Greg Norman’s THE DADDY (Valid Expectations) turned in a very determined
effort to win Saturday’s $750,000
Super Derby (G2), re-rallying to a clear lead
in midstretch after being passed briefly on the far turn and holding off
runner-up A.P. Arrow (A.P. Indy) by a neck to win the 1 1/4-mile contest. Fourth
to Lost in the Fog (Lost Soldier) when making his stakes bow in the
seven-furlong King’s Bishop S. (G1) last out, the New York-bred winner
registered his third victory from only four lifetime starts and improved his
bankroll to $517,700.
Trained by Salvador Gonzalez and ridden by Pablo Morales, The Daddy was
third after the first quarter-mile in :24 4/5 and went on to take the
lead on the first turn, establishing modest splits of :48 2/5 and 1:12 3/5. He
was second by a head after a mile in 1:38 and surged again to take about a
two-length lead with a furlong remaining. A.P. Arrow closed gamely on the
outside from the back of the pack, but he couldn’t catch The Daddy, who finished
10 fast furlongs in 2:03.
Sent off the 5-1 fourth favorite, The Daddy returned $12.80, $8 and $6.60 and
keyed the $101.20 exacta with 5-1 third choice A.P. Arrow, who gave back $6.20
and $4.20. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to 7-1 Nolan’s Cat (Catienus), who
paid $5.80. The trifecta totaled $742.20 and the 8-10-2-4 superfecta $16,561.20.
Next under the wire came Military Major (Rahy), Smokescreen (Smoke Glacken),
Kilates Kiss (Kissin Kris), Silver Haze (Silver Deputy), 3-1 favorite Real Dandy
(Yankee Victor) and Desert Breeze (Deputy Minister). Royal Saint (Saint Ballado)
fell during the stretch run.
Bred by William Farish Jr. and Gaillardia LLC, The Daddy was purchased for
$125,000 at the 2003 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred August sale. He’s the
fourth foal to race from the stakes-placed With a Princess (With Approval), who
is also the dam of the stakes-placed two-year-old colt With a City (City Zip)
and a weanling filly by Family Calling.