Verrazano headed to Europe for races

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Hallandale Beach, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Verrazano, winner of last year's Wood Memorial, will continue his racing career in Europe under trainer Aidan O'Brien.

"It makes sense for Verrazano to move to Europe as he has achieved so much already here," said the colt's former trainer Todd Pletcher. "The owners (Magnier, Tabor and Smith) love to have their best horses run at Royal Ascot and a win there would be of great benefit to his stallion career."

Co-owned by Let's Go Stable, Verrazano began racing as a 3-year-old with four straight wins, including the Tampa Bay Derby and Wood Memorial. The colt finished 14th in the Kentucky Derby as the 8-1 fourth choice.

He came back on June 16 at Monmouth Park by winning the Pegasus Stakes followed by a victory in the Haskell Invitational. However, as the 8-5 favorite he could only finish seventh behind Will Take Charge in the Travers.

Verrazano concluded his 2013 campaign with a fourth in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile to Goldencents and was third in the Cigar Mile on Nov. 30 at Aqueduct behind Flat Out.

The 4-year-old colt has earned nearly $1.7 million in 10 starts.