MORE Than Ready colt Verrazano seems destined to add to sire’s tally of more than 100 stakes winners after a blisteringly quick 7 length debut win at Gulfstream Park in Florida on New Year’s day.
Jockey John Velazquez had the odds on favourite tracking the two leaders on a hot speed before taking over at the top of the stretch.
From there the 3yo colt quickly opened up and raced away from his rivals to set up an emphatic 7 3/4-lens win idling down at the finish.
To make the win even more impressive, the six-furlong (abut 1200m) fraction of 1:09.93s was 1.46s faster than Merit Man ran to win the 33rd running of the $100,000 Spectacular Bid Stakes just one race later.
Verrazano is trained by Hall Of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher who guided More Than ready throughout his illustrious career.
Pletcher also trained Vinery’s 2012 freshman, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and More Than Ready look-a-like, Pluck.
Verrazano is a superbly related on his distaff line beginning with his half-brother, El Padrino, who won the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes and was fourth in the Grade 1 Florida Derby last year on route to an unplaced run in the Kentucky Derby Gr,1.
“El Padrino is a very good horse, but this colt is even more impressive,” Pletcher said after the race.
Verrazano’s grand-dam, Chic Shirine (by Mr Prospector) won the Grade 1 Keeneland Ashland Stakes and is the dam of two stakes winners.
One of those, Tara Roma (by Lyphard) delivered Seattle Slew daughter Serra Lake who took out the Grade 1 Go For Wand at Saratoga.
