The road to the 2025 Kentucky Derby goes autobahn come March 1st.
Saturday Gulfstream Park will be one focal point on a nation-wide day of prep races as it hosts the 79th edition of the Fountain Of Youth Stakes.
The $415,000 dollar, Grade 2 Stakes run at 1 1/16 miles on dirt is the third of four preps at Gulfstream that offer qualifying points to the 151st Derby on May 3rd at Churchill Downs.
The Florida Derby follows the FOY on March 29th.
The Fountain of Youth distributes Derby points on a 50-25-15-10-5 basis to the top five finishers.
An astonishing 14 horses have come out of the FOY to Win the Derby, most recently MAGE in 2023, who finished 4th in the Fountain of Youth and then pulled off a 15-1 upset on the first Saturday in May.
Here is a brief look at Saturdays field:
1. GATE TO WIRE [ML 6-1] Jockey: Dylan Davis. Trainer: Todd Pletcher. His last out was his first attempt on dirt in the Swale Stakes at Gulfstream on February 1st. He seemed to take to the surface, with a powerful five-length Win at odds of 13-1. The Fountain of Youth will be the first start in a two-turn race for GATE TO WIRE and if he can handle the extra distance, (pedigree says he can) he’s got a chance to overshadow several more prominent contenders and post the upset.
2. SOVEREIGNTY [ML 3-1] Jockey: Junior Alvarado. Trainer: Bill Mott. Makes his 3-year-old debut after his last out on October 27th in the Street Sense Stakes, in which he rallied from off the pace to romp in a five length Victory. There’s always an element of uncertainty when a young, lightly raced horse returns after several months away as to whether they can re-start the maturation process, but if SOVEREIGNTY is good-to-go, he’ll be toward the top in the Fountain of Youth.
3. BURNHAM SQUARE [ML 5-2] Jockey: Edgar Zayas. Trainer: Ian Wilkes. This gelding is among the top Derby prospects heading into the Fountain of Youth after posting an impressive 1 ¾-length Win in the Holy Bull Stakes one month ago at Gulfstream. In that race BURNHAM SQUARE got off to a slow start in the 1 1/16-mile contest and had to settle far back off of the pace. Trailing the seven-horse field early on, he started to pick off horses on the backstretch. He swept into contention through the far turn and showed plenty of stamina in the final yards to Win going away.
4. MCKELLEN [ML 30-1] Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione. Trainer: Jose D’Angelo. Enters off of a 6th-place finish in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes January 4th at Gulfstream. He stalked the early leaders in that one-turn, one-mile race, but soon weakened and finished ahead of only one other entrant. He looks to get back on track after a clunker of an effort against a weak field in the Mucho Macho Man.
5. SOLID LEFT [ML 20-1] Jockey: Luis Saez. Trainer: Brian Lynch. He comes in off of a 2 ½-length Win in a 1 1/16-mile Allowance-optional claiming race January 26th at Gulfstream. He looked very professional in only his second career start and first try around two turns, patiently stalking the leaders through the backstretch under Saez, taking command at the top of the stretch, and fending off a challenger in the final furlong to prevail. This colt obviously has to improve significantly to be a factor in his Stakes debut against this group.
6. RIVER THAMES [ML 2-1] Jockey: John Velazquez. Trainer: Todd Pletcher. He’s not been tested in two starts so far, both coming on Gulfstream’s main track, first taking a six-furlong sprint January 11th by 4 ¾ lengths and then Winning a one-turn, one-mile race a month ago by a widening 6 ½ lengths. He was forwardly placed in both races by Johnny V. and took over at will when asked, and it’s a safe bet that Velazquez will attempt the same strategy as his colt extends to two turns Saturday.
7. NEOEQUOS [ML 10-1] Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr. In an FOY field lacking much speed, this sprinter could be the early leader as he tries a two-turn race for the first time in career start number six. NEOEQUOS was bumped and lost his jockey in his career debut, but since then has Won twice and finished 2nd twice, all of his starts coming on Gulfstream’s dirt main track. In his only start this year, he took the early lead in a six-furlong sprint Jan. 23 and extended it to the finish line, scoring by 3 ½ lengths on a sloppy track.
8. KEEP IT EASY [ML 8-1] Jockey: Corey Lanerie. Trainer: Dale Romans. He makes his 3-year-old debut, coming off of an impressive 5 ¼ length Victory at Churchill Downs in the 6 ½-furlong Ed Brown Stakes in November. Prior to that race, KEEP IT EASY Won one of three starts during summer 2024 and had an excuse in his prior Stakes race where he stumbled badly at the start. He’ll be stretching out around two turns and trying 1 1/16 miles for the first time Saturday after a layoff of three months, but his workouts since shipping to south Florida from Kentucky have been strong.
The Fountain Of Youth Stakes is listed as race 13 on a massive card of 14 with a scheduled Post Time of 5:45.
Best of luck however you play it.
