Derby News

Scat Daddy came out on top of a four-horse to score a well-deserved victory in the Fountain of Youth (GII) Saturday at Gulfstream Park. He was just a nose in front of Stormello, with favorite Nobiz Like Shobiz a half-length back and Adore the Gold another half behind him.

With Holy Bull (GIII) and Remsen (GII) winner Nobiz Like Shobiz getting all the pre-race hype, he was sent off at 3-5 odds. But the competition figured to be plenty stiff, as Scat Daddy, Stormello and Adore the Gold are also graded stakes winners.
Stormello, a free-running colt, went straight to the front from post 4 with Adore the Gold about a length back. Nobiz Like Shobiz was just behind that one, and had to go wide into the first turn to avoid him, which also forced Scat Daddy, at the time behind Nobiz, even wider around the turn.
The trouble sorted out, and Stormello continued on at a lightning pace, with Adore the Gold pressing him, getting the half mile in 46 seconds, the six furlongs in 1:09.89. Nobiz Like Shobiz was tracking the leaders in third, and made his move nearing the stretch. He appeared as if he was going right by them, but the top pair dug in gamely and Nobiz Like Shobiz seemed to be running in spots through the stretch.
Scat Daddy, meanwhile came four wide from the back half of the field, and was still in fifth with a furlong to go. Jockey John Velazquez asked his colt for everything, and he responded, passing the erratic Nobiz Like Shobiz and just getting up over Stormello, who was nearest the rail, on the wire.
Scat Daddy completed the nine furlongs in 1:49.11, and gave trainer Todd Pletcher a sweep of the 3-year-old stakes at Gulfstream on Saturday; King of the Roxy had won the Hutcheson (GII) earlier on the card.
Scat Daddy, by Johannesburg, won for the fourth time in six starts. In three meetings with Nobiz Like Shobiz, he has beaten him twice, previously in the Champagne (GI) last autumn.
Pletcher was feeling somewhat vindicated after the race, as his stable has always thought highly of this colt despite his distant fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (GI).
As for his next start, Pletcher said, "The plan is to run in the Florida Derby (March 31), five weeks before the (Kentucky) Derby."
Scat Daddy paid $13.80, $6.20 and $2.80. Stormello returned $6.20 and $3. Nobiz Like Shobiz returned $2.10 to show.

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