) winner Will Take Charge, who could next go in the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) or the Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II).

Will Take Charge Nails Moreno in Travers

Willis Horton's Will Take Charge finally got the big one, and did so at the expense of the country's top 3-year-olds in the $1 million Travers Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 24 at Saratoga Race Course.

Vic Zast's Saratoga Diary: Cajuns & Mohicans

By Vic Zast
August 24, 2013

Tempo rising at Spa Course for Travers Stakes. read blog

Verrazano Favored in Deep Travers Field

They've risen to the top of the 3-year-old division with definitive performances in some of the nation's biggest races. Now, North America's best sophomores--Orb, Verrazano, and Palice Malice--face off Aug. 24 at Saratoga.

Pletcher Stalwarts Shine in Saratoga Works

Trainer Todd Pletcher's dynamic duo of Palace Malice and Verrazano, leading contenders for the upcoming Travers Stakes (gr. I), took to the Saratoga Race Course main track Aug. 18 for their final workout before the race.

Palace Malice, Verrazano Breeze for Travers

By Steve Haskin
August 11, 2013
Racing, Breeders' Cup

Todd Pletcher, who could saddle the top two choices in the Travers Stakes, sent star 3-year-olds Palace Maliceand Verrazano out for easy half-mile breezes in :49,02 and :49.05, respectively, Aug. 11.

Palace Malice, Verrazano to Breeze Sunday

Trainer Todd Pletcher said top sophomores Palace Malice and Verrazano will breeze Aug. 10 at Saratoga. Also scheduled to breeze over the weekend is Moreno, third in the Jim Dandy for Eric Guillot.

Orb Extends Fair Hill Stay, Preps for Travers

Though Hall of Fame horseman Shug McGaughey originally planned to bring Phipps Stable and Stuart Janney III's Malibu Moon colt to the upstate New York racetrack Aug. 7, he could remain in Maryland until next week.

Slideshow: The Week in Photos for 7/30/2013

July 30, 2013

John Velazquez, Saratoga, Monmouth, Thistledown, Woodbine, Palace Malice, Verrazano, Arapahoe & more view slideshow

After the Wire - Haskell Invitational

By Evan Hammonds
July 29, 2013

Evan Hammonds recaps the efforts of Palace Malice and Verrazano from the weekend. watch video

Verrazano, Palace Malice Set for Travers

While trainer Todd Pletcher concedes it's not an ideal situation, he will point both Palace Malice and Verrazano to the $1 million Travers Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 24 at Saratoga Race Course.

Verrazano Dazzles With Easy Haskell Victory

By Jack Shinar
July 28, 2013
Racing, Northeast Region

Verrazano led the 3-year-old ranks this spring, and after his thorough demolishing of a good field in the $1 million William Hill Haskell Invitational July 28 at Monmouth Park, it looks like he's back on top.

Oxbow Draws Post 5, Second Choice in Haskell

Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Oxbow drew post 5 and was installed as the 2-1 second choice while Verrazano is the 9-5 morning-line favorite for the $1 million Haskell Invitational (gr. I) to be run July 28 at Monmouth Park.

Solid Haskell Invitational Field Taking Shape

Preakness Stakes (gr. I) victor Oxbow and Wood Memorial (gr. I) winner Verrazano are among those likely to start in the $1 million William Hill Haskell Invitational (gr. I) at Monmouth Park July 28.

Oxbow, Pointing to Haskell, Arrives at Spa

By Steve Haskin
July 9, 2013
Racing, Breeders' Cup

Calumet Farm's Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Oxbow arrived at Saratoga Race Course at noon July 9 and will make his next start in the $1 million William Hill Haskell Invitational (gr. I) July 28 at Monmouth Park.

Slideshow: The Week in Photos for 6/18/2013

June 18, 2013

Churchill, Chantilly, Hollywood, Belmont, Monmouth; Presque Isle Downs and much more! View Slideshow

Verrazano Flies Home Alone in Pegasus Romp

In the first major stakes for 3-year-olds following the Triple Crown, favored Verrazano was an easy winner of the $148,500 Pegasus Stakes (gr. III) June 16 after his main challenger, Itsmyluckyday, was pulled up at Monmouth.

Pegasus Next Up for Verrazano, Itsmyluckyday

By Jack Shinar
June 13, 2013
Racing, Northeast Region

Triple Crown contenders Verrazano and Itsmyluckyday head a seven-horse field entered in the $150,000 Pegasus Stakes (gr. III) for 3-year-olds June 16 at Monmouth Park.

El Padrino to Northview PA in 2014

Superbly bred graded stakes winner El Padrino will enter stud in 2014 under the Northview Stallion Station banner, standing his first season at Northview PA in Peach Bottom.

Kentucky Derby Preview: All About Orb

Florida Derby winner Orb has Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey excited about the May 4 Kentucky Derby--more excited, said McGaughey, than he's ever been. But 19 other 3-year-olds also have their sights on the Derby.

Velazquez Rides in First Race Since April 7

May 2, 2013
Racing, Triple Crown, Northeast Region, Kentucky

Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, who will ride undefeated Verrazano in Saturday's Kentucky Derby, returned to competition the afternoon of May 2 at Belmont Park, finishing seventh on his first mount since April 7.

That Handicapping Show: The Kentucky Derby

By Frank Angst
May 2, 2013
Triple Crown

Claire Novak and Frank Angst are at Churchill Downs to handicap the Kentucky Derby (gr. I). Watch Video

Kentucky Derby News Minute: 5/2/2013

By Lenny Shulman
May 2, 2013

Lenny Shulman reports the news of the day, including Vyjack's work, Giant Finish's arrival, the Pletcher 5 on the track, and the weather. Watch Video

Orb, 16; Verrazano, 14, Draw Well in Derby

Orb was made the 7-2 morning-line favorite for the May 4 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) after drawing post 16 May 1 at Churchill Downs. Verrazano will break from post 14 and is the 4-1 second choice.