Verrazano (horse)

Add links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Verrazano
Sire
Haskell Invitational Stakes
(2013)

Verrazano (foaled 27 January 2010) is an American

Haskell Invitational Stakes. In his four-year-old year, he was campaigned in Europe, trained by Aidan O'Brien
.

Background

Verrazano is a bay colt with a white

socks bred by Emory A Hamilton at Middlebrook Farm near Lexington, Kentucky.[2] Steve Haskin has described him as looking "like Hercules next to mere mortals".[3]

His sire, More Than Ready, showed his best form over sprint distances, recording his most important success in the Grade I

broodmare, also producing the Risen Star Stakes
winner El Padrino.

As a yearling, Verrazano was consigned by the Middlebrook Farm to the

Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.[10]

Racing career

2013: three-year-old season

Verrazano was unraced as a two-year-old, making his racecourse debut on January 1, 2013, in a

Susan Magnier and Derrick Smith.[8] Verrazano remained in Florida for his next race on March 9, when he was stepped up in class and distance to contest the Grade II Tampa Bay Derby over one and one sixteenth miles. Starting the 2/5 favourite, he bobbled leaving the starting gate but recovered quickly and took the lead after three furlongs. He was never seriously challenged and won by three lengths "with a bit in reserve".[14] After the race, Pletcher said: "It was a good performance. He is a lot like his sire; he has a great disposition and a great mind... he is so naturally fast for a big horse".[15]

Pletcher moved the colt north to Aqueduct Racetrack in April for the Grade I Wood Memorial Stakes, an important trial race for the Kentucky. Velasquez positioned the 4/5 favorite just behind the leaders before taking the lead half a mile from the finish. He held the persistent challenge of Vyjack throughout the closing stages and won by three quarter of a length from the fast-finishing Normandy Invasion.[16] Following his success, Pletcher called Verrazano "the legitimate Kentucky Derby favorite" whilst admitting that the colt still lacked experience and had a tendency to idle in the straight.[17] On 4 May, Verrazano was one of nineteen colts to contest the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby. He looked likely to dispute favoritism on the morning of the race but was weakly supported on the course and started the 8.7/1 fourth choice behind Orb, Revolutionary, and Goldencents. He was among the early leaders as Palace Malice set an exceptionally fast pace but came under pressure approaching the final turn and faded in the stretch, finishing fourteenth behind Orb.

Verrazano missed the two remaining legs of the Triple Crown, reappearing on June 16 in the Grade III Pegasus Stakes at

Monmouth Park. The colt's task was made much easier when his main betting rival, Preakness Stakes runner-up Itsmyluckyday, pulled up injured early in the race, and he led from the start before drawing away in the stretch to win by nine and a quarter lengths.[18] After the race, Velasquez commented, "His ears were wagging every step of the way and around the three-eighths pole I gave him a little nudge, and he knew it was time to go".[19] Verrazano returned to Grade I competition in the Haskell Invitational Stakes at Monmouth Park on July 28. His main rival appeared to be Preakness winner Oxbow, while the field also included Vyjack and Kentucky Derby runner-up Golden Soul. Velasquez tracked Oxbow before overtaking the Preakness winner three furlongs from the finish. Verrazano extended his advantage throughout the closing stages and won by nine and three-quarter lengths from Power Broker.[20] The winning margin was the widest in the history of the race. Velasquez said, "He was awesome today. He did it real easy and made me look very good. He was going so good. I knew I had a lot of horse left. When I asked him to go down the stretch, he did it."[21] Verrazano started the 8/5 favorite for the Travers Stakes on 24 August against a field which included Kentucky Derby winner Orb and Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice. He tracked the leaders but faded in the straight and finished seventh of the nine runners, seven lengths behind upset winner Will Take Charge
.

Verrazano's final race of the year was the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile on November 1, 2013; it had been announced that he was most likely to be retired to stud.[22] He started the 5/2 favorite but struggled to match the early pace and finished fourth behind Goldencents. On 30 November, Verrazano, ridden for the first time by Javier Castellano, contested the Cigar Mile Handicap at Aqueduct. He finished third of the ten runners behind Flat Out, with Groupie Doll in fourth and Goldencents in seventh place.

2014: four-year-old season

In February 2014, it was announced that instead of retiring, Verrazano would be campaigned in Europe, being trained by

Royal Ascot. O'Brien described the performance as a "lovely run" and nominated the Eclipse Stakes, International Stakes and Irish Champion Stakes as possible targets.[24] On 5 July Verrazano started at odds of 7/1 for the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park Racecourse but after racing in fourth place until halfway, he weakened and finished last of the nine runners behind Mukhadram
. He was lame after the race, and the injury was not deemed "significant" but was severe enough that he would not be ready to run by the Breeders' Cup races in the fall.

Stud career

On August 14, 2014, it was announced that Verrazano would be retired and stand

Ashford Stud in Kentucky.[25] Verrazano had previously shuttled internationally from his base at Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Kentucky, standing the 2015 Southern Hemisphere season in Australia before standing in Chile in 2016 and 2017. In September 2019, Verrazano was sold to stand in Brazil.[26]

Notable Progeny

c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding

Foaled Name Sex Major wins
2018 Kirikina f Clásico Polla de Potrancas (CHI)
2018 Misia Nena f Gran Premio Tanteo de Potrancas (CHI)
2019 Chi Town Lady f Test Stakes

Pedigree

Pedigree of Verrazano (USA), bay colt, 2010[1]
Sire
More Than Ready (USA)
1997 		Southern Halo (USA)
1983 		Halo Hail To Reason
Cosmah
Northern Sea Northern Dancer
Sea Saga
Woodman's Girl (USA)
1990　 		Woodman Mr. Prospector
Playmate
Becky Be Good Naskra
Good Landing
Dam
Enchanted Rock (USA)
2004 		Giant's Causeway (USA)
1997 		Storm Cat Storm Bird
Terlingua
Mariah's Storm Rahy
Immense
Chic Shirine (USA)
1984　 		Mr. Prospector Raise a Native
Gold Digger
Too Chic Blushing Groom
Remedia (Family: 13-d)

Verrazano is inbred 3 x 4 to Mr. Prospector, meaning that this stallion appears in both the third and fourth generations of his pedigree.

References

  1. ^ a b "Verrazano". Equineline. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-08-01.
  2. ^ "Profile of Emory A Hamilton". NTRA. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
  3. ^ Steve Haskin (April 9, 2013). "Give Verrazano a Break". Cs.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
  4. ^ "More Than Ready Bloodstock Stallion Book". Racing Post. 2012-02-15. Retrieved 2013-08-01.
  5. ^ "More Than Ready Sires 100th Stakes Winner". BloodHorse. May 14, 2012. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
  6. ^ "More Joyous | Record By Race Type". Racing Post. Retrieved 2013-08-01.
  7. ^ "Hip number 757" (PDF). Keeneland Sale catalogue. September 2011. Retrieved 2013-08-01.
  8. ^ a b "Coolmore Buys Interest in Unbeaten Verrazano". BloodHorse. February 7, 2013. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
  9. ^ "Keeneland Association September 2011 Yearling Salet". Racing Post. 2013-07-26. Archived from the original on 2014-02-20. Retrieved 2013-08-01.
  10. ^ "Verrazano back in conversation for top 3 year old after record Haskell win". New York Times. 2013-07-29. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
  11. ^ "Maiden race result". Equibase. January 1, 2013. Retrieved 2013-08-01.
  12. ^ "Allowance race result". Equibase. February 2, 2013. Retrieved 2013-08-01.
  13. ^ "Verrazano Rolls by Daylight at Gulfstream". BloodHorse. February 4, 2013. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
  14. ^ "Tampa Bay Derby". Equibase. March 9, 2013. Retrieved 2013-08-01.
  15. ^ Novak, Claire (March 9, 2013). "Verrazano Stays Unbeaten in Tampa Bay Derby". BloodHorse. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
  16. ^ "Wood Memorial Stakes result". Racing Post. April 6, 2013. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
  17. ^ Novak, Claire (April 6, 2013). "Verrazano Holds in Formful Wood Memorial". BloodHorse. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
  18. ^ "Pegasus Stakes result". Equibase. June 16, 2013. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
  19. ^ Shinar, Jack (June 16, 2013). "Verrazano Flies Home Alone in Pegasus Romp". BloodHorse. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
  20. ^ Shinar, Jack (2013-07-28). "Verrazano Dazzles With Easy Haskell Victory". BloodHorse. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
  21. ^ Usatoday (2013-07-28). "Verrazano blows past Oxbow to win Haskell going away". USA Today. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
  22. ^ Novak, Claire. "BC Dirt Mile to be Last Race for Verrazano". BloodHorse. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  23. ^ James Burn (3 February 2014). "Stud duties on hold as top colt Verrazano joins O'Brien". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  24. ^ Tom Kerr (17 June 2014). "Royal Ascot Queen Anne goes to superb Toronado". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 2014-06-17.
  25. ^ "Verrazano retired to Ashford Stud". Daily Racing Form. 2014-08-14. Retrieved 2014-08-19.
  26. ^ "Grade 1 Winner Verrazano Sold To Stand In Brazil". Horse Racing News | Paulick Report. 2019-09-25. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Verrazano_(horse)&oldid=1103093005"