PEDIGREE ANALYSIS

Combatant Scat Daddy-Border Dispute, by Boundary Bred in Kentucky by Blandford Stud ($320,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Winchell Thoroughbreds)

The changes to the Kentucky Derby field this week served to further highlight the standout penultimate crop by the late sire Scat Daddy. Multiple graded stakes-placed Combatant is among the final horses guaranteed a spot in the starting gate on points, which would give the late stallion four starters, along with unbeaten Santa Anita Derby winner Justify, United Arab Emirates Derby winner Mendelssohn, and multiple graded stakes winner Flameaway.

Scat Daddy, a Grade 1-winning juvenile, won the Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby but ran 18th in the Kentucky Derby in his final start. Scat Daddy is a son of Johannesburg, who was a champion on two continents in 2001, when he was a Group 1 winner in Ireland, England, and France before coming to the United States to take the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on dirt. Scat Daddy tapped into that versatility to become an internationally prominent sire.

Scat Daddy’s star runners in Europe have included champion Lady Aurelia, twice a winner at the renowned Royal Ascot meeting, and fellow Group 1winning sprinters Caravaggio and No Nay Never. His other Grade 1 winners on turf, most at route distances, include Celestine, Daddys Lil Darling, Harmonize, and Lady of Shamrock. Scat Daddy was also several times a leading sire in Chile thanks to his years of shuttling, with champions including Horse of the Year honorees Il Campione and Solaria, along with Dacita, a Grade 1 winner in the United States.

Scat Daddy’s best dirt runners have included Grade 1-winning juvenile Nickname, Pennsylvania Derby winner Handsome Mike, Sunland Derby winner Daddy Nose Best, and multiple graded stakes winner El Kabeir. Daddys Lil Darling finished second in last year’s Kentucky Oaks.

Combatant’s dam, the unraced Boundary mare Border Dispute, is the dam of Group 3 winner Long Lashes, Group 2placed Mythical Border, and dirt stakesplaced Bordini. Mythical Border is by Johannesburg.

Combatant’s fourth dam is Canadian Horse of the Year and Eclipse Award divisional champion Fanfreluche, a prominent broodmare whose progeny included Canadian Horse of the Year L’Enjoleur and champions La Voyageuse and Medaille D’Or. – Nicole Russo