Updated:More Road to the Kentucky Derby..Fountain of Youth Stakes

Trapped at the office for the Fountain of Youth

It’s funny how the wind of change blow....this time yesterday I was under the impression that I’d be spending my Saturday afternoon eating cheese doodles, gambling fiercely and berating unsuccessful riders from the comfort of my own living room.

Instead I’m at the office chained to my desk missing key races on the road to the Kentucky Derby.

The 1 Mile Fountain of Youth Stakes @ Gulfstream Park and the 11/8 Mile Sham Stakes @ Santa Anita will both go off this afternoon with a host of talented three-year old some of whom are hot on the Derby trail.

The Sham field will rally around Derby outsiders: Front runner The Pamplemousse, Todd Pletcher Trainee Take The Points, The straight forward Smart Bid and Turfer Bourdon Bay.

The Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream which may actually go to post before this article does is full of legitimate Derby contenders. Speed demons Notonthesamepage and This Ones For Phil should be clubbing each other for the early lead; well jockey Julien Leparoux and his mount Capt. Candyman Can anxiously pursue a daunting pace. Entrants Beethoven and Quality Road could prove to be worthy adversaries in this spot despite neither having much of a chance of making the twenty horse Kentucky Derby field.

Zoltan Black

I will update this post with race result and hopefully video coverage as soon as they are available..

UPDATE:

The Founatin of Youth Stakes

Quality Road $13.00 was victorious in this afternoons Fountain of Youth Stakes out muscling the competition through the Gulfstream Strech (a quality that will be much sought after come derby day)

Theregoesjojo commanded second place well Beethoven lauched a bid from the back of the pack to rounded out the $261.20 trifecta payout.

The Sham Stakes

The Pamplemousse $3.00 fended off a stretch challenge from Take The Points to capture the Garde 3 Sham Stakes. The Pamplemousse broke from the gate alertly and controlled the pace under jockey Alex Solis coasting on the soft early fractions before turning away all challengers in the final stretch run. Todd Pletcher trained Garrett Gomez ridden Take The Points made an out of control stretch run bid but was denied by the firm running winner Pamplemousse in a battle that never really materialized.

Off Note: Despite the performance The Pamplemousse looks like a longshot at best in terms of Kentucky Derby contention however don’t be surprised to see The Pamplemousse leading the way when the Triple Crown circus roles into Elmont, New York for the Belmont Stakes in June