Sanford S. (gr. II)
(gr. II , 6f ,)
SCAT DADDY
(DK B/ h,
119
lb) $90,000
Johannesburg —Love Style , by
Mr. Prospector
B—Axel Wend,
KY.;
O—James T. Scatuorchio;
T—Todd A. Pletcher
Teuflesberg
(B h,
117
lb) $30,000
Johannesburg —St. Michele , by
Devil's Bag
B—Richard Giacopelli,
KY.;
O—Sanders, Jamie, Logsdon, Gary S. and Kelly, Donnie;
T—Jamie Sanders
War Wolf
(B h,
119
lb) $15,000
Tale of the Cat —Love U Fran , by
Phone Trick
B—Ray Stark Revocable Trust,
KY.;
O—Ron Winchell;
T—Scott Blasi
Margins: neck, 5½, 9¼. Others: Trip to the Bank 117($7,500) , Bagger Vance 117($4,500) . Winning Jockey, John R. Velazquez.
Scat Daddy made for some nervous bettors at Saratoga July 27, but he wound up delivering a sensational performance late to run down maiden Teuflesberg in the final strides of the $147,000 Sanford Stakes (gr. II). Scat Daddy was the 3-10 favorite in the five-horse field of 2-year-olds, based on his 51/4-length maiden win at Belmont Park June 3 while recording a Beyer Speed Figure of 93.
James T. Scatuorchio’s Scat Daddy made it two-for-two on the second day of the meet for the trainer/jockey juggernaut of Eclipse Award winners Todd Pletcher and John Velazquez. They combined to win the opening day Schuylerville Stakes (gr. III) for juvenile fillies with Cotton Blossom the day before.
It was also the first of several giveaway days at Saratoga. The premium? A Todd Pletcher bobblehead doll.
Scatuorchio has had plenty of success with other 2-year-olds...at Saratoga: he owned More Than Ready, who won the Sanford and three other stakes in 1999. He also won the King’s Bishop Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga the following year.
Scat Daddy saved his best for last in the Sanford. Trailing Teuflesberg by three lengths at the eighth pole, Velazquez moved Scat Daddy off the rail and the son of Johannesburg unleashed a strong late kick to catch the leader by a neck at the wire.
“The good news now is that he has an educational trip under his belt,” said Pletcher, who was winning the Sanford for the third time. “He got dirt in his face and he was down inside and he was a little green. It was impressive what he did the last 50 or 60 yards.”
The logical next step for the budding star is the grade I Hopeful Stakes at seven furlongs on the closing weekend of the meet.
Pletcher, as agent, signed the sales ticket for Scat Daddy at last year’s Keeneland September yearling sale on the opening day of the sale’s 14-day run. Scat Daddy was consigned to the sale by Hunter Valley Farm, agent.
He is the second foal out of an unraced mare, but his second dam, Likeable Style was a homebred grade I winner for John and Betty Mabee’s Golden Eagle Farm in 1993. She was trained by Hall of Famer Richard Mandella. She was sold, in foal to A.P. Indy, to David Plummer at the 2001 Keeneland November sale for $925,000.
A full brother to Scat Daddy was foaled Feb. 6.
Scat Daddy is 2001 2-year-old champion Johannesburg’s initial stakes winner from his first crop. Sanford runner-up Teuflesberg is also by Johannesburg. The son of Hennessy stands at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky. After beginning his career at $30,000, his 2006 stud fee was $25,000.—E.I.H.
