While his co-owner and trainer were in Dubai Saturday, James Scatuorchio and Michael Tabor's 3-year-old Scat Daddy confirmed his status as a leading Kentucky Derby (G1) candidate with a 1 1/4-length victory in the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park.
California invader Stormello set the pace from the start of the 1 1/8 miles test until Scat Daddy with Edgar Prado aboard took control near the top of the stretch and went on to capture the 56th running of the Florida Derby as the 2-to-1 favorite in the field of nine 3-year-olds.
J. Paul Reddam's Notional, also invading from California, made a good run to close for second, finishing three-quarters of a length ahead of Centennial Farms' Chelokee in third. Stormello finished another two lengths back in fourth as the winner paid $6.40 to win and was timed in 1:49.00 over the fast track.
Winning trainer Todd Pletcher sent out five runners on the Dubai World Cup card with his best finish a second in the Golden Shaheen Stakes, but his powerful stable had a tremendous afternoon at Gulfstream with Scat Daddy their third stakes winner and fifth victory overall on the program. It also gave Prado his sixth winner of the afternoon.
A son of Johannesburg, Scat Daddy had won the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) over the track and distance four weeks ago over Stormello, and will now be a leader on an expected team of highly-accomplished 3-year-olds Pletcher will field for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs five weeks from now on May 5.
