Pletcher's Scat Daddy Wins 5th
Florida Derby Victory is Colt's last Prep before Churchill Downs
In Dubai March 31 for the $21 million World Cup card, Todd Pletcher was 0-5. In Florida, his Kentucky Derby hope, Scat Daddy, and five undercard runners won six races.
While Todd Pletcher finished his day at 0-5 half way around the world at the Dubai racing carnival, his trainee in the U.S., Scat Daddy, put on another show, winning the $1 million Florida Derby by a length over Notional. The winner's time over the 1-1/8 miles was 1:49.
Notional, a strong Kentucky Derby contender, placed for trainer Doug O'Neill, who also had horses in Dubai. O'Neill won there with Spring At Last in the Godolphin Mile, while Lava Man, the adored California gelding, faded in the Dubai Duty Free.
O'Neill likes Notional's Bid
O'Neill was on the scene for Notional's first try since his victory in the Risen Star Stakes February 10 at the Fair Grounds. The trainer said he looks forward to a rematch with Scat Daddy in the May 5 Kentucky Derby. He said he thought Notional, owned by J. Paul Reddam, "ran dynamite" in the strong field of nine in the Florida Derby.
Stormello, who contested Scat Daddy to the wire in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. ll) March 3, set the Florida Derby pace. When Scat Daddy took control on the turn, Stormello had no answer. Bill Currin trains Stormello and said the colt will go to Kentucky.
Also in the field for the Florida Derby were possible contenders Adore the Gold, finishing 8th; Birdbirdistheword, 7th; Imawildandcrazyguy, 6th. Johannesburg Star went off 9th, and Boogie Boggs was 5th.
Chelokee possible Derby entry
The Michael Matz trained Chelokee was the show horse (third), earning $100,000. If more than the usual 20 entrants are allowed in the Kentucky Derby, Chelokee may be short on graded stakes dollars and would not make the cut.
Matz said Chelokee ran big enough to be geared for another try, Derby, or other. Ramon Dominguez guided Chelokee through trouble against the rail, where he was temporarily with little room to challenge the leaders. That dilemma handled, Dominguez and Chelokee ran to a good showing.
Who gets the Ride on Scat Daddy for the Derby?
Edgar Prado rode Scat Daddy. His first saddle on the five-wins-from-eight-starts colt was a smooth ride, the jockey said. Prado got the mount in the absence of regular rider, John Velazquez, who also was in Dubai.
A son of Johannesburg, owned by Michael Tabor and James Scatuorchio, Scat Daddy broke well and got into good position early. Prado liked the race and said the colt appears to be a genuine Kentucky Derby threat. Prado rode a total of six winners March 31 in Florida.
Prado piloted Barbaro last season to wins in the Florida Derby and then at Churchill Downs. In twelve years since 1995, three colts have won both races: Thunder Gulch, 1995; Monarchos, 2001; and Barbaro, 2006. Scat Daddy's jockey for the Kentucky Derby is undetermined.
Scat Daddy and Street Sense are on top of the Derby heap. Street Sense, and two other Derby hopefuls, Circular Quay and Nobiz Like Shobiz, are Scat Daddy's only conquerors. Trainer Pletcher has Circular Quay and Any Given Saturday, who battled Street Sense last time out in the Tampa Bay Derby, on the Triple Crown trail.
Pletcher's winning Undercard Runners
Pletcher's Florida Derby undercard winners on March 31 were Street Magician in the Aventura; Safari Queen and Almonsoon, 1-2 in the Orchid Handicap; Jambalaya in the Pan American Handicap; and A.P. Arrow in the Skip Away Handicap.
