Bandini, High Fly are top draws for Fountain of Youth

Bandini, High Fly are top draws for Fountain of Youth

High Fly will attempt to get back to his winning ways in the Fountain of Youth (Eleanor Gustafson/Horsephotos.com) The Kentucky Derby (G1) trail picks up steam in South Florida Saturday with two events for three-year-olds, the $300,000 Fountain of Youth S. (G2) and $150,000 Swale S. (G2). In the Fountain of Youth, which has been extended to 1 1/8 miles this year, BANDINI (Fusaichi Pegasus) and HIGH FLY (Atticus) highlight a field of 11. The seven-furlong Swale features the unbeaten LOST IN THE FOG (Lost Soldier), who will square off against 10 opponents. A total of five graded stakes will be offered at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. Bandini will make his stakes bow in the Fountain of Youth off a smashing nine-length allowance win at nine furlongs on February 5. The Todd Pletcher-trained colt owns an overall mark of 3-2-0-0 and will have the services of John Velazquez. High Fly will seek to rebound from his first career setback, a third-place showing in the Holy Bull S. (G3), with new jockey Jerry Bailey. Now trained by Nick Zito, the chestnut colt made a very favorable impression when scorching his nearest rival by nine lengths in the one-mile Aventura S. in early January. The Fountain of Youth field, from the rail with riders and weights, is B. B. BEST (Yes It’s True), Jorge Chavez, 120; KANSAS CITY BOY (Boston Harbor), Brice Blanc, 116; GENERAL JOHN B. (Sweetsouthernsaint), Jose Santos, 122; PARK AVENUE BALL (Citidancer), Javier Castellano, 122; PAPI CHULLO (Comeonmom), Russell Baze, 116; DEFER (Danzig), Cornelio Velasquez, 120; High Fly, 120; Bandini, 116; WILD DESERT (Wild Rush), Pat Day, 116; DEAREST MON (Maria’s Mon), Ramon Dominguez, 116; and NATURAL PHENOMENON (Arch), Eibar Coa, 116. Lost in the Fog improved to three-for-three with a 4 1/2-length score in the six-furlong Sunshine Millions Dash and will attempt seven panels for the first time in the Swale. Trained by Greg Gilchrist, the Florida-bred colt broke his maiden at Golden Gate Fields and captured the Arizona Juvenile at Turf Paradise. He breaks from the far outside post on Saturday with regular rider Russell Baze.

Canadian stakes winner WHAT’S UP DUDE (Furiously), who carries 120 pounds,
will lead the post parade with Santos. Next comes SANTANA STRINGS (Wheaton),
Velazquez, 122; AROUND THE CAPE (Carson City), Coa, 116; B TRICK (Phone Trick),
Gerry Bacchas, 116; PORT TOWN (Louis Quatorze), Velasquez, 116; STRAIGHT LINE
(Boundary), Blanc, 118; UP LIKE THUNDER (War Chant), Joe Bravo, 116; EVIL
MINISTER (Deputy Minister), Bailey, 116; MORE SMOKE (Smoke Glacken), Clinton
Potts, 118; UNITED (Dixie Union), Ramon Dominguez, 116; and Lost in the Fog,
120.

Three-year-old fillies are under the spotlight in the Bonnie Miss S. (G2) and
Forward Gal S. (G2). The former takes place at nine furlongs and includes the
unbeaten PLEASANT CHIMES (Pleasant Tap), who has reeled off two straight wins at
Gulfstream for conditioner Mark Hennig. She’ll face six opponents in her stakes
bow.

The Bonnie Miss contestants, in post order, are COOL SPELL (Grand Slam),
Velasquez; ANNETTE’S JET (Golden Missile), Santos; ASPEN TREE (Holy Bull),
Castellano; Pleasant Chimes, Coa; JILL ROBIN L (Precocity), Bailey; IN THE GOLD
(Golden Missile), Day; and SWEET TALKER (Stormin Fever), Blanc.

All starters carry 116 pounds except In the Gold and Sweet Talker, who both
tote 118.

In the seven-furlong Forward Gal, MADDALENA (Good and Tough) puts her
unbeaten mark on the line against six rivals. Trained by Pletcher, the
chestnut speedball has compiled a trio of wins by daylight margins, including
the Old Hat S. (G3) in her most recent outing. She figures to go postward as a
heavy favorite under Velazquez.

Maddalena, who will carry 119 pounds, drew the innermost post. To her outside
in the starting gate are BIRD HARBOR (Boston Harbor), Day, 115; DIXIE GEMSTONE
(Grindstone), Potts, 115; LEONA’S KNIGHT (Suave Prospect), Carlos Olivero, 119;
HOT STORM (Stormy Atlantic), Bailey, 121; LITTLE MONEY DOWN (West Acre), Chavez,
115; and LETGOMYECHO (Menifee), Castellano, 115.

The $300,000 Gulfstream Park H. (G2) takes place one race before the Fountain
of Youth and contains nine older horses. Grade 3 hero EDDINGTON (Unbridled), who
comes off a third-place finish to Saint Liam (Saint Ballado) and Roses in May
(Devil His Due) in the Donn H. (G1), is the likely favorite for the 1 3/16-mile
contest. Other top contenders include ZAKOCITY (Precocity), who comes off a
close runner-up finish in the Sunshine Millions Classic, and multiple Grade 3
victor PIES PROSPECT (Crafty Prospector). Another entrant is Hawthorne Gold Cup
(G2) winner FREEFOURINTERNET (Tabasco Cat), who is a half-brother to Pleasant
Chimes.

The complete field, starting from the rail, is SEEK GOLD (Touch Gold), Larry
Melancon, 113; KENNEL UP (Joyeux Danseur), Chavez, 111; CONTANTE (Arg) (Interprete),
Ramon Dominguez, 114; Eddington, Coa, 115; Freefourinternet, Velasquez, 113;
Pies Prospect, Day, 113; Zakocity, Castellano, 117; COLLATERAL DAMAGE (Cobra
King), Blanc, 113; and CLASSIC ENDEAVOR (Silver Buck), Velazquez, 118.