Gatto Is ‘Game’

By Christie DeBernardis
    When conditioner Jerry Hollendorfer approached Dan Gatto about going in on the purchase of a five-year-old mare named Parranda (English Channel), it did not take much convincing. 
    “I got a call from Jerry and he said he had a line on this horse,” said Gatto, who owns Gatto Racing LLC with his 29-year-old son Nick. “He described her to me and asked if I wanted to go in with him on her. I decided to say yes as soon as I looked at her past performances.” 
    The chestnut started this term with a win in the Florida Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf S. at Gulfstream Jan. 18 and captured that venue’s GIII Suwanee River S. next out Feb. 8. She was purchased from Lone Stable LLC by Hollendorfer, Gatto Racing LLC, G. Cambell, D. Clark and G. Skoda following a sixth in Hallandale’s GII Honey Fox S. Mar. 15. 
    “I love Jerry Hollendorfer and think he is one of the best trainers out there,” Gatto said, in reference to what made him think the mare’s success would translate to California. “I also know where his strengths are. I am not trying to discredit the prior trainer [Rodolfo Garcia], but I just knew Jerry could really substantially improve the horse, not that she needed that much improvement.” 
    Gatto continued, “I thought that she would be a great fit for what we have here in Southern California. I also thought that Jerry’s training methods would give her a significant enhancement. I would not have gone in on the horse if Jerry was not going to be the trainer.” 
    Gatto’s faith in Hollendorfer paid off when Parranda captured Santa Anita’s GIII Wilshire S. Apr. 27 in her first outing for the new connections. She is currently being aimed at Monday’s GI Gamely S. on the Arcadia lawn. The Gamely is 1 1/8 miles, which is the same distance as her two prior wins this season. 
    “She had a work this morning and went six furlongs [on the dirt at Santa Anita] in 1:13,” Gatto commented. “She did extremely well. I think the rider was extremely pleased with the work. All systems are moving straight forward very well.”
    As far as what is next for the chestnut, Gatto said the race they choose will depend on her performance Monday, but she will definitely be heading to Del Mar. 
    “I am hopeful that we will have her in a stakes race at Del Mar, God willing she stays healthy,” the 58-year-old said. “But, which one will depend on how she does Monday. If she does well, we will aim as high as we are with the Gamely and if she doesn’t we will look at maybe a Grade III. That would be primarily Jerry’s call.” 
    Started seven years ago, Gatto Racing is partners on four other horses trained by Hollendorfer. They also have two with a partner in training with Peter Eurton and two they own outright, also in training with Eurton. 
    “A very good friend of mine acquired a lower level claiming horse named Senator Maddy at Del Mar and we live very close to Del Mar,” Gatto said in reference to how he got into racing. “The horse made a thrilling $2,000 and I have been hooked ever since.” 
    The younger Gatto followed in his father’s footsteps, but took it a step further when he moved to Lexington, Kentucky for several years to work at Taylor Made Farm. He eventually returned to California to work for Jenny Craig’s Rancho Paseana until it closed last year, and now has started his own small syndicate separate from Gatto Racing LLC. 
    “We are always looking to expand [our string],” Dan Gatto said. “Breeding will be next. We have a 5-year-old mare who will be retiring from racing and she will probably be our first broodmare.”