2017 Fountain of Youth Stakes Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com - The G2 Fountain of Youth Stakes is on tap for this Saturday, March 4 from Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida - a "Road to the Kentucky Derby" points qualifier. Some of the best three year olds in the land will be after their share of the 50-20-10-5 points awarded and the $400,000 purse when they take to Gulfstream's dirt track and race 1 1/16 miles.

A solid field of 11 will give it a go in the Fountain of Youth Stakes - race 13 on Gulfstream's stacked Saturday card. Post time is 6:05 PM. Here is a look into the past performances of all 11 combatants for this Kentucky Derby points G2 stakes.

2017 Fountain of Youth Stakes Entries at Gulfstream Park

Irish War Cry 5-2 - Graham Motion trained colt will hit the track for the fourth time Saturday looking to remain perfect. Last time out he won the G2 Holy Bull Stakes by 3 3/4 lengths in upset fashion over the terrific Classic Empire and Gunnevera here February 4 after a win in the restricted Marylander Stakes December 31 and a maiden score by 4 1/2 lengths at first asking November 11 - both at Laurel Park. Irish War Cry has exceeded expectations so far and will try to stay undefeated against his biggest competition to date. Joel Rosario gets the call on the morning line favorite from gate 8.

Practical Joke 3-1 - Chad Brown trained colt has four career starts and three good wins and a third place finish. He won by five lengths as favorite in a six furlong maiden race at Saratoga August 6, he won the G1 Hopeful Stakes by a game neck on that track September 5 and posted victory in the G1 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park October 8. Last time out was a respectable third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile November 5. Practical Joke has been a factor in every race so far in his career, has looked sharp in works leading up to this weekend and should be a factor Saturday. Jose Ortiz rides the second betting choice from gate 6.

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Gunnevera 7-2 - has three wins and two second place finishes in seven career starts for trainer Antonio Sano. Last time out was a respectable second behind Irish War Cry and ahead of Classic Empire in the G2 Holy Bull Stakes here February 4 which followed a terrific win by 5 3/4 lengths in the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot November 19, a fifth behind the terrific Classic Empire among others in the G1 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland October 8 and a good eye-opening win with a 97 Beyer Speed Figure in the G2 Saratoga Special August 14. Gunnevera has won two of his last four starts (both graded stakes) and will try to keep an impressive run going with Javier Castellano in the reins of the intriguing third choice from gate 2.

Beasley 6-1 - has placed in all three career starts for trainer Mark Hennig - a win and two second place finishes. He steps into stakes company for the first time Saturday on the heels of consecutive runner-up finishes in Allowance Optional Claiming races on this track with the last coming February 3. He broke maiden at first asking at Aqueduct December 1. Beasley has been decent so far and hopes to be again in his major step up in competition. Irad Ortiz has the mount from post 5.

Made You Look 10-1 - highly regarded Todd Pletcher trained colt has three wins, a second and a third place finish in six career starts. He stepped into stakes company August 31 and promptly won the G2 With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga after a maiden score at Belmont Park June 18 and second in his debut May 27 also at that track. He has been decent since as well - a third last time out in the minor Kitten's Joy Stakes on this track February 4 followed a good win by 2 1/2 lengths here in the G3 Dania Beach Stakes January 7 and a sixth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Made You Look has been competitive so far in his career, tries dirt for the first time and will be after his biggest score to date Saturday with John Velazquez guiding him from post 9.

Three Rules 12-1 - Jose Pinchin trained colt has seven career starts with five wins and a second place finish - all wins at Gulfstream Park. He stepped into graded stakes company for the first time in November and finished an OK sixth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile after wins in the minor Florida Sire In Reality Stakes by 10 lengths October 1, the Florida Sire Affirmed Stakes September 3, the Florida Sire Dr. Fager Stakes August 6, the minor Birdonthewire Stakes July 2 and a maiden score at first asking in June. Last time out was a runner-up finish as favorite in the G2 Swale Stakes on this track February 4. Three Rules was sensational early in his career, has five wins and a second in six starts at Gulfstream, and could be in the mix again Saturday with Luis Saez in the reins from post 7.

Takaful 12-1 - Kiaran McLaughlin trained colt won his debut at Belmont Park October 29 and has been up and down since. Last time out was a disappointing seventh in the G3 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct January 2 after an OK third in the G2 Remsen Stakes on that track November 26. Takaful tries to bounce back off a career-worst effort and for a first stakes win Saturday. Paco Lopes is scheduled to ride from gate 10.

Lookin For Eight 20-1 - Michael Tomlinson trained colt will hit the track for the third time Saturday having posted a win and a second place finish so far. He broke maiden last time out January 28 after a second in his debut December 31 - both results on this track. Lookin For Eight takes a major step up in competition in decent form with Julien Leparoux in the reins from the outside post 11.

Talk Logistics 20-1 - has four career starts for trainer Edward Plesa with a win, a second and a third place finish. Last time out was his only off-the-board finish - a fourth in the G2 Holy Bull Stakes on this track February 4. Before that was a third in the minor Mucho Macho Man Stakes here January 7, a second in the minor Buffalo Man Stakes on this track December 10 and a maiden score at first asking - at Parx in July. Talk Logistics has been OK so far in his career and will be after his first stakes score Saturday with Joe Bravo guiding him from gate 4.

Huracan Americo 50-1 - Arturo Bruno Morales Cavieres trained colt had two stars in Peru and makes his North American debut Saturday. Last time out was a nice win in the Group 1 Derby Nacional November 6 after a fourth in his debut in September. Huracan Americo looked good last time out and hopes his success at hope translates this weekend. Edgar Prado has been tabbed to ride from the rail.

Quinientos 50-1 - Enrique Sanchez trained colt has a win and two third place finishes in eight career starts and makes his graded stakes debut Saturday having failed to place in three of his last four starts. Last time out was a fourth in his stakes debut - the minor Just One More Stakes on this track February 8 after a maiden score here December 15, a fourth and a fifth respectively in a pair of MSW races at Gulfstream Park in November. Quinientos has struggled against lesser competition so far - not much is expected Saturday when he leaves from post 3 with Marcos Meneses aboard.

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2017 Fountain of Youth Stakes Odds & Entries

Race 13 on Gulfstream Park's Saturday card with a Post Time of 6:05 PM.