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Gronkowski
Gronkowski Horse Profile
Gronkowski qualified for the Kentucky Derby through the European Road to the Kentucky Derby, but he spiked a fever leading up to the race and was pulled out of the Derby by his ownership group. Gronkowski will enter the Belmont Stakes with four straight wins in six career starts and the most rested runner in the Belmont field. Gronkowski won all four of his races on a synthetic surface, including his stakes debut in his most recent race at Newcastle when he captured the 1 mile Burradon Stakes on March 30. Gronkowski will run his first race in the United States when he competes in the Belmont Stakes, and he’ll be the biggest long shot in the field at greater than 60-1. While his trainer believes the American style of racing with its more demanding pace will better suit the strengths of Gronkowski, don’t bet that he’ll make his U.S. debut a winning one or factor in the money in the Belmont.
Gronkowski on the Kentucky Derby Trail
Gronkowski found his rhythm when switching to synthetic surfaces from turf while running in England. The bay colt by Australian champion Lohnro has 6 starts with a record of 4-1-0. Gronk the horse earned Kentucky Derby points and a spot to start in the Kentucky Derby on May 5th with a win in the Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes.
Lonhro sired other Australian champions, such as Pierro (AUS) and Bounding (AUS). Gronkowski's dam Four Sugars is by familiar Kentucky Derby participant Lookin at Lucky. Lookin at Lucky ran sixth in the Kentucky Derby, but did win a slew of Stakes; the Best Pal, Del Mar Futurity, Norfolk, CashCall Futurity, Rebel, Preakness, Indiana Derby and Haskell Invitational Stakes.
With his pedigree, distance is most likely not an issue, but surface preferance and the statistics for international horses arriving the week of the Kentucky Derby do not favor his chances to win. However, with experienced trainer Jeremy Noseda and now Gronk Nation behind him as namesake Rob Gronkowski backs him on the First Saturday in May, Groknowski has an opportunity to hit the board.
Learn more about Gronkowski
BULL: Kentucky Derby Pedigree Profile: Gronkowski
REILLY: Rob Gronkowski acquires stake in namesake Derby contender
Kentucky Derby Profile: Gronkowski