Scat Daddy on course for Kentucky Derby glory
By Our Correspondent

Apr  03, 2007

At Gulfstream Park in Florida, Scat Daddy, a Johannesburg colt, took another giant step forward in his quest for the Kentucky Derby by capturing the US $ 1 million Florida Derby (Gr.1). Winner of the Fountain of Youth at the same track four weeks ago, Scat Daddy, a Todd Pletcher trainee, was ridden by Edgar Prado deputizing for John Velasquez who was in Dubai. Scat Daddy was third and edged closer in the final turn before hitting the front midstretch to win going away from Notional and Chelokee. Todd Pletcher has been setting all sorts of training records but is yet to win the Kentucky Derby. The Derby is on May 5 at Churchill Downs in Louisville.

In the Fountain of Youth Stakes (Gr.2), Scat Daddy had produced a tremendous late run to nose Stormello out on the post. In the Derby however, he stayed close to his rival who set a scorching pace and then pulled away from him in the straight.

Owned by Jim Scatuorchio in partnership with Michael Tabor of Coolmore Stud, Scat Daddy will not race again until the Kentucky Derby on 5th May. Scat Daddy (Johannesburg-Love Style, by Mr. Prospector) will try to emulate Barbaro's exploit of winning the Florida and Kentucky Derby's.

The Florida Derby winner has gone on to take the Kentucky Derby three times in the past 12 years. Before Barbaro's win last year, Monarchos did it in 2001 and Thunder Gulch in 1995.