Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park
Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes comes our way from Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Florida this Saturday, February 23. It is one of the first races in the second phase of the "Road to the Kentucky Derby" in which point levels are raised to 50-20-10-5 respectively for the top four. Besides the points, the three year olds will be after their share of the nice $400,000 purse when they go 1 1/16 miles on Gulfstream's main track.
A field of 11 Derby hopefuls will line up in the Fountain of Youth - race 11 on Gulfstream's busy Saturday schedule. Post time is 5:35 PM Here is a look at the credentials of all 11 entries heading into this important and lucrative Grade 2 stakes.
2013 Fountain of Youth Stakes Race Favorites
Violence - Todd Pletcher trained colt has three wins in three career starts including the Grade 2 Nashua Stakes by two lengths over Vegas No Show at Aqueduct November 4 and a Maiden Special Weight score in his debut at Saratoga August 18. Last time out was another impressive score in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park December 15. He has an incredible pedigree is very versatile and is your morning line favorite to run away with the 50 points Saturday.
He's Had Enough - Doug O'Neill trained colt has six career starts with a win in his debut and a very nice second place finish three back in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile behind Shanghai Bobby - by a head. Last time out was a good third in the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita February 2 after a disappointing fifth in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity December 15 at Hollywood Park against a very competitive field. He's Had Enough needs to ramp it up and will be looking for his first stakes win in the Fountain of Youth this week - 50 points is on the line.
Fountain of Youth Stakes 2013 | Remaining Field Entries
Falling Sky - has four career starts and three wins - a 1 3/4 length score in a 6 1/2 furlong Allowance Optional Claiming December 14 in which he earner an 89 Beyer Speed figure, a MSW score in his debut November 1 at Calder and last time out in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs February 2. Sandwiched in there is a fourth in his only other stakes race - the minor Inaugural Stakes here December 1. Falling Sky, off his first graded stakes win is an intriguing entry for the Fountain of Youth - he could surprise.
Speak Logistics - started his career with a fourth place finish but won his next two starts - a Maiden Special Weight at Monmouth August 18 and the Florida Stallion In Reality Stakes October 13 at Calder by 2 3/4 lengths while earning a 90 Beyer Speed figure. He was seventh in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile in November and most recently finished fourth in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis February 2. He will look to step up and gain some points in the Kentucky Derby points race but enters in so-so form.
Cerro - Irish bred son of Mr. Greeley and H. Graham Motion trainee Cerro has five career starts with two wins - in his debut at Milan and last time out in an Allowance Optional Claiming here January 26 after a third and a fourth respectively in similar races. His North American debut was a sixth in the Grade 3 Pilgrim Stakes at Belmont Park in June.
Fountain of Youth Stakes betting at Gulfstream Park with OffTrackBetting.com
Orb - Claude R. McGaughey III trained colt enters the Fountain of Youth on a two race win streak an Allowance Optional Claiming last time out here January 26 and a MSW score at Aqueduct November 24. He has those two wins and a third place finish in his five career starts but steps up in stakes company for the first time Saturday.
Majestic Hussar - won his career debut here by an impressive 6 1/4 lengths on August 11 but followed that with a disappointing seventh in the Grade 2 Three Chimneys Hopeful at Saratoga in September. His last two starts were Allowance Optional Claiming races resulting in a second two back December 15 and a win last time out on this track January 19.
Elmutahid - Kiaran McLaughlin trained colt has five MSW starts in his career with a win (which came last time out here January 19), a second and a third place finish.
Sky Captain - Mark Casse pupil will race in stakes company for the first time with one win and one second place finish. The win came in a MSW three back and the second was in an Allowance Optional Claiming last time out here January 26.
Joshua's Comprise - has 16 career starts under his belt already with a win, three seconds and three third place finishes but has placed in just one of his last six starts - an Allowance score at Calder September 30. Last time out was a fourth in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes here January 26 after another fourth in the Gulfstream Park Derby and a pair of ugly ninth place finishes.
Sr. Quisqueyano - had three wins to start his career and reeled off four straight runner-up finishes ahead of the Holy Bull including the Gulfstream Park Derby, the Jack Price Juvenile three back, the Birdonthewire Stakes four back and the Foolish Pleasure Stakes before that. In the Grade 3 Holy Bull last time out he was outclassed finishing eighth.
