Scat Daddy

After not racing since his 18th place finish in the Kentucky Derby, and one work on June 10th, Todd Pletcher announced that Scat Daddy is being retired to stud duty because of a tendon injury. Read full story..

Multiple Grade 1 winner Scat Daddy retired - Thoroughbred Times

This is the word at KentuckyDerby.com...

Pluses & Minuses of Leading Derby Contenders
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Ten days out from Kentucky Derby 133 let's examine pluses and minuses of ten leading contenders, in order of their graded stakes earnings -
STREET SENSE -
Plus - Never worse than third in seven starts...Blew their doors off over the Churchill Downs strip in the BC Juvenile so we know he likes the track...In hands of trainer (Carl Nafzger) who won the Derby (Unbridled in '90)...Appears to be training well...
Minus - Only had two Derby preps, both tough, Tampa Bay Derby and Blue Grass Stakes...The BC Juvenile jinx..Was green in Blue Grass stretch run, ducking in at least three times in losing by a nose to Dominican...Jock (Calvin Borel) is 0-4 in Derby...
SCAT DADDY -
Plus - Won twice at nine furlongs - Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby...Rider is Edgar Prado, victorious on Barbaro a year ago...Has tactical speed to gain position in 20-horse line-up...Only time worse than third was fourth to Street Sense in BC Juvenile...
Minus - Yet to crack 100 Beyer speed figure...All out to beat Notional in Florida Derby, with third place Chelokee encountering serious traffic trouble...
CIRCULAR QUAY -
Plus - Dominant, romping winner of Louisiana Derby...Should be fresh, since Derby will be first race in eight weeks...Usual fast pace in large field will set up devastating stretch charge...Consistent, only time worse than second was Risen Star when horse fell in front of him...
Minus - Unraced for eight weeks leading into Derby...Deep closer needs fast pace and clean trip...
CURLIN -
Plus - Unbeaten in three starts, winning by total 28 1/2 lengths, including 10 1/2 length triumph in Arkansas Derby...103 Beyer in Ark. Derby...Speed to stalk and stamina to finish (last eighth in less than 12 at Oaklawn)...Could be superior talent...
Minus - With only three lifetime races, bucking Derby tradition (Apollo last horse to win Derby - 1882 - without running at two. Also, Regret(1915) last one to win Derby with only three outs) ...Serious question of seasoning, races have appeared easy, never been in a head-and-head battle...
NOBIZ LIKE SHOBIZ -
Plus - Consistent (6-4-1-1)...Been prepared traditionally - three starts as 2yo and three this year...Speed to stalk and can finish...Blinkers on for Wood Memorial win might have cured tendency to lug in through stretch...Trainer (Barclay Tagg) won Derby with Funny Cide ('03)...
Minus - Ran faster as 2yo in winning Remsen (1:48 4/5) than this year in Wood (1:49 2/5)...Not convinced blinkers solved lugging in problem...
GREAT HUNTER -
Plus - Seasoned in nine starts (7 as 2yo and 2 as 3yo)..Defeated both Circular Quay and Street Sense in Breeders' Futurity last year.. Until Blue Grass (a troubled 5th to Dominican) had never been worse than third...Preferred style is to make one run from off pace, as in impressive Robert B. Lewis win in early March...
Minus - Appeared beaten when forced to take up in Blue Grass...Only two preps for Derby...Soundly whipped by Street Sense in BC Juvenile...Needs clear trip in crowded Derby field...
STORMELLO -
Plus - Speedy, game... Well-experienced in nine starts. Rest prior to Derby should help since he appeared to bounce when fourth to Scat Daddy in Florida Derby after losing by a nose to that same rival in Fountain of Youth...
Minus - Carson City on bottom of pedigree cause to question distance proclivity...With big field, there should be plenty of pace which will compromise chances since he runs forwardly...
DOMINICAN -
Plus - Improving at the right time, with wins in the Rushaway and Blue Grass...Rallied off extraordinarily slow pace to nod Street Sense in Blue Grass...
Minus - Only two Derby preps...Was Blue Grass legit, given the pace scenario?...
TIAGO -
Plus - Like Dominican, getting good at the right time... Seems to have good turn of foot, unlike half-brother Giacomo ('05 Derby) who was a grinder...Fast pace in big field would set up rally...Worked well since SA Derby upset...
Minus - Only four lifetime starts so seasoning is a big question...Has to come from clouds so will need a clear trip...
COWTOWN CAT -
Plus - Seems underrated despite good wins in Gotham and Illinois Derby...Shown versatility with off-the-pace success in Gotham and wire-to-wire victory in Illinois Derby when there was a lack of pace...Jockey (Fernando Jara) is a plus, also...
Minus - Yet to crack 100 Beyer...Illinois Derby was made to order with dawdling fractions to lead from the get-go...
There are others deserving of consideration, obviously, but this is my assessment of ten contenders.

Tiago for the Derby Anyone?

If you aren't a die hard handicapper, you may just need a reason to like a horse for the Derby. Here's a good reason to like Tiago.

The partnership of Kelli Mitchell and Bill Terrill have once again teamed up and bought themselves a future star. Their most famous past endeavor resulted in partnering on Lost In The Fog who they purchased as a weanling and sold as a yearling to Southern Chase Farm. This year, the standout of their consignment may very well be their Macho Uno colt. He is out of a mare named Sea Jewel (who is MGSP) and is a half sister to Giacomo (Derby winner) and this years contender, Tiago. I'm wishing Kelli and Bill all the luck in the world that Tiago will run well in the Derby and shine the light on their own colt.

Derby Contenders Vs. Foaling Dates

I thought it would be interesting to see what foaling month had the most contenders for this year. The results are:

January (3) Any Given Saturday, Nobiz Like Showbiz, and Ravel

February (5) Circular Quay, Cobalt Blue, Sam P, Street Sense, Notional

March (7) Curlin, Great Hunter, Liquidity, Stormello, Tiago, King of the Roxy, Summer Doldrums

April (1) Cowtown Cat

May (4) Dominican, Hard Spun, Scat Daddy, Adore The Gold

Kentucky Derby Future Wager

Interestingly, after Saturday, Curlin emerged as the Kentucky Derby favorite in the future wager pool with odds of 7/2. Street Sense is at 6/1, Circular Quay 9/1, Nobiz Like Showbiz 10/1, Scat Daddy 11/1, Hard Spun 13/1, and Any Given Saturday and Tiago tied at 14/1. Dominican is standing at odds of 17/1 behind Great Hunter who is 15/1. To see all the odds for the future wager book go to the following link. Kentuckyderby.com also has bio's, past performance's, podcasts, race videos, you name it! It's a great site for thorough information on all of the Derby Contenders.

http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2007/future-wager-odds

The Florida Derby

Today's the day. The following are the entries for today's race. Our hometown hero is a horse named Birdbirdistheword trained by Ken McPeek. Bird was bred by Randy Edwards, who is the accountant for OBS Sales Company. Although I don't like to root for McPeek, I am rooting for Randy Edwards.

11th (5:30)
Florida Derby (G1)
1 1/8 Miles Open 3 Year Olds Stakes Purse: $1,000,000

Notional
Imawildandcrazyguy
Scat Daddy
Adore the Gold
Stormello
Chelokee
Boogie Boggs
Johannesburg Star
Birdbirdistheword

Spotlight On The Derby

Who can forget the emotional race call that Carl Nafzger gave Mrs. Genter when Unbridled won the Kentucky Derby? This is his contender for this year. It'd hard not to like this horse for the Derby!

http://tcm.bloodhorse.com/spotlight_street_sense.asp

Spotlight on The Derby - Any Given Saturday

How neat is it that there is a Derby contender in the same foal crop as a filly I bred and named N.E. Given Sunday, that is named Any Given Saturday?

Classic Spotlight: Any Given Saturday - Triple Crown Mania on Bloodhorse.com

Speaking of The Kentucky Derby

The Derby is only six weeks away! I found this list of contenders and their trainers on the Derby website. It's time for us to start studying on our top picks. Anyone have an early favorite?

Adore The Gold - Michael Gorham
Any Given Saturday - Todd Pletcher
Bwana Bull - Jerry Hollendorfer
Circular Quay - Todd Pletcher
Cobalt Blue - Doug O'Neill
Cowtown Cat - Todd Pletcher
Curlin - Steve Asmussen
E Z Warrior - Bob Baffert
Great Hunter - Doug O'Neill
Hard Spun - Larry Jones
Ketchikan - Al Stall Jr.
King of the Roxy - Todd Pletcher
Liquidity - Doug O'Neill
Nobiz Like Showbiz - Barclay Tagg
Notional - Doug O'Neill
Officer Rocket - Robert Holthus
Scat Daddy - Todd Pletcher
Stormello - Bill Currin
Street Sense - Carl Nafzger
Summer Doldrums - Richard Violette Jr.
Teuflesberg - Jamie Sanders
XChanger - Mark Shuman
Zanjero - Steve Asmussen