By Eric Mitchell (courtesy Bloodhorse.com)
Grade 1 winner Green Gratto has been retired from racing and will stand stud at Robert Wright’s Total Bloodstock Farm near Fort Edward, N.Y., north of Saratoga Springs. The 8-year-old son of Here’s Zealous will stand for $2,000.
“We are extremely excited to add a horse with the quality of Green Gratto to the New York stallion program,” Wright said. “He is an absolute stunner at 17 hands with elite balance and athleticism for his size, and as a racehorse he was a true warrior. He had speed to burn, and we love that he was a sound horse, able to start 65 times against the best competition, which in this day and age of racing is unheard of. He will provide a great option to New York breeders and add toughness and quality to the breeding program.”
The stud deal was brokered by agent Peter-John Parsard.
Raced by owner/trainer Gaston Grant and Anthony Grant—along with Basil Greene for the first half of his career—Green Gratto came into his own as an older horse and won or placed in six graded stakes. He delivered his best in 2017, when he won the Carter Handicap (G1). He compiled a 9-9-9 record out of 65 starts and earned $1,149,202.
Bred in New Jersey by Kaz Hill Farm, Green Gratto is out of the winning Smokester mare Starship Smokester, who is a half-sister to grade 2-placed stakes winner Adminniestrator (by Incinderator) and the producer of three other winners.
