JEOG Racing’s homebred Scatman ran down Jasizzle to record his first stakes
victory Saturday, posting a neck decision in the Grade 3, $106,800 Aristides at
Churchill Downs. Shaun Bridgmohan had the mount for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.
Named in honor of the first Kentucky Derby winner, the six-furlong event was
held on a sloppy track. Rothko, the 2012 Aristides winner, showed speed from his
rail post and established splits in :22 and :45 1/5 while being pressured by
Jasizzle. Scatman was kept well off the rail by Bridgmohan, positioned just
behind the early leaders, and began to advance four wide approaching the
conclusion of the far turn.
Jasizzle shrugged off Rothko in midstretch but could not withstand Scatman,
who prevailed in the final strides. Off as the 7-2 fourth choice among five
rivals, the four-year-old paid $9, $4.20 and $2.80 and stopped the teletimer in
1:10 2/5.
Jasizzle wound up 2 1/4 lengths better than 8-5 favorite Rothko. It was
another three lengths back to Good Lord in fourth and longshot St. Maximus Gato
rounded out the order of finish.
Scatman snapped a five-race losing skein. Unplaced in his last five stakes
attempts, the bay colt finished third in his most recent start, a May 1 optional
claiming event at Churchill Downs. His best previous efforts came early in 2012
when he recorded a close second in his stakes debut, the Grade 3 Southwest, and
followed it with a respectable third in the Grade 2 Rebel.
From the first crop of sire Scat Daddy, the Kentucky-bred Scatman became the
first stakes winner produced by the Grand Slam mare Hit It Here Cafe. This is
the immediate female family of English Group 2 winner Strawberrydaiquiri and
Grade 1 runner-up Shooting Party.
With the $66,216 payday, Scatman has now earned $314,939 from a 16-5-2-3
career line.
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