Browse entries for the $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stocks (G2) at Gulfstream Park showed a very interesting participant in the 5-2 morning favorites stream, Mo Donegal .
But looks can be deceiving.
As much as the son of Donegal Racing Uncle Mo was entered on February 28 in a 1/16 mile bet at Gulfstream Park, winner Remsen Stakes (G2) may not be in hand on March 5 when the field is broken from the starting gate.
Jerry Crawford, CEO of Donegal, said Monday he will speak with coach Todd Pletcher on March 1 after the entries are announced to decide if Mo Donegal will run on Saturday. or not.
In a perfect world, Crawford would prefer another race for Mo Donegal, who finished third with 4 and a half in length while making his 3-year-old debut in Holy Bull Stakes (G3) on February 5 at the Park Gulfstream. But other options are limited.
“If I could, I’d run Mo Donegal longer than a mile sixteen,” Crawford said. “I want to run in a race without a short. I want to run on a track that isn’t about speed. Let’s just say, Fountain of Youth isn’t the perfect scenario for our horse.”
Doesn’t help the decision is to land column 12 when field 13 (with one also eligible participant) is drawn on Monday.
But if it’s not the Fountain of Youth, then what? Especially with Crawford hoping to use the April 9 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino (G2) at Aqueduct race track was Mo Donegal’s final preparations for the 7 May Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).
The March 12 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) is also at 1/16 of a mile and, with just 12 points in qualifying for the Kentucky Derby, training to Wood could pose a risk on a $250,000 buy at Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
“If we train to Wood and something goes wrong, we can wish we’d won some more points (Kentucky Derby) before that,” Crawford said.
Mo Donegal, bred in Kentucky by Ashview Farm and Colts Neck Stables, is currently 10th on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard. His 12 points total is unlikely to make it into the Top 20 in normal years, but this was no typical Triple Crown chase with a total of 83 points having been vacated by horses that failed to qualify for the race. coached by Bob Baffert and most likely will happen many weeks ago.
A total of 85 Kentucky Derby qualifying points will be won at the Fountain of Youth, with 50 going to the winner, which will guarantee the 3-year-old a spot in the Run for the Roses.
With or without Mo Donegal, the Fountain of Youth painted a solid field that included another participant from Pletcher on an undefeated position. Emmanuel . Owned by WinStar Farm and Siena Farm, son of More than ready will be tested in joint stock company for the first time after posting an optional bonus claim win at Tampa Bay Downs and a first win at Gulfstream Park.
“He broke his maidenhood here. We know he loves the track,” Pletcher said of the 9-2 third pick in the Fountain of Youth. “We like the Fountain of Youth timing. It puts him in a good position, if he runs well enough, to watch the Florida Derby (G1).
“He’s got a bit of a bigger physical presence than a lot of the More Than Readys we’ve had,” Pletcher added. “He’s a good sized, strong pony with a much more ready stance. He’s a very outspoken, very professional and intelligent pony.”
Simplify winning the 2022 Mucho Macho Man Stake at Gulfstream Park
This field also includes Tami Bobo’s Simplify (7-2) second in 1/16 km of Holy Bull, ahead of Mo Donegal.
Coach Antonio Sano said: “The bad news in his last race, he didn’t win. The good news is we know he can run from the back and run in front.” “Every day, he’s a more serious horse. Maybe he was a little green before, but now, he’s more focused. He’s a different horse from all the horses I have. .”
Edge Racing’s During due (6-1) will also debut his stakes for coach Kelly Breen, try two turns for the first time after impressive allowance on February 4, claiming a win over the underrated player high American symbol at Gulfstream Park.
The starters also included a promising pair of 1st and 2nd graders when they made their 3-year-old debut.
Lucky Seven Racing’s Rattle N Roll (12-1) will have its first match since a lengthy 1/4 win in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) in October.
Coach Kenny McPeek said: “He’s a beautiful horse. He’s a setup horse.” “He needs speed up front. That’s out of our control, but we’re looking to get him two races ahead of Kentucky and go from there.”
LRE Racing and JEH Racing Stable’s Tall oak wood (8-1) won the Saratoga Special Stake presented by Miller Lite (G2) before wrapping up his underage campaign with fourth place in the Hope Stake (G1) for coach Bill Mott.
Coach Dale Romans Will Send A Pair In The Albaugh Family Cage’ Howl time and West Point Thoroughbreds and Albaugh Family Stables’ Giant game who placed third in the TVG Breeders Cup Juvenile Tournament presented by the Post-Pure Care Alliance (G1).
Howling Time (15-1) hasn’t raced since the fifth in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) on November 27, while the Giant Game (15-1) is the eighth to be beaten well at Holy Bull.
Also among the participants was Gentry Farm’s AP’s Secret who has won 2 of 3 career starts, all at Gulfstream, for coach Saffie Joseph Jr., and OXO Equine’s Galt a full brother of Songbird coached by Mott, who is also on the post 13 qualifying list and will need a scratch to run.
Item: Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. (G2)
Gulfstream ParkSaturday, March 5, 2022, Race 12
- Level II
- 1 1/16m
- Dust
- 400,000 dollars
- 3 yo
- 5:42 pm (local)
