Though the son of Sadler's Wells may get a ton of respect from those who study pedigrees for a living, the rest of the Thoroughbred racing industry never really gave this horse his due.
The great gray champion gave us Medaglia D' Oro, Artie Schiller and Borrego. However, like a musician who knows how to properly craft a setlist, he may have saved the best for last. Paddy O' Prado, who ran an impressive third in the Kentucky Derby, has just won both of the big Colonial Downs turf races with his win in the Virginia Derby. He ran against Stately Victor and Interactif and made them look like two-year olds.
I know that it's too early to say, but I think that Paddy O' Prado could be the best three-year old turf horse in the country, and a legit contender for the Breeder's Cup Mile. He will still have to face the big obstacle of staying healthy as well as the onslaught of European horses who will be ready to challenge, but if he runs in the Breeder's Cup like he has been running lately, Lure and Da Hoss- both of whom won the the Breeder's Cup Mile twice- will have some competition for the title of best modern American turf miler.
I know I bring this up way too often, but even-though the El Prado's, Cozzenes and Theatricals may not sire too many horses who can win the six furlong feature race at Aqueduct's main track, they sire horses who can win big races month in and month out and that has to count for something. Like Joni Mitchell said " Don't it all seem to go, that you don't know what you got till it's gone." Breeding horses solely to impress people at a yearling auction is truly akin to paving paradise and putting up a parking lot.
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