G2 Fountain of Youth Headlines 1/ST Saturday Program
At 0h03, on March 5, 2022 • By GULFSTREAM
Saturday’s inaugural 1/ST Saturday, an innovative collaboration between Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita, will offer Thoroughbred racing fans a chance to test their handicapping skills with the Coast-to-Coast All Dirt Stakes Pick 5 and Coast to Coast All Turf Stakes Pick 5.
The $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2), a tradition-rich prep for the April 2 $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) and Triple Crown, will headline Gulfstream’s 13-race program with a first-race post time of 12:10 p.m.
Tami Bobo’s Simplification, a gutsy second-place finisher in the Feb. 5 Holy Bull (G3) behind White Abarrio following a slow start and wide trip, has been installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite. The Antonio Sano-trained 3-year-old son of Not This Time scored an impressive front-running victory in the Jan. 1 Mucho Macho Man. WinStar Farm LLC and Siena Farm LLC’s Emmanuel, undefeated in two impressive career starts, is rated second in the morning line at 3-1 for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.
The Fountain of Youth, a 1 1/8-mile event that will offer 50 Kentucky Derby qualification points to the winner, drew a deep field of 12 sophomores, including Grade 1 stakes winner Rattle N Roll, who is slated to make his 2022 debut after winning the Breeders’ Cup Futurity (G1) at Keeneland in October.
The Fountain of Youth is one of eight graded stakes among a total of nine stakes on Gulfstream’s program, while the $650,000 Santa Anita Handicap (G1) will anchor a slate of six grades stakes at Gulfstream’s sister track.
