Daddy Long Legs to atone for his Breeders’ Cup defeat in the Kentucky Derby
The latest Grade 1, $2 million Kentucky Derby invader is the Aidan O’Brien trained Daddy Long Legs, who is exiting a brilliant victory at the Meydan, where he won the Grade 2, $2 million UAE Derby over the venue’s Tapeta surface, other than that with a whimsical
name, Daddy Long Legs hasn’t acquainted himself thoroughly to the American horse racing fans.
He did debut in the USA last fall at Churchill Downs when he participated in the Grade 1 Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, but there was nothing fancy about his 12th place finish on the day, his worse in 5 career starts so far.
The Kentucky bred is the son of Scat Daddy, out of mare Dreamy Maiden by Meadowlake, is certainly bred for the dirt, but with his disappointing 12th place finish, Aidan O’Brien made it clear in his recent statement that it was just a bad start
rather than an inability to run on the dirt track.
"The Breeders' Cup was more about the start than it was the dirt," O'Brien said from his office at Ballydoyle. "He lost it out of the gate and wasn't as quick enough and sharp enough in the first furlong as we would have liked. But we'll know a lot more
in a couple of weeks.
"We have to try anyway. You can't win if you're not in the race. He seems to be fine. He was in Dubai and we obviously were happy with him there, so I suppose we'll just have to wait and see, won't we?"
Owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith, and Michael B. Tabor, Daddy Long Legs has relished starts on turf and synthetic surfaces.
Woodford Thoroughbreds bred Daddy Long Legs started his career with three consecutive races over the turf surface, in which he won his maiden at seven furlongs, finished fourth in the Grade 2 Champagne Stakes also at 7 furlongs, and landed the Grade 2 Royal
Lodge Stakes at about 1 mile on 24 September, 2011, before heading to Churchill Downs for his Breeders’ Cup race.
However, he is still a force to be reckoned with, as he posted a 1 ¼ length victory in the 1 3/16 mile long UAE Derby.
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