NEWS
Grade 3 winner Fort Prado to stand in Illinois
Posted: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 11:56 AM
FORT PRADO
FourFootedFotos.com
by Pete Denk
Multiple Grade 3 winner Fort Prado has been retired and will stand at Hill ‘N Dale Farm in Barrington, Illinois, in 2010.
The eight-year-old El Prado (Ire) horse retired with 18 wins from 59 starts, with earnings of $1,211,681. He won 13 stakes races and was a stakes winner on turf, dirt, and synthetic surfaces.
His graded stakes victories came in the John B. Connally Breeders’ Cup Turf Handicap (G3) at Sam Houston Race Park and the Fair Grounds Breeders’ Cup Handicap (G3) at Louisiana Downs, both in 2006. He also won stakes races at Arlington Park, Kentucky Downs, Tampa Bay Downs, and Keeneland Race Course.
Fort Prado was bred in Illinois by David P. Block and trained by his son, Chris Block, for the family racing stable Team Block. He is out of the stakes winning Fortunate Prospect mare Fort Pond.
Chris Block said the family entertained the idea of standing Fort Prado outside his home state, but they believe he will get the most mares by beginning his breeding career in Illinois.
“We thought about sending him somewhere, but we didn’t think about it for long,” Block said. “We had a lot of inquiries from local breeders who were hoping he’d stand here in Illinois, so we decided this might be the best fit for him. The response from local breeders so far has been great.”
Block said he was encouraged by the recent success of El Prado’s sons Medaglia d’Oro and Kitten’s Joy at stud.
“We’re hoping something like that could carry on for him,” Block said. “He was a solid racehorse that was able to win from 5 1/2 furlongs up to nine furlongs, and he retired a very sound horse.”
Fort Prado’s stud fee will be $3,000.
Pete Denk is sales editor of Thoroughbred Times
