A key prep on the Road to the Kentucky Derby is staged at Gulfstream Park this weekend, with the Fountain of Youth Stakes being staged over 1 1/16 miles in Florida. This has been a key prep for potential Derby contenders throughout history, with Orb becoming the fifth winner of both races in 2013.
Before Betting On Fountain of Youth Stakes
The Fountain of Youth has been a key trial for the Kentucky Derby throughout recent history, and there is a high-class field set to go to post at Gulfstream Park this weekend. Locked appears a standout selection for the team of Todd Pletcher and Jose Ortiz, with the runner returning after a long layoff following his third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Dornoch was one of the early standout performers on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, and his form from the win in the G2 Remsen Stakes is working out incredibly well, with the runner-up coming out and winning a Grade 2 recently. However, the three-year-old, for Danny Gargan, will encounter much different conditions than the muddy ground he won on previously.
A number of notable newcomers on the Road to the Kentucky Derby could raise interest this weekend. A standout pick on bare form appears to be Pletcher’s Speak Easy. The three-year-old clocked a field-high speed rating when winning a maiden special weight over seven furlongs at Gulfstream and further improvement is incredibly likely.
A number of last time out winners also make up the field this weekend, with Frankie’s Empire among those after winning the Swale Stakes. Merit also deserves respect for red-hot trainer Saffie Joseph, and he could bounce back after his third in allowance optional company on his previous start.
Fountain of Youth Stakes Offshore Odds & Pick
This is a really high-quality renewal of the Fountain of Youth, with Locked and Dornoch both bringing high quality form to the table. However, a chance is taken on Victory Avenue to overturn his form with Speak Easy over seven furlongs, as we believe the step up in distance could suit him more so than his rival.
