Scat Daddy

Scat Daddy (May 11, 2004 – December 14, 2015) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won four stakes races including the Champagne Stakes and Florida Derby. Retired after being injured in the Kentucky Derby, he went on to become a prominent sire. Background Scat Daddy was sired by Johannesburg, who was a champion in both the United States and Europe as a two-year-old. Scat Daddy's dam was Love Style, a daughter of Mr. Prospector. Scat Daddy was bred in Kentucky by Swiss book publisher and racing enthusiast Axel Wend. He was foaled at Hunter Valley Farm near Lexington, whose owners privately purchased the foal and his dam in 2004. He was then sold for $250,000 at the 2005 Keeneland yearling sale to leading trainer Todd Pletcher for Wall Street investment banker James T. Scatuorchio, a former executive with Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette. Scat Daddy was named for Scatuorchio, whose nickname is "Scat". After his first two races, United Kingdom racing magnate Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith purchased an interest in the colt. Scat Daddy was a dark bay horse, standing . He had a good shoulder and exceptionally powerful hindquarters. Pletcher recalls being impressed by the colt's athleticism, saying his only fault was a somewhat plain head. Racing career In 2006 at age two, Scat Daddy won his first race in June 2006 at Belmont Park, then followed up with a win in the Sanford Stakes at Saratoga. He then finished second to Circular Quay in the Hopeful Stakes, before returning to Belmont to win the Champagne Stakes, defeating Nobiz Like Showbiz. In his final race of 2006, he was fourth in the 2006 Breeders' Cup Juvenile, well back of winner Street Sense. He was rated at 123 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap, 4 pounds below champion Street Sense and second overall.