2025 Fountain of Youth Entries at Gulfstream Park

79th Fountain of Youth Offers 50-20-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby Points To Top-Five Finishers

Burnham Square (Whitham Thoroughbreds LLC), a most impressive winner of the Feb. 1 Holy Bull (G3) Feb. 1, is scheduled to clash with seven other 3-year-olds entered Saturday for next Saturday's $415,000 The Coolmore Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park.

The Coolmore Fountain of Youth, a key prep for the March 29 $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1), will headline a program with nine stakes, eight graded, worth $2.15 million in purses. The 79th running of the Fountain of Youth will offer qualifying points for the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1) on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale.

Burnham Square will seek his third straight victory of the Championship Meet in the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth after graduating by nine lengths at 1 1/16 miles Dec. 28 and winning the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull by 1 ¾ lengths going away.

The Ian Wilkes-trained gelded son of Liam's Map was equipped with blinkers for his two dominant victories at Gulfstream after finishing second in his debut at Keeneland Oct. 26 and third at Churchill Downs Nov. 30.

Edgard Zayas, who was aboard Burnham Square for his two recent victories, has the return call.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher is represented in the Fountain of Youth field by CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm LLC's River Thames and Donegal Racing's Gate to Wire, both of whom are scheduled to make their two-turn debuts.

Late-developing River Thames debuted at Gulfstream Jan. 11 with a 4 ¾-length romp at six furlongs before stretching out to a mile for a 6 ½-length score Feb. 1. Hall of Famer John Velazquez has the return mount aboard the son of McLean's Music.

Gate to Wire is coming off a strong-closing five-length upset victory in the seven-furlong Swale on the Holy Bull undercard. Dylan Davis has the return call aboard the son of Munnings.

Godolphin's Sovereignty is set to make his 2025 debut next Saturday after concluding his 2-year-old campaign with a five-length maiden-breaking score in the 1 1/16-mile Street Sense (G3) Oct. 27 at Churchill Downs. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the son of Into Mischief will be ridden by Junior Alvarado.

Keep It Easy (St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Thoroughbreds) will make his first start of 2025 after winning the 6 ½-furlong Ed Brown at Churchill Downs Nov. 30 in his 2-year-old finale. Trainer Dale Romans awarded the return mount to Corey Lanerie. Ian Pasard, Shining Stable LLC, and Stefania Farms LLC's Neoequos, a sharp optional claiming allowance winner Jan. 23 who was twice placed in Florida Sire Stakes events last season, will make his first start in an open stakes.

Irad Ortiz Jr. is scheduled to ride the Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained son of Neolithic for the first time. Leon King Stable Corp.'s McKellen will seek to rebound from a sixth-place finish in the Jan. 4 Mucho Macho Man for trainer Jose D'Angelo. No rider was named at the time of entry.

Fountain of Youth to Headline March 1 Card with 9 Stakes Worth $2.15M

The $215,000 Fasig-Tipton Davona Dale (G2) drew a field of seven 3-year-old fillies for next Saturday's 39th edition of the mile stakes that will offer Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale.

Tracy Farmer's La Cara, who captured the Pocahontas (G3) at Churchill Downs last year before concluding her 2024 campaign with a fifth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Del Mar, enters the Davona Dale off a 6 ¼-length romp in the Suncoast at Tampa Bay. Trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, the homebred daughter of Steet Sense, will be ridden by Dylan Davis.

C2 Racing Stable LLC and Mathis Stable LLC's The Queens M G will also bring graded-stakes credentials into the Davona Dale having captured the Adirondack (G3) last season at Saratoga, where she won the Schuylerville in her previous start. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained daughter of Thousand Words is coming off a third-place finish in the Feb. 1 Forward Gal (G3) at Gulfstream in her 2025 debut. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the return mount.

Rodeo Creek Racing LLC's Ballerina d'Oro is slated to make her 3-year-old debut in the Davona Dale after concluding her 2024 campaign with a second-place finish in the Demoiselle (G2) at Aqueduct. Tyler Gaffalione is scheduled to ride the Chad Brown-trained daughter of Medaglia d'Oro for the first time.

Lugamo Racing Stable LLC's Frida, Just for Fun Stable Inc.'s My Denysse, and Baron Thoroughbreds LLC's Quinn's Promise and Madeline's Promise, round out the field

The $215,000 Gulfstream Park Mile (G2), a mile stakes for 4-year-olds and up, attracted nine entries including Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Mindframe, a Pletcher-trained son of Constitution who hasn't competed since back-to-back second-place finishers in the Belmont Stakes (G1) and Haskell Invitational (G1) last year, and Godolphin LLC's Encino, a winner of four of five races for trainer Brad Cox.

The $215,000 Mac Diarmida, a 1 3/8-mile turf stakes for 4-year-olds and up, drew a full field of 12, including Frankly Speaking LLC's Dashman, who captured the 1 ½-mile McKnight (G3) over the Gulfstream turf last time out.

The $215,000 Herecomesthebride (G3), a mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds fillies, fielded a group of 10, including a trio trained by Casse - D. J. Stable LLC and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Vixen, who captured the Sweetest Chant as the odds-on favorite last time out, Gary Barber, Blue Diamond Racing and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Classic Q, and D. J. Stable LLC's Smudge.

The $215,000 Colonel Liam, a mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds, attracted a field of 10, including Gary Barber's Mi Bago, a Casse-trained son of Vekoma who is coming off victories in the Pulpit and Dania Beach Stakes during the Championship Meet.

The $165,000 Honey Fox, a mile turf stakes for older fillies and mares, drew a full field of 12, including Resolute Racing and Miller Racing LLC's In Our Time, who finished third last time out in the $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational (G2).

The $165,000 Canadian Turf (G3), a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 4-year-olds and up, drew 10 entries, including Spendthrift Farm LLC's Major Dude, who captured the Dec. 21 Fort Lauderdale (G2) prior to a sixth-place finish in the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1).

The $165,000 The Very One, a 1 3/8-mile turf stakes for older fillies and mares, attracted nine entrants, including Dixiana Farms LLC's Forever After All, who captured the La Prevoyante (G3) last time out over the Gulfstream turf.

Keep It Easy Remains on Target for G2 Fountain of Youth

Feb 20 - St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Thoroughbreds' Keep It Easy, a dominant stakes winner in his juvenile finale last fall, remains on course to make his 3-year-old debut in the $415,000 Coolmore Fountain of Youth (G2) March 1 at Gulfstream Park.

The 79th running of the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth, Gulfstream's next step for sophomores on the road to the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) March 29, headlines a blockbuster program of nine stakes, eight graded, worth $2.15 million in purses.

Keep It Easy has been working steadily at Gulfstream for trainer Dale Romans with six breezes in the new year following his arrival from Kentucky, where he closed 2024 with a 5 ¼-length romp in the 6 ½-furlong Ed Brown. It was his fourth start, after being well-beaten first time out going 5 ½ furlongs and graduating by four lengths in front-running fashion when stretched out to six furlongs.

One of the horses he beat that day was Sandman, also co-owned by West Point, that won next out and has gone on to run third in the Street Sense (G2) last fall and second in the Jan. 25 Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn Park.

"He's a really nice horse. We were disappointed in his debut and then he popped," West Point executive vice president Tom Bellhouse said. "He really moved forward nicely. Dale's been high on him. He's basically taken more of a conservative approach. He's kind of had a circle around the Fountain of Youth for a couple months now. Only time will tell if he's a mile and a quarter-type horse, but he is fast and the barn's real high on him."

Romans, who won the 2018 Fountain of Youth with Promises Fulfilled, nominated Keep It Easy to Gulfstream's Feb. 1 Holy Bull (G3) but opted to wait another four weeks. Holy Bull winner Burnham Square is also among the horses targeting the Fountain of Youth.

The Fountain of Youth will mark the return to graded company for Keep It Easy, who ran last of eight under jockey Junior Alvarado after a disastrous start in the 6 ½-furlong Saratoga Special (G2) last summer at Saratoga.

"The race at Saratoga was heartbreaking. It was one of the worst stumbles I've ever seen," Bellhouse said. "He stumbled and somehow ended up almost underneath the horse next to him, the one Manny Franco was riding. Somehow Junior stayed on and Manny stayed on. It was a miracle."

West Point also has an ownership interest in French-bred colt Revolutionnaire, who may make his North American debut in the $215,000 Colonel Liam on the Fountain of Youth undercard. The Colonel Liam for 3-year-olds is scheduled for one mile on the grass.

"He's trained extremely well. I think [assistant trainer] Miguel [Clement] is going to work him on Saturday and then decide whether to enter or not," Bellhouse said. "He'll either go in that race or go to Tampa the following week. I would expect a good work on Saturday and you'll see him in the entry box."

2025 Fountain of Youth Nominations List

Feb 17 - Burnham Square (Whitham Thoroughbreds LLC), an impressive winner of the Feb. 1 Holy Bull (G3), leads a list of 32 3-year-olds nominated to the $415,000 Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) March 1 at Gulfstream Park.

The Ian Wilkes-trained son of Liam's Map overcame early bumping to rally from seventh under Edgard Zayas to win going away by 1 ¾ lengths in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull to establish himself as a prominent player on the Road to the Triple Crown. The 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth is the final local prep for the March 29 $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream.

Burnham Square entered the 2025 Holy Bull Stakes off a sharp nine-length maiden victory at the 1 1/16-mile distance Dec. 28 at Gulfstream while equipped with blinkers for the first time. He had run twice previously, finishing second in his debut at Keeneland Oct. 26 and third Nov. 30 at Churchill Downs, both times finishing less than a length behind the winners.

Wilkes confirmed Saturday following Burnham Square's first breeze since his Holy Bull score that the Fountain of Youth was the goal for the up-and-coming gelding.

Barnes (Zedan Racing Stables Inc), undefeated in two starts, is also prominent among the Fountain of Youth nominees. Trained by Bob Baffert, the son of Into Mischief debuted at Churchill Downs Nov. 27, rallying in the stretch to prevail by a head at 5 ½ furlongs. He came right back at Santia Anita Jan. 4 to win the seven-furlong San Vicente (G2), in which he pressed the pace and drew off to score by 5 ½ lengths.

Baffert is also represented on the Fountain of Youth nominations list by SF Racing LLC and partners' Rodriguez, who is coming off a second-place finish behind Baffert-trained Citizen Bull in the Feb. 1 Robert B. Lewis (G2) at Santa Anita.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, who has saddled four Fountain of Youth winners, has nominated WinStar Farm LLC and CHC Inc.'s undefeated River Thames to the Grade 2 feature, along with three others. River Thames rallied to win his Jan. 17 debut at six furlongs by 4 ¾ lengths before stretching out to a mile with an 8 ½-length romp in an optional claiming allowance on the Holy Bull undercard.

WinStar Farm LLC, CHC Inc. and Siena Farm LLC's Tappan Street, who finished second in the Holy Bull, and four other Brad Cox trainees have been nominated to the Fountain of Youth. The son of Into Mischief, who was favored at 8-5, raced wide before taking the lead in the stretch but was unable to hold off Burnham Square. Tappan Street had won on debut at Gulfstream Dec. 28.

Juddmonte's Burning Glory, whom Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott saddled for a third-place finish in the Holy Bull, and Jr Ranch, Marquee Bloodstock, High Stop Racing and OGMA Investments Inc.'s Ferocious, the Hopeful (G1) and Breeders' Futurity (G1) runner-up who finished fourth in the Holy Bull, are also Fountain of Youth nominees.

Mott is also represented on the Fountain of Youth nominations list by Godolphin's Sovereignty, who hasn't raced since capturing the 1 1/16-mile Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs Oct. 24.

Cyclone State (Gold Square LLC, George Messina and Michael Lee) has been nominated to the Fountain of Youth on a three-race winning streak at Aqueduct that includes a 3 ½-length score in the mile Jerome Jan. 4. Trainer Chad Summers is also represented on the nominations list by Gold Square LLC's Filoso, who finished third in the Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland last year and is training sharply at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County.

The Fountain of Youth will offer 50 Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points to the winner while headlining a blockbuster program with nine stakes, including three other Grade 2 events and four Grade 3 features.

The $215,000 Fasig-Tipton Davona Dale (G2), a mile stakes for 3-year-old fillies that offers 50 Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying points to the winner, attracted 17 nominations, including five Brad Cox trainees - Stonestreet Stables LLC's Eclatant, who won the Forward Gal (G3) at Gulfstream last time out; LNJ Foxwoods and Church Street Stable's Stunner, who finished second in the Forward Gal; Godolphin's Good Cheer, who extended her undefeated streak to five races with a victory in the Rachel Alexandra (G2) at Fair Grounds; Shadwell Stable's Muhimma, undefeated in three starts, including the Demoiselle (G2) at Aqueduct; and e Five Racing Thoroughbreds' Velvet Vortex, a recent debut winner at Fair Grounds.

The $215,000 Gulfstream Park Mile (G2) for 4-year-olds and up received 16 nominations. Cox is again well-represented by five nominees, including FMQ Stables Inc's Saudi Crown, a Grade 1 winner who finished sixth in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream last time out.

The $215,000 Mac Diarmida (G2), a 1 3/8 turf stakes for 4-year-olds and up, fielded 23 nominations, including Frankly Speaking LLC's Dashman, whom trainer Brian Lynch saddled for a victory in the Jan. 25 McKnight (G3) at Gulfstream.

The $215,000 Herecomesthebride (G3), a mile turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies, received 28 nominations, including D. J. Stable LLC and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Vixen, a 2 ½-length winner of the Feb. 1 Ginger Brew at Gulfstream for Hall of Fame Trainer Mark Casse.

The $165,000 Canadian Turf (G3), a turf stakes for 4-year-olds and up to be run at 1 1/16 miles, attracted 22 nominations, including Madaket Stables LLC, Michael Dubb and Richard Schermerhorn's Spirt of St. Louis, the winner of the Jan. 25 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream.

The $165,000 Honey Fox (G3), a mile turf feature for older fillies and mares, drew 23 nominations, including Resolute Racing and Miller Racing LLC's In Our Time and Shadwell Racing's Raqiya, who finished third and sixth, respectively, in the Jan. 25 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational (G2) at Gulfstream.

The $165,000 The Very One (G3), a 1 3/8-mile turf stakes for older fillies and mares, received 19 nominations, including Dixiana Farms LLC's Forever After All, whom Brendan Walsh saddled for a victory in the Jan. 25 La Prevoyante (G3) at Gulfstream.

The $215,000 Colonel Liam, a mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds, attracted 23 nominations, including Gary Barber's Mi Bago, who is coming off back-to-back victories in the Pulpit and Dania Beach Stakes for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse during the Championship Meet.

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Undefeated 3-Year-Old River Thames Eyes Fountain Of Youth

Feb 6 - WinStar Farm and CHC Inc.'s undefeated 3-year-old colt River Thames bounced out of his Feb. 1 optional claiming allowance victory in good order and will have plenty of options moving forward, Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said.

River Thames, a bay New York-bred son of Maclean's Music, romped by 6 ½ lengths as the favorite going one mile in 1:36.34 on the undercard of the $265,000 Holy Bull (G3), Gulfstream's latest stop on the road to the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) March 29.

Next up is the $415,000 Fountain of Youth (G2), also going 1 1/16 miles, March 1. It would be the first time around two turns for River Thames, who debuted with a 4 ¾-length triumph sprinting six furlongs Jan. 11 at Gulfstream before wheeling back three weeks later.

"I was a little concerned about coming back quick off a strong debut," Pletcher said. "There weren't too many options. There was a mile and an eighth [race] on Feb. 27, but we didn't want to wait that long and we didn't want to go from six to mile and an eighth. Other options were to go in the Holy Bull at a mile and a sixteenth or the Sam Davis. When the allowance race going a mile went, it seemed like a good natural progression.

"He came back great. I'll talk to [WinStar's] Elliott [Walden] a little bit and see how the horse trains the next couple weeks and come up with a game plan," he added. "We ran back in three weeks. It gives you four weeks to the Fountain of Youth from that race, eight weeks to the Florida Derby. There's obviously other prep races, as well. We're going to kind of just sit back and see, let him kind of guide us on when we think he wants to run back."

The situation is similar for Donegal Racing's Gate to Wire, rallying five-length winner of the seven-furlong Swale for 3-year-olds on the Holy Bull undercard. It was his first race on dirt after trying both turf and synthetic in four prior starts including a second in last fall's Futurity (G3) at Aqueduct.

"Same thing, we're weighing all our options," Pletcher said. "I talked to [Donegal's] Jerry Crawford [Wednesday] and over the next couple weeks we'll decide whether to consider the Fountain of Youth or keep him around one turn one more time. The Gotham is the same day up in New York, and the Tampa Bay Derby is a week later."

Meanwhile, Pletcher said no decision has been made on whether Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm's Grade 1-winning millionaire Locked, most recently second in Gulfstream's $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) Jan. 25, would run back in the Saudi Cup (G1) Feb. 22 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.

"We're just kind of monitoring everything, getting a line on the field, see how he's doing, probably give him a breeze Friday or Saturday. We're still looking at it," Pletcher said. "It's back in four weeks. We're going to wait as long as we can. We've done everything that we need to do to go if we decide to go."

Pletcher said the 1 ¼-mile Santa Anita Handicap (G1) March 1 could be a possibility if Locked stays home, as could some time off.