Fountain of Youth S. (gr. II)
(gr. II , 9f ,)
SCAT DADDY
(DK B/ h,
120
lb) $210,000
Johannesburg —Love Style , by
Mr. Prospector
B—Axel Wend,
KY.;
O—Scatuorchio, James T. and Tabor, Michael, B.;
T—Todd A. Pletcher
Stormello
(CH h,
122
lb) $70,000
Stormy Atlantic —Wilshewed , by
Carson City
B—William Currin,
KY.;
O—Currin, William L. and Eisman, Alvin;
T—William L. Currin
Nobiz Like Shobiz
(B h,
122
lb) $38,500
Albert the Great —Nightstorm , by
Storm Cat
B—Elizabeth J. Valando,
KY.;
O—Elizabeth J. Valando;
T—Barclay Tagg
Margins: nose, ½, ½. Others: Adore the Gold 120($21,000) , Hal's My Hope 116($10,500) , Drums of Thunder 120 , Meritocracy 116 , Divine Master 116 , Johannesburg Star 116 . Winning Jockey, John R. Velazquez.
Besting a familiar foe, favored Nobiz Like Shobiz, who ran third in the March 3 Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park, James Scatuorchio and Michael Tabor’s 3-year-old colt Scat Daddy inched out a nose win over California invader Stormello.
Scat Daddy, by Johannesburg, had finished third behind Nobiz Like Shobiz when they met in the Feb. 3 Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III), but had won a decision over that rival in capturing the Champagne Stakes (gr. I) last fall at Belmont Park. Scat Daddy closed out his 2006 campaign with a fourth-place effort in the Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I), which marked the only off-the-board finish of his seven-start career.
Trainer Todd Pletcher bought the colt for $250,000 on Scatuorchio’s behalf at the 2005 Keeneland September yearling sale from Fergus Galvin and Adrian Regan’s Hunter Valley Farm, agent. Pletcher and his father, J.J., owned 25% interests in Scat Daddy until selling them to Tabor last summer.
“He’s got a tremendous heart and amount of ability,” said Scatuorchio of the Fountain of Youth winner. “Even when he was a youngster, we thought he’d go two turns. A lot of people looked at his pedigree and thought he was more of a sprint type, but Todd and J.J. never thought that. He’s got a long stride to him and he’s just a very, very good racehorse. He came out of the race in good shape. After (the Fountain of Youth) performance, he definitely deserves to be (a Derby contender).”
Bred in Kentucky by Axel Wend, Scat Daddy was produced from the Mr. Prospector mare Love Style, who was purchased as a yearling for $525,000 by Frederic Sauque, agent. She was consigned to the sale by her breeders, John and Betty Mabee, with the aid of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.
Unraced Love Style brought $350,000 when she was consigned to the 2005 Keeneland November sale by Hunter Valley Farm, agent. In foal carrying a full brother to Scat Daddy, she was bought by Thoroughbred Advisory Group, agent.
The only other foal out of Love Style, who was produced from the grade I winning Nijinsky II mare Likeable Style, is a 4-year-old Hennessy filly, Lo Styliste.
Johannesburg is the sire of eight stakes winners, including other 2007 added-money winners Baroness Thatcher (gr. III) and Teuflesberg. Johannesburg stands for $65,000 at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky.—E.M.
