Boot Scootn Daddy hits the big time

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – He didn’t make it to the races until almost midway through his 4-year-old season, but Boot Scootn Daddy has been worth the wait.

A 4-year-old gelding by Scat Daddy, Boot Scootn Daddy has won both of his starts, both this year at Monmouth Park, and now he tries Saratoga in a $90,000, second-level allowance race at a mile that goes as Saturday’s eighth race.

Hardly a well-kept secret, Boot Scootn Daddy won his debut May 17 in a nine-horse field as the even-money favorite.

“He trained really well in Florida, showed like he had talent,” said Ben Perkins Jr., who trains Boot Scootn Daddy for Joe Imbesi. “We thought he’d run well. He didn’t surprise us. He looked like a nice, quality horse.”

In his second start June 21, the pace was extremely slow, and Boot Scootn Daddy “wasn’t as settled as he was in his first race,” said Perkins, but he still managed to draw away late and win by 2 1/2 lengths.

Perkins knows that the competition will be tougher at Saratoga, but he said the horse deserves a chance.

“I think he has a chance to be a real nice horse,” Perkins said.

Perkins noted that Boot Scootn Daddy is a half-brother to Shore Runner, who won the Lucky Coin Stakes going 5 1/2 furlongs here earlier in the meet.

“If he doesn’t end up wanting distance, maybe we’ll cut him back to 5 1/2,” Perkins said.