$1 million Florida Derby (G1)
Three-Year-Olds
1 1/8 Miles
While his co-owner and trainer were in Dubai Saturday, James Scatuorchio and Michael Tabor’s 3-year-old Scat Daddy confirmed his status as a leading Kentucky Derby (G1) candidate with a 1 ¼ lengths victory in the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park.
Bill Currin and Alvin Eisman’s California inmvader Stormello set the pace from the start of the 1 1/8 miles test until Scat Daddy with Edgar Prado aboard took control near the top of the stretch and went on to capture the 56th running of the Florida Derby as the 2-to-1 favorite in the field of nine 3-year-olds.
J. Paul Reddam’s Notional, also invading from California, made a good run to close for second, finishing three-quarters of a length ahead of Centennial Farms’ Chelokee in third. Stormello finished another two lengths back in fourth as the winner paid $6.40 for $2 and was timed in 1:49 flat over the ‘fast’ track.
Winning trainer Todd Pletcher sent out five runners on the Dubai World Cup card with his best finish a second in the Golden Shaheen Stakes, but his powerful stable had a tremendous afternoon at Gulfstream with Scat Daddy their third stakes winner and fifth victory overall on the program. It also gave Prado his sixth winner of the afternoon.
A son of Johannesburg, Scat Daddy had won the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) over the track and distance four weeks ago over Stormello, and will now be a leader on an expected team of highly-accomplished 3-year-olds Pletcher will field for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs five weeks from now on May.
Owner Quotes (Michael Tabor, co-owner Scat Daddy, 1st) – “This is very special because he is a son of Johannesburg (co-owned by Tabor). He was very special to us and this one was obviously very special as well. Now it’s on to Kentucky (Derby). We know the five weeks leading up to it can work after last year (Barbaro won both races), and we look forward to it.”
Trainer Quotes (assistant Tristan Barry, Scat Daddy) – “It was a little disappointing (for the stable) in Dubai, but this more than makes up for it. It really went exactly as we planned. When they broke from the gate, Edgar was able to hold him off the speed, and from there, the race was his.”
Michael Gorham (Adore the Gold) – “He just didn’t fire late. I don’t know what it was. It’s too early to tell.”
Doug O’Neill (Notional, 2nd) – “I thought he ran dynamite. These kind of races, with Scat Daddy and Stormello asnd Chelokee, it’s a great field of horses. We were just outrun by Scat Daddy. You could run this race 10 times, and have four or five different winners. I hope he comes out of it in good shape, and we get a rematch with Scat Daddy and the others on the first Saturday in May.”
Michael Matz (Chelokee, 3rd) – “I don’t think third will be good enough to qualify (Kentucky Derby) on the Graded earnings. He’s getting better all the time. We know we’re right on the bubble. Ramon (Dominguez) said he was on the best horse. We’ll just have to wait and see. If we don’t happen to make it into the Derby, he will be heard from again.”
Bill Currin (Stormello, 4th) – “ We had talked about this and, and Victor’s (Espinoza) as good a rider as you can have, but this is the kind of horse that you’ve got to let him go. He’s hot-blooded, and you don’t go teaching things at this point, but we’re going on (Derby).”
Jockey Quotes (Edgar Prado, Scat Daddy, 1st) – “He’s got an easy running style. There was a good pace in the race and I was able to sit outside, right behind the leaders. When I called on him, he came running. He broke good and settled into his stride galloping along. When I pushed the pedal, he was ready to go. He was looking around a little today, but nobody would have beaten him today. I did my homework and figured out what was going to be the best style of running in this race today.”
Robby Albarado (Notional, 2nd) – “He was digging in at the eighth pole and galloped out after the wire pretty good. I feel with a longer stretch, he’ll be right up there with the top 3-year-olds.”
Fractions: 23:05, 46:78. 1:10:82, 1:35:92, 1:49