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FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH February 22, 2014
Derby qualifying points: 50-20-10-5 STAKES HISTORY
Union Rags launched his 2012 Belmont-winning season in the FoY.
KEY INGREDIENTS TO THE FoY: The first ―biggie‖ of the trail, big-time horsemen circle this date. From 2005-‘09, the Fountain of Youth distance made it a square peg in a round hole on the schedule – toyed between a too-far, too-soon 1 1/8 miles and a one-turn mile that wasn‘t demanding enough. Gulfstream moved its finish poles for 1 1/16 miles races two years ago, and that‘s solved some of the distance quandaries, but the configuration favors inside speed to a fault. Super horses like Orb and Union Rags overcame it.
HANDICAPPER’S AIDES: Last 10 Fountain of Youth Winners
MOST RECENT RENEWAL: Eventual Kentucky Derby winner Orb took advantage of a suicidal pace to wear down the undefeated favorite Violence in an effort that gained him national attention for the first time. While the effort was a springboard to glory for Orb, Violence, who was considered Todd Pletcher‘s best Kentucky Derby hope, was injured and soon retired.
Last 10 Fountain of Youth Stakes Winners’ Preps
TRIPLE CROWN IMPACT: Even losing stars like Eskendereya and Quality Road to injuries, the FoY remains stout. Since ‗10:
Ky Derby: Orb (1st, ‘13), Union Rags (7th, ‘12), Shackleford (4th, ‘11), Soldat (11th, ‘11), Ice Box (2nd ‘10), Jackson Bend (12th, ‘10)
Preakness: Orb (4th, ‘13), Shackleford (1st, ‘11), Jackson Bend (3rd, ‘10), Aikenite (10th, ‘10), Pleasant Prince (11th, ‘10)
Belmont: Orb (3rd, ‘13), Union Rags, (1st, ‘12), Ice Box (8th, ‘10)
‘13 Orb Velazquez ‘12 Union Rags Leparoux ‘11 Soldat Garcia ‘10 Eskendereya Velazquez ‘09 Quality Road Velazquez ‘08 Cool Coal Man Desormeaux ‘07 Scat Daddy Velazquez ‘06 First Samurai Prado ‘05 High Fly Bailey ‘04 Read The Footnotes Bailey ‘13 Orb 1st ‘12 Union Rags 2nd ‘11 Soldat 1st ‘10 Eskendereya 1st ‘09 Quality Road 2nd ‘08 Cool Coal Man 1st ‘07 Scat Daddy 3rd ‘06 First Samurai 2nd ‘05 High Fly 3rd ‘04 Read The Footnotes 1st
BRIS Fig
McGaughey Matz McLaughlin Pletcher Pletcher Zito Pletcher Brothers Zito Violette
102 103 104 103 110 100 101 102 105 108
AOC (GP) BC Juvenile (CD) ALW (GP) ALW (GP) ALW (GP) ALW (GP) Holy Bull (GP) Hutcheson (GP) Holy Bull (GP) Remsen (Aqu)
Inside the Fountain of Youth Stakes For all the big name winners—and there‘s been plenty—it‘s somewhat surprising to see that many of them exited the Allowance ranks. A race over the local oval seems preferred, and eight of the past 10 winners were 4th or better at the pace call. Countdown for the Fountain of Youth 70 days until Derby 84 days until Preakness 105 days until Belmont