The Padre closed from just off the pace to capture the Listed La Jolla Handicap by a half length at Del Mar on Sunday, 3 August.
The La Jolla was the first Stakes victory for the three-year-old Ghaiyyath colt, in just his third career start. Unraced as a juvenile, The Padre made his career debut at the end of January in Ireland, winning a ten-furlong contest over the all-weather surface at Dundalk. He then reappeared at Santa Anita where he finished a fast closing second in his stateside debut.
The Padre broke a step slow out of the gate and raced a bit keenly for several strides until jockey Umberto Rispoli got him settled into fourth, just two lengths behind the early leader, Day and Age. He continued his stalking trip down the backstretch and into the far turn before tipping three-wide for a clear run at the leaders at the top of the lane.
The Padre challenged Day and Age and Artislas for the lead into the final furlong, with The Padre finally putting those two away in deep stretch. He held off the late bid of Freedom’s Not Free to win by a half-length.
Bred in Ireland by John Halley, The Padre is out of the Lomitas mare Shalanaya, the winner of the G1 Prix de l’Opera in 2009. Shalanaya has now produced seven winners and has a yearling colt by Ghaiyyath.
The Padre is one of several exciting horses for the young sire Ghaiyyath, including recent Listed winners Al Uqda, winner of the Prix Madame Jean Couturie at Vichy and Opera Ballo, winner of the Sir Henry Cecil Stakes at Newmarket. Among his other prospects are Classic horse and Group winner Mandanaba, and unbeaten three-year-old Gethin.
