JC / Railbird

Scat, Daddy

Florida Derby winner Scat Daddy has been retired with a tendon injury: “Our vets told us he would need 90 days rest, so we would have run out of time to get him back for the major races this year, and the decision was made to retire him to stud,” explained trainer Todd Pletcher (DRF). That 90 days was too long to wait for a minor injury to heal suggests owners Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith were planning to retire the son of Johannesburg at the end of the year anyway, which isn’t all that surprising, but is still a bit disappointing. Maybe Bill Finley’s onto something with his idea of restricting certain races to starters whose sires were at least five years old when the horse was conceived.
Elsewhere: Valerie at Foolish Pleasure argues it’s fraud to retire Scat Daddy to stud with his current record. “Here is a colt whose daddy Johannesburg was a champion 2 year old but a total bust at three … this horse proved nothing to me, except that, like his daddy, he could run successfully for a very short period …”


3 Comments

Thank injuries of this nature to the grind of the 2 yr old and triple crown seasons. No wonder races like this weekends Suburban and Mother Goose, both Grade 1’s, are coming up disappointing. One defection in Invasor and the field is suddenly fairly weak, aside from Corinthian and Political Force.

Posted by DRS on June 25, 2007 @ 8:26 pm

That Bill Finley article caught my eye as well… I really do think he’s on to something. It’s the first plausible suggestion I’ve seen.

Posted by dana on June 25, 2007 @ 9:48 pm

Oh, there’s been no question in my mind that retirement would come at the end of the year. If you have it, just look at the big glossy Coolmore guide – pages 16 & 17. Premature advertising (not just ‘and Ashford sires produced…’ – it explicitly states that he’s on his way) tells me that plans are already in place, with the stud fee fluctuating as he either progresses or regresses. Circular Quay is next, I’m sure.

Posted by Nellie on June 25, 2007 @ 11:20 pm