THREE-YEAR-OLD DIARY
APRIL 4, 2007
by James Scully
After narrowly prevailing in the Fountain of Youth S. (G2), SCAT DADDY (Johannesburg)
recorded a convincing 1 1/4-length victory in Saturday’s Florida Derby (G1). The
dark bay colt sat a perfect stalking trip in fourth early, advanced on the
outside through the far turn to reach equal terms with pacesetter STORMELLO
(Stormy Atlantic) entering the stretch, and wasn’t threatened the rest of the
way, finishing 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.
After posting an impressive win in the Champagne S. (G1), Scat Daddy finished
fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and third in the Holy Bull S. (G3). As
a result, his reputation took a hit and he wound up being dismissed at nearly
6-1 in the Fountain of Youth. Scat Daddy is viewed differently now. He’s one of
three members of Todd Pletcher’s “A” team, along with CIRCULAR QUAY (Thunder
Gulch) and ANY GIVEN SATURDAY (Distorted Humor), and he’ll likely have the
services of Edgar Prado in the Kentucky Derby (G1). Prado won last year’s Derby with
Barbaro, who also prepped in the Florida Derby.
Scat Daddy notched his second straight 101 BRIS Speed rating in the Florida Derby.
While his numbers are solid, they won’t be among the best in the Derby. He’s won
two straight at 1 1/8 miles, but 10 furlongs promises to be a different ball
game on Derby Day. Scat Daddy earned only a 89 Late Pace rating in the Fountain
of Youth, and he pretty much wrapped up the Florida Derby leaving the far turn.
One can knock his chances for wearing the roses in May, but the fact remains
that Scat Daddy has developed a winning attitude in South Florida this year.
NOTIONAL (In Excess [Ire]) moved into a menacing position at the top of the
stretch, but he lacked a rally in his first start past 8 1/2 furlongs, losing
ground to the winner in deep stretch while barely holding for second. He hasn’t
earned strong Speed ratings this year (99-100-98) for Doug O’Neill, but the
classy colt will easily make the Derby field with victories in San Rafael S.
(G2) and Risen Star S. (G3). However, those came at one mile and 1 1/16 miles,
respectively, and the Derby distance doesn’t look like a good fit.
CHELOKEE (Cherokee Run) was launching his rally up the rail during the
Florida Derby when a tiring
Stormello suddenly swerved in front and sawed him off in upper stretch, costing
him any chance at first or second. Jockey Ramon Dominguez altered course to the
outside and Chelokee responded with a late surge to be a clear third, three
parts of a length back of Notional. But that unfortunately puts Chelokee on the
outside looking in with only $100,000 in graded earnings. There’s still another
chance for the improving colt — the April 21 Lexington S. (G2) is worth
$350,000 — but trainer Michael Matz probably won’t rush his charge. He can train Chelokee into the Preakness S. (G1) off a seven-week freshening.
Stormello, who finished an excellent second in the Fountain of Youth, began
to back up approaching the stretch in the Florida Derby and wound up
checking in fourth. Trainer Bill Currin could’ve easily left the Grade 1 winner
in California for what figures to be a less-than-stellar edition of the Santa
Anita Derby (G1) this Saturday, but the trainer decided to ship cross-country
for the second time in a month. His decision making could really cost the colt. Stormello bounced badly in the Florida Derby
and his status for the first Saturday in May is now in doubt. His absence would take a lot of quality speed
out of the equation.
STREET MAGICIAN (Street Sense [Ire]) will attempt to join the Triple Crown
fray in the Preakness for Michael Trombetta. The speedy colt will stretch
out to a mile in the April 28 Withers S. (G3) at Aqueduct, and he will be a top
contender in that spot. Street Magician jumped from an eight-length maiden special
weight victory to Saturday’s seven-furlong Aventura S., where he pressed the pace before
seizing command on the far turn and registered a respectable 95 Speed rating
for the half-length decision. Street Magician will be attempting to duplicate
the accomplishments of last year’s Preakness winner, Bernardini, who was making
his two-turn debut at Pimlico, but the lightly raced colt has more speed in his
pedigree and remains a huge question mark at longer distances.
SOARING BY (Deputy Minister) is headed back to stakes company following his 3
1/2-length, nine-furlong allowance win on Saturday, but the Pletcher
trainee posted only a 92 Speed rating.
Three major races are on tap this weekend. The Wood Memorial S. (G1) will
feature NOBIZ LIKE SHOBIZ (Albert the Great) and
possibly ANY GIVEN SATURDAY (Distorted Humor) over the main track at Aqueduct. Nobiz Like Shobiz will add
blinkers following his third at 3-5 in the Fountain of Youth, and he should be
razor-sharp for Barclay Tagg on Saturday. Circular Quay was expected to run, but
he’s now been declared by Pletcher, who will train the Louisiana Derby (G2)
winner straight into the Derby.
The Illinois Derby (G2) will feature a couple of exciting prospects in San
Felipe S. (G2) winner COBALT BLUE (Golden Missile) and Gotham S. (G3) victor
COWTOWN CAT (Distorted Humor). Hutcheson S. (G2) runner-up BOLD START (Jump
Start) will stretch out to two turns at Hawthorne for Kenny McPeek, and CATMAN
RUNNING (Tactical Cat) will bring a three-race win skein into the event, having
captured the John Battaglia Memorial S. most recently.
The Santa Anita Derby is coming up soft. Grade 1 runner-up LIQUIDITY (Tiznow)
is the probable favorite for O’Neill, but he exits a dull sixth in the Louisiana
Derby. He’ll be seeking his first stakes win like other top contenders SAM
P. (Cat Thief), TIAGO (Pleasant Tap), BOUTROUS (Tiznow), LEVEL RED (Aptitude)
and BLACK SEVENTEEN (Is It True). Multiple Grade 2 hero KING OF THE ROXY (Littleexpectations),
a smart 2 1/4-length winner of the Hutcheson S. (G2) last out, is the class of
the field, and we’ll find out whether he can carry his speed around two turns.
Next week we’ll recap the races and preview the Blue Grass S. (G1) and
Arkansas Derby (G2).