Gronkowski

British-trained Gronkowski started his career with a pair of races on the turf but could finish no better than second before transitioning to the all-weather surface. He then won four consecutive races, culminating with victories in the Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes and Burradon Stakes to earn a place in the Kentucky Derby starting gate.

After a minor illness prevented Gronkowski from competing in the Kentucky Derby, he was shipped to the U.S. and transferred to the barn of Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown to prepare for the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets. He trained well leading up to the race and closed powerfully in the stretch to finish a game second at 24-1 odds.

Gronkowski did not fare as well in his runs in the Travers Stakes and Jockey Club Gold Cup, but finished third in the Discovery Stakes at Aqueduct in November. He was then transferred to the barn of Salem Bin Ghadayer to train for a run in the 2019 Dubai World Cup. His first start for his  new trainer was a fifth-place finish in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3, but he rebounded to finish a gritty second to Thunder Snow in the Dubai World Cup after a lengthy stretch battle.

Gronkowski is a son of Lonhro out of the unraced Lookin At Lucky mare Four Sugars. He has been sold at auction three times, most recently as a 2-year-old at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up sale for about $404,000. He is named after New England Patriots All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski.