Fountain of Youth J

AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

A loaded field of 12 sophomores will line up in the $250,000 Fountain of
Youth S. (G2) at Gulfstream on Saturday in one of the most anticipated events of
the three-year-old season to date. A dizzying array of talent and speed will
line up in this one-mile test, and we feel compelled to find value in here.

We absolutely freaked over the debut of QUALITY ROAD (Elusive Quality) in
November, when the Jimmy Jerkens trainee annihilated a well-meant, 13-horse
maiden bunch under a hand ride. The well-bred bay returned last out in an
allowance race over this strip and missed the break, rushed up the rail and
dueled for the entirety of the seven furlongs, before ultimately settling for
the place spot in a solid showing. He’s since come back with a quintet of works,
including three smokers in advance of this. We really like the outside draw for
this one, as he might get first run turning for home beneath John Velazquez, and
the addition of Lasix rarely hurts a horse.

TAQARUB (Aldebaran) has yet to be headed in three lifetime starts and is
working up a storm for Kiaran McLaughlin. The well-bred bay trounced an
overmatched group in the Jimmy Winkfield S. at Aqueduct last out, and we feel
that he’s the speed of the speed on this occasion. A lot of this race comes down
to the opening quarter-mile — if this one breaks on top and the jockeys aboard his pace
foes decide to let him go rather than duel, he might run this field off their
respective feet. Alan Garcia retains the mount.

CAPT. CANDYMAN CAN (Candy Ride [Arg]) looked superb in his Hutcheson S. (G2) score
and looks live once again for Ian Wilkes. The talented gelding, who bagged the
Iroquois S. (G3) as a juvenile, settled nicely last out and that will be
essential in here, because he will almost surely be outfooted leaving the
gate. If the bay receives a good trip under Julien Leparoux, we view him as a
huge win threat. 

The wildcard in this one is Nashua S. (G3) star BREAK WATER EDISON (Lemon
Drop Kid), who has been as inconsistent as a horse can be for John Kimmel. When
the talented colt is right, he’s very good, as evidenced by his Nashua score, huge
second in the Saratoga Special S. (G2) and solid fourth in the Hopeful S. (G1).
But when he’s not on his game, he throws in such clunkers as his non-factoring eighth in the
Champagne S. (G1) and last in the recent Hutcheson. He loses Garcia to Taqarub
and adds blinkers, so we have no idea what to expect from him on this day. But
we feel strongly that he will love the smoking early tempo under Eibar Coa,
before closing late, so he’s in all of our plays at a healthy price. Note that
he performs best when drawn toward the outside, as he is on Saturday.

THEREGOESJOJO (Brahms) looked good in taking a high-level allowance race over
Quality Road here in his sophomore bow, but the bay was the beneficiary of a perfect
trip last out and we can’t expect such a scenario to unfold on this occasion.
The Ken McPeek charge has ability and should have little trouble negotiating
another furlong in this test, but we’d prefer to include him on the
bottom of the vertical exotics.

THIS ONES FOR PHIL (Untuttable) might have moved up considerably with the
switch to Richard Dutrow, or he may have simply landed in the right spot at the
right time in the Sunshine Millions Dash. It’s difficult to tell, but there is no taking away
from the fact that
the gelding earned a stellar 111 BRIS Speed number for his efforts. The chestnut
is bred to run at least this far, so the distance should be of no concern, and
he reportedly hasn’t missed a beat in advance of this. If he and Edgar Prado can
overcome the widest post, they’ll be live once again.

Grade 2 victor BEETHOVEN (Sky Mesa) has been a model of consistency in his
last five tries for John Ward. The bay put in a fine fourth-place showing in the
Holly Bull S. (G3) last out from a nightmare post position, and he now cuts back
to one turn while drawn infinitely better in this one. We expect Beethoven to sit
well off the early tempo and try to make one run to the wire, and that strategy
could lead to a top three placing beneath Calvin Borel.

NOTONTHESAMEPAGE (Catienus) is pure speed and earned a whopping 109 Speed number for his rout in the Spectacular Bid S. for Wesley Ward. He is the
inside speed in this spot, but will likely have plenty of
company early and often in this rich field, and we’re not sure if he’ll be able
to withstand the heat for the entire eight furlongs. Elvis Trujillo has the
call.

JACK SPRATT (Candy Ride [Arg]) has never run a bad one and sports a really
interesting pedigree for the high-percentage Michael Maker. The dark bay has
raced solely on turf and synthetic surfaces leading up to this one but has earned a
right to try the main oval on this occasion. The colt won from the 13 post last
out and has been pointed toward this event since his win in the Dania Beach S.,
so he could rally for a piece off of the expected torrid early pace.

ROCKETING RETURNS (Gone West) was not much of a factor in the Hutcheson most recently and will need much better for Nick Zito to impact this
outcome. The bay gets a rider switch to Jose Lezcano and an extra furlong to work with, but he
still seems like a bit of an outsider at this stage of the game.

BEE CEE CEE (Songandaprayer) is drawn on the rail in here for Eddie Plesa
Jr., but even a dream, rail-skimming trip would only find the Florida-bred
competing for minor awards against these runners.

TAKE THE POINTS (Even the Score), who was entered only as an insurance
policy, shipped to Santa Anita for Saturday’s nine-furlong Sham S. (G3).