Graded Stakes Spotlight: The Fountain of Youth Stakes.

Runners stream past the stands in the first running of the $12 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream in 2017.

Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes: March 5th, 2022, Post Time: 5:42 PM EST at Gulfstream Park in Florida.

Purse: $400,000

Distance: 1 1/16th miles

Surface: Dirt

Age: 3 year-olds

Here is the field for the 80th running of the G2 Fountain of Youth Stakes:

1. Markhamian (Social Inclusion): (J) M. Meneses, (T) J C Avila. 3; 2–1–0. Last out won the Pasco Stakes (Black Type) with a speed figure of 91.
2. Simplification (Not This Time): (J) J. L Ortiz, (T) A Sano. 5; 2–1–1. Last out placed second in the G3 Holy Bull Stakes with a speed figure of 95.
3. Howling Time (Not This Time): (J) J. Talamo, (T) D. Romans. 3; 2–0–0. Last out placed fifth in the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes with a speed figure of 86.
4. In Due Time (Not This Time): (J) P. Lopez, (T) K. Breens. 3; 2–0–1. Last out won an allowance optional claiming race with a speed figure of 100.
5. Dean Delivers (Cajun Breeze): (J) M. Vasquez, (T) M Yates. 4; 1–3–0. Last out placed second in the G3 Swale Stakes with a speed figure of 95.
6. Rattle N Roll (Connect): (J) B. Hernandez, (T) K. McPeek. 4; 2–0–1. Last out won the G1 Breeders Futurity with a speed figure of 100.
7. A.P.’s Secret (Cupid): (J) T. Gaffalione, (T) S. Joseph, Jr. 3; 2–1–0. Last out won an allowance optional claiming with a speed figure of 98.
8. Emmanuel (More Than Ready): (J) L. Saez, (T) T. Pletcher. 2;2–0–0. Last out won an allowance optional claiming with a speed figure of 98.
9. High Oak (Gormley): (J) J. Alvarado, (T) B. Mott. 3; 2–0–0. Last out placed fourth in the G1 Hopeful Stakes with a speed figure of 75.
10. Giant Game (Giant’s Causeway): (J) C. Lanerie, (T) D Romans. 4; 1–0–2. Last out placed eighth in the G3 Holy Bull Stakes with a speed figure of 64.
11. O Captain (Carpe Diem): (J) J. Castellano, (T) G. Delgado. 2; 1–0–1. Last out placed third in the Limehouse Stakes (Black Type) with a speed figure of 73.
12. Galt (Medaglia d’Oro): (J) J Rosario, (T) B Mott). 4; 1–0–0. Last out placed fourth in the G3 Holy Bull Stakes with a speed figure of 93.

Homestretch Handicapper’s Thoughts.

The horse to beat, in my opinion, is Rattle N Roll. Not only is this son of Connect impressive on paper, he has shown the ability to clear a field with a swift turn-of-foot. His most notable win is in the G1 Breeders’ Futurity, which is ran at the same distance as the Fountain of Youth.

Watch the race and you will see him going into the final turn, fifth and three-wide. By the time they are out of the turn and into the stretch, he has captured the lead and continued to gain lengths with every stride.

One competitor that will be competently stepping up in class is Emmanuel, a horse that has obliterated the field in his previous races with enough left over. He has not ran more than 1 mile and 40 yards, but I do not think that added distance will be an issue. A stunning runner, I think the only concern is he hasn’t ran against anyone that talented and the field in the Fountain of Youth will be a good challenge.

A long shot that I find to have an impressive fight to win is Markhemian. He has consistently shown up and made an effort every time he is asked. Even though he has not ran more than 7 furlongs, I don’t think the added distance is going to stop the drive of this horse.

Another horse to look out for is Howling Time, one of the three Not This Time contenders, who has a solid chance as long as he is ran from off the pace. If they push him to the front, he will not have the energy for the distance but is a strong competitor if they run him with more of a stalker-style.

Lastly, I would not discount In Due Time, another of the three Not This Time contenders. Of his races, the most impressive was his most recent where he cleared the field with a speed figure of 100. I think if he gets a clear trip for the Fountain of Youth, he could easily make it in the money, but that is if he can handle that distance to begin with.

Homestretch Handicapper’s Final Picks:

1. Rattle N Roll (Connect) ML Odds: 8/1
2. Markhemian (Social Inclusion) ML Odds: 20/1
3. Emmanuel (More Than Ready) ML Odds: 3/1

Brief History of the Fountain of Youth Stakes:

Inaugurated in 1945, the Fountain of Youth Stakes is the final preparation for the G1 Florida Derby, and the G1 Kentucky Derby through the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Since its start, the race as been run 79 times — as of 2021. There were three years it did not run at all (1946, 1948 and 1952) and then was split into two races for five different years (1947, 1953, 1983, 1986 and 1993).

The distance of which it was run has been changed various times as well, starting with its inaugural year in 1945, where it ran at 1 1/16th miles. Then in 1947, when the race was split into two for the first time, one ran at 6 furlongs and the other ran at 1 mile and 70 yards. This did not remain, as 1950 and 1951 it was ran at 7 furlongs.

After 1951, the Fountain of Youth Stakes ran at the 1 1/16th mile distance up until 2005, where it switch to 1 1/8th miles from 2005 to 2008 then 2010–2011. The anomaly year between then, 2009, was ran at a mere one mile and won by Quality Road (Elusive Quality). Since 2012, the race has been back at its original distance of 1 1/16th miles.

There have been four colts to go on to win the Kentucky Derby from winning the Fountain of Youth Stakes, including: Tim Tam (Tom Fool) in 1958, Kauai King (Native Dancer) in 1966, Spectacular Bid (Bold Bidder) in 1979 and Thunder Gulch (Gulch) in 1995.

Some other notable winners of the Fountain of Youth Stakes is Proud Truth (Graustark) who would go on to win the 1985 G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic. Then Bet Twice (Sportin’ Life) who would be known for his rivalry with Alysheba (Alydar). They raced each other nine times and Bet Twice defeated him three of those times — including taking away Alysheba’s Triple Crown chances with a win in the 1987 G1 Belmont Stakes by 14 lengths.

The speed record for the 1 1/16th distance for the Fountain of Youth Stakes is by Sensitive Prince (Majestic Prince) in 1978, with a time of 1.41.00. Since 2012, the closest to reach that time was in 2014 with Wildcat Red (D’Wildcat) with a time of 1:41.85.

Comment below who you think will win the 2022 Fountain of Youth Stakes on Saturday!