Daddy D T seeks second turf stakes win in Cecil B. DeMille

Daddy D T has found a home on turf in his brief career.

He won his debut on the surface, winning his maiden in the Oak Tree Juvenile Turf at Del Mar in September, and was a game third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 31.

On Sunday, Daddy D T can further solidify his position as one of the top 2-year-olds in California with a victory in the $150,000 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes on turf at Del Mar. It may be his last start on the surface for some time.

Owner Kosta Hronis said this week that Daddy D T could be tried on dirt again at Santa Anita after Christmas. Daddy D T was fifth in the Grade 1 FrontRunner Stakes on dirt behind the highly rated American Pharoah at Santa Anita in September.

“We haven’t given up on dirt,” Hronis said.

The immediate goal is the Grade 3 DeMille Stakes, which is run over a mile and has drawn a field of 10. Daddy D T will be favored in the DeMille, a race formerly known as the Generous Stakes when run at Hollywood Park, which closed last December.

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KEY CONTENDERS

Daddy D T (Last 3 Beyers: 76-82-78)

Daddy D T was beaten 2 1/4 lengths by Hootenanny in the BC Juvenile Turf, closing from seven lengths off the pace on the backstretch.

“He got caught a little bit wide,” Hronis said.

Trained by John Sadler, Daddy D T will race from off the pace. He closed from eighth in a field of nine to win the Oak Tree Juvenile Turf.

“We expect him to run well,” Hronis said. “He looks like he’s coming up to it really well.”

Conquest Typhoon (Last 3 Beyers: 76-64-79)

Conquest Typhoon is the only graded stakes winner in the field, having won the Grade 2 Summer Stakes over a mile on a yielding turf course at Woodbine in September. He followed with a second in the Grade 2 Grey Stakes on Polytrack at Woodbine and a fourth in the BC Juvenile Turf.

Conquest Typhoon was beaten 2 1/4 lengths by Hootenanny, closing from eighth to finish a head behind Daddy D T. His finish in the BC Juvenile Turf and the presence of Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith will give Conquest Typhoon considerable support.

Papacoolpapacool (Last 3 Beyers: 72-76-62)

Trained by Jeff Mullins, Papacoolpapacool was a game third to Daddy D T in the Oak Tree Juvenile Turf as a maiden and won a maiden race over a mile on turf at Santa Anita on Sept. 27.

By Temple City, Papacoolpapacool was pre-entered for the BC Juvenile Turf but did not draw into the field. Papacoolpapacool has shown quick workouts in recent weeks.

Guilty (No Beyers)

An import from England, Guilty won two of his last three starts in that country in minor races for 2-year-olds over seven furlongs. The Irish-bred colt makes his debut for Hronis and Sadler in the DeMille Stakes.