James Scatuorchio and Michael Tabor’s Scat Daddy dropped his nose on the wire to narrowly defeat Bill Currin and Alvin Eisman’s California invader Stormello in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park, and the two will have a rematch Saturday when they meet again in the $1 million Florida Derby (G1).
The 56th running of Gulfstream’s signature event for 3-year-olds attracted a field of nine when post positions were drawn Wednesday morning and Scat Daddy will be the 5-to-2 morning line favorite breaking from post 3 with Stormello second choice at 3-to-1 under jockey Victor Espinoza.
Although the rematch between the Fountain of Youth rivals will get plenty of attention, the Florida Derby does not shape up simply as a two-horse race as J. Paul Reddam’s Notional joins Stormello on the flight from California and John Murphy, Sr.’s Adore the Gold gets a better draw from post 4 Saturday than he did when fourth in the Fountain of Youth from post 9, yet beaten only a length for it all.
A son of Johannesburg, Scat Daddy ranks high in trainer Todd Pletcher’s arsenal of Kentucky Derby (G1) and Triple Crown prospects this season and got up in the final stride to catch Stormello flying on the lead throughout the Fountain of Youth in which favored Nobiz Like Shobiz finished third.
Scat Daddy established his national credentials last fall winning the Champagne Stakes (G1) at Belmont over Nobiz Like Shobiz and then fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Churchill Downs behind 2-year-old champion Street Sense. Scat Daddy’s regular rider through the Fountain of Youth was John Velazquez, but he will be in Dubai Saturday as will Pletcher.
A Kentucky homebred chestnut by Stormy Atlantic, Stormello ran a tremendous race setting a legitimate pace in Fountain of Youth and may never have had a chance to see or respond to Scat Daddy’s late challenge well off the rail.
The Fountain of Youth was Stormello’s first start since capturing the Hollywood Futurity (G1) at Hollywood Park on Dec. 16. He checked in fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. He too has a new jockey for the Florida Derby with regular partner Kent Desormeaux also riding in Dubai Saturday.
Notional finished sixth behind Stormello in the Hollywood Futurity late last year, although beaten only 2 ½ lengths for it all. The California-bred son of In Excess is one of several Kentucky Derby contenders in the powerful stable of trainer Doug O’Neill and has won the San Rafael Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita and the Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds in his only two starts this year. He is listed at 4-to-1 and drew the rail.
Adore the Gold gets the home field advantage as the homebred son of Formal Gold has trained over the Gulfstream track all season and captured the Swale Stakes (G2) here on Feb. 3 prior to the good effort in the Fountain of Youth for trainer Michael Gorham. Adore the Gold will be ridden by leading jockey Cornelio Velasquez.
Completing the field for the Florida Derby are Centennial Farms’ Chelokee, Ramon Dominguez; Raymond Cottrell, Sr.’s Birdbirdistheword, Manoel Cruz; Lewis Pell and Michael Eigner’s Imawildandcrazyguy, Rafael Bejarano; My Meadowview Stable’s Boogie Boggs, Joe Bravo; and Bisnath Parboo’s Johannesburg Star, Rajiv Maragh.