Photo: MEC
Magic City Thoroughbred Partners’ 3-year-old Frac Daddy worked five
furlongs in 1:00 1/5 under jockey Corey Lanerie Friday morning at
Gulfstream Park in preparation for a start in the $1 million Besilu
Stables Florida Derby (G1).
“He worked super,” said trainer Ken McPeek who was beginning a busy
weekend of travel to Turfway Park to saddle Taken by the Storm in the
$550,000 Spiral Stakes (G2) and morning-line favorite Pure Fun in the
$100,000 Bourbonette Oaks (G3) on Saturday.
A roan/gray colt by Scat Daddy, Frac Daddy came to Gulfstream this
winter with high expectations from McPeek after a game second-place
finish by a neck in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill
Downs on Nov. 24 won by Uncaptured, who is scheduled to make his
3-year-old debut in the Spiral.
In his lone start since the Kentucky Jockey Club, Frac Daddy had a
bad day in the $400,000 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) on Jan. 26 when he grabbed
a quarter rather badly and was never a factor. It was later determined
Frac Daddy was suffering from a throat ulcer.
“I’ve never changed my mind about thinking he was a good colt. In
fact, the extra time I had to give him may have done him a lot of good. I
think Corey fits him very well and I’m looking forward to the race,”
said McPeek, who sent out Harlan’s Holiday to win the 2002 edition of
the Florida Derby.