The Scat Daddy fillies are really turning my head. On a mission to find this sire’s beautiful Lady Aurelia, I was wildly entertained by another of his gorgeous daughters, Daddys Lil Darling.
I do love the Scat Daddy daughters. In my last post I heavily featured Titled. She is one of my favorite Scat Daddy fillies and she will race this Wednesday , 10/4/17, at Mountaineer in West Virginia.
I have been awaiting my chance to watch Lady Aurelia workout at Keeneland where she is based for all of her training until she ships to race in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. I missed my first opportunity this Tuesday and I did not see her train yesterday, as she is said to be following a weekly schedule. I’ll be sure to catch her exercising there soon.
Meanwhile, my disappointment quickly faded when much to my surprise, Daddys Lil Darling took to galloping on the dirt track at Keeneland yesterday morning. She is a fine racehorse on dirt and turf and Daddys Lil Darling is preparing for her next race which will be held right at Keeneland!
At just 3 years-old Daddys Lil Darling has lost both parents, Scat Daddy, the sire of many great progeny and Miss Hot Salsa, the dam of great horses like the 2015 BC Turf Sprint winner Mongolian Saturday. Daddys Lil Darling was home bred by Normandy Farm who continues to own her now. Her trainer is Kenny McPeek.
Daddys Lil Darling began here career at Churchill Downs in June 2016. She broke her maiden in her next race. That was one month later at Ellis Park. Returning to Churchill she wowed with a win in the Grade 2 Pocahontas Stakes, an important race on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks and the Win and You’re In Challenge Series for the BC Juvenile Fillies race. She showed so much promise which is why it has been a surprise to find that she next went on to an 8 straight losing streak. Keep in mind, Daddys Lil Darling only races in graded stakes and she often runs a close second. She was 2nd in the Darley Alcibrades , 4th in the BC Juvenile Fillies, 2nd in the Golden Rod, 6th in the Florida Oaks, 2nd in the Ashland Stakes, 2nd in the Kentucky Oaks, scratched from the Epsom Oaks, 4th in the Belmont Oaks Invitational and 5th in the Coaching Club of American Oaks. During this time, Daddys Lil Darling traveled to 8 tracks/courses in 2 countries and all over America, coast to coast on dirt and turf. She was not able to race in England. When approaching the gate she startled due to thunder and lightening upon which time her rider, Olivier Peslier, took a spill which resulted in her scratching.
Fortunately, in her 12th and most recent start, Daddys Lil Darling is back on top! On Sunday, 9/19/17,she won the Dueling Grounds Oaks on the turf at Kentucky Downs. Daddys Lil Darling, with Julien Leparoux in the saddle, won easy by 4 and 1/2 lengths over the 10 furlongs (1 and 5/16 mile) race , all while taking the course record in 2:10.97.
Fresh from her triumph, Daddys Lil Darling worked on Keeneland’s freshly plowed dirt yesterday morning. She is easing into her next race there. On Saturday, October 14, 2017, in race 9, she will compete with up to 11 other 3 year-old fillies in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup. The race is 9 furlongs (1 and 1/8 miles) and carries a $500,000 purse. The winning owner will receive a Keeneland Trophy Cup while the trainer and jockey will get silver julup cups. I’m feeling lucky and hoping Daddys Lil Darling wins her 13 start!
Keeneland’s Fall Meet takes place October 6-28th. I’ll be there often for workouts and live racing. Stay tuned for more adventures at my home track!
