Horses to follow in 2026: The Padre

Last seen landing the Del Mar Derby (G2), The Padre has every right to keep developing into an elite older turf horse for trainer Phil D’Amato.

Indeed, I’d argue that, given his pedigree and early-career profile, The Padre did very well to accomplish as much as he did during his summer campaign. The Irish import displayed top-tier acceleration off a slow pace when turning the La Jolla H./Del Mar Derby double, especially since he’s bred to thrive going longer. 

Bred in Ireland by veterinary surgeon John Halley (known for his affiliation with Coolmore and Ballydoyle), The Padre is from the first crop of the world-class Ghaiyyath. Himself a son of supersire Dubawi, Ghaiyyath reached his peak as an older horse, and it stands to reason that his progeny will adhere to that pattern typical of his tribe. A case in point is Godolphin’s exciting Opera Ballo, who just scored a new career high in the Al Rashidiya (G2) in his sophomore finale.

The Padre is out of the late Aga Khan’s homebred Shalanaya, heroine of the 2009 Prix de l’Opera (G1) and runner-up versus males in the 2010 Prix Ganay (G1). She signed off with a third in that fall’s E.P. Taylor (G1) at Woodbine.

Shalanaya is by Lomitas, the sire of such celebrities as Danedream and Silvano. As you’d expect, she hails from a deep family including Shergar. The female line has continued to advertise itself in Europe, most recently with Merchant, one of the high-profile British three-year-olds of 2025. If not for injury, Merchant likely would have been a contender in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1).

With that genetic background, it’s no surprise that The Padre didn’t make it to the races as a juvenile. His initial trainer, Josh Halley (the breeder’s son), told racingtv.com that he showed plenty in his early training as a two-year-old. He just needed the time to strengthen up physically.

Once unveiled last January, in an about 1 5/16-mile maiden over the Dundalk Polytrack, The Padre was totally overlooked at 33-1. He proved the market wrong with a superior turn of foot, winning going away. After blitzing his penultimate furlong in :11.37, he stamped himself as a sellable prospect – in keeping with the Halleys’ business model. 

The Padre was accordingly scooped up and whisked off stateside for his new connections, Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables, and Marsha Naify. That same partnership is also involved in Gold Phoenix, another Irish-bred purchased off a debut win at Dundalk, who’s been a redoubtable player in the turf division for going on five years now. 

Transferred to D’Amato (like Gold Phoenix), The Padre resurfaced in a one-mile allowance on the Santa Anita turf. The 3.60-1 second choice flew from last to miss by only a half-length. Third-placer Game Warrior, the favorite coming off a series of stakes efforts, went on to capture the Oceanside S. at Del Mar.

The Padre was sent off as the even-money favorite in his next outing, the 1 1/16-mile La Jolla, and he obliged with his first stakes victory. Settled a couple of lengths or so behind slow fractions (six furlongs in 1:14.25), The Padre quickened smartly to prevail by a half-length.

The step up to 1 1/8 miles in the Del Mar Derby figured to suit The Padre even better. The 7-10 favorite after the scratch of stablemate Iron Man Cal, who would have offered a better gauge of his ability, The Padre worked out a similar trip to score by a length. 

The Hollywood Derby (G1) over the same course and distance would have been the logical end-of-season target, but The Padre, unfortunately, was sidelined. The good news is that he’s back in training with D’Amato.

Billy Koch, the founder/managing partner of Little Red Feather, reports that The Padre “looks awesome” as he limbers up for a comeback later in the spring. Plans call for the colt to return to the worktab in about a month. 

He has “the capabilities of being any kind of horse,” Koch noted, adding that The Padre hopefully “can carry the mantle for Gold Phoenix.”

As the type to blossom with maturity, The Padre is one to follow closely in 2026.