Daddy D T lands in much softer spot
A one-week delay to his comeback has made for an easier assignment for Daddy D T in Saturday’s $75,000 Let It Ride Stakes at Del Mar.
Trainer John Sadler entered Daddy D T in the Grade 2 Twilight Derby at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita last weekend but opted not to run. The race was won by the heavily favored Om, who proved too tough to catch as a pacesetter.
Daddy D T will race in the Let It Ride, which is run at a mile on turf and is restricted to 3-year-olds who have not won a stakes worth $50,000 or more to the winner since April 1. Daddy D T has not raced since finishing sixth in the Pasadena Stakes at Santa Anita in March.
“I think it will be a better spot,” Sadler said this week.
Daddy D T is part of a field of six in the Let It Ride. The race features several improving prospects, notably Perfectly Majestic, Fueled by Bourbon, and Ground Rules, all winners of their last starts. Ground Rules was entered for the Oak Tree Derby but withdrawn by trainer Cliff Sise.
Let It Ride, Race 7
KEY CONTENDERS
Daddy D T (Last 3 Beyers: 72-82-74)
Daddy D T had an excellent 2-year-old season in 2014, winning the Oak Tree Juvenile Turf at Del Mar and finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita. He finished the year with a third behind Bolo in the Eddie Logan Stakes on turf at Santa Anita.
Daddy D T was second in an optional claimer at Santa Anita in February before the loss in the Pasadena. Sadler said Daddy D T was rested during the summer because of a hind-end injury detected after the Pasadena Stakes.
“In his last race, he picked up an issue,” Sadler said.
Sadler said the Let It Ride Stakes could lead to a start in the $300,000 Hollywood Derby on Nov. 28 for Daddy D T.
Acceptance (Last 3 Beyers: 64-81-77)
Acceptance was the star California-bred 2-year-old of 2014, winning the Golden State Juvenile at Santa Anita and the King Glorious Stakes at Los Alamitos. He finished fourth as the 1-2 favorite in the California Cup Derby at Santa Anita in January, emerging from the race with an injury that forced him out of training.
Acceptance is co-owned by the Johnston Family Trust. Bud Johnston, the proprietor of Old English Rancho, where Acceptance was bred and raised, died this year. The family continues to operate a racing and breeding operation. Kenny Black trains Acceptance, who resumed training in July.
During Del Mar, Black was quick to praise the development of Acceptance at the start of his return to training.
“He left a boy and came back a man,” he said.
Crittenden (Last 3 Beyers: 81-85-85)
Trained by Eoin Harty, Crittenden was a minor stakes winner at Indiana Grand in May and fourth to Om in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 6.