The 2013 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) is one of the major tune-ups for the Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park. The Fountain of Youth Stakes is for three year old colts and gelding and will run on February 23, 2013. The race is set for 1 1/16 miles on the dirt.

The following horses have been entered:

1. Orb will be making his stakes debut for trainer Shug McGaughey. The Malibu Moon colt took four tries to break his maiden at Aqueduct. His first was at Saratoga where he placed 3rd, then 4th at Belmont Park, 4th again at Aqueduct before finally breaking through. His win was going a mile on the dirt. He was off for two months before popping up at Gulfstream Park where he won again in an Allowance Optional Claiming $75,000 going 1 1/18 miles on the dirt. It was an impressive last to first performance. You have to like that he is getting better as distances get longer.

2. Joshua’s Compromise has already raced 16 times in his career and he just turned three years old. He ran 14 times as a two year old and his only win came in an Allowance at Calder on September 30. His first start at three came in a 4th place result in the Gulfstream Park Derby. He followed it up by finishing 4th yet again in the Holy Bull Stakes at odds of 132/1. He was beaten 14 lengths for the win, but he did finish ahead of Bern Identity, Frac Daddy and Dewey Square. He’s been in the money 7 of 16 races, but just one win to show for it.

3. Violence could be the best Pletcher horse and he’s only run three times. The Medaglia d’Oro colt broke his maiden at Saratoga in August going seven furlongs. 2 1/2 months later he returned to win the Nashua Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct going a mile. He was shipped to Southern California to run in the 1 1/16 miles CashCall Futurity (G1) at BetFair Hollywood Park. He won by 1 1/4 lengths. Each time, he sat off the early leaders and made strong moves at the top of the stretch. He should be ready to go and firing on all cylinders in this race.

4. Majestic Hussar broke his maiden first out at Saratoga for trainer Eddie Kenneally last August. The Majestic Warrior colt ran 7th in a deep field for the Three Chimneys Hopeful Stakes (G2) at Saratoga. He missed three months and returned to finish 2nd behind Falling Sky in an Allowance Optional Claiming $75,000 at Gulfstream. Falling Sky won the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on February 2. His first start at three was a gate to wire win in a Allowance Optional Claiming $75,000.

5. Elmutahid broke through with a maiden win in his fifth attempt at Gulfstream Park. The Street Cry (IRE) colt trained by Kiaran McLaughlin and owned by Shadwell Stable finished 7th in his debut at Belmont Park last July. Followed it up with 2nd place at Saratoga, 3rd back at Belmont and 6th at Gulfstream Park before getting his first win. The maiden race was 1 1/8 miles on the dirt where he went gate to wire on quick early fractions. No other horse had enough to catch up in the end and he cruised to win by 4 1/4 lengths. Which horse will show up? The one that has finished off the board twice or the one that finished in the top three on three occasions.

6. Cerro (IRE) comes in after taking his first win on American soil. He broke his maiden first out in Milan last June. Was sold and brought to trainer Graham Motion and ran a distant 6th in at Belmont Park in the Pilgrim Stakes (G3) on October 8. He shipped with the stable to Gulfstream Park and ran 4th in an Allowance Optional Claiming $75,000 on turf. He switched to dirt in his next try and that didn’t seem to help much. He ran 3rd beaten 6 1/2 lengths. However, remaining on dirt for another try did seem to work. he Mr. Greeley colt took the early lead this time and never looked back. Went gate to wire and won by 2 1/2 lengths over the 1 1/8 miles dirt race. He finished with a time of 1:50.29.

7. Sky Captain couldn’t make up enough ground on Cerro (IRE) in that last AOC race on January 26. The Sky Mesa colt trained by Mark Casse did finish well ahead of the rest of the field. His first two races occurred last summer at Churchill Downs where he finished 4th in his debut, but won in the follow up going six furlongs. He missed 5 1/2 months before running in an AOC $75,000 at Gulfstream against two in this field (winner Falling Sky, 2nd Majestic Hussar). Can he improve off the last race? Casse seems to think so despite not getting the win.

8. Speak Logistics might quickly turn around and enter this race after a 4th place finish in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs. It was the first start since finishing 7th in the BC Juvenile for the High Cotton colt. He was in tight from the far turn and down the stretch and din’t have much room left when he was finally given room to run. He won two races at two including the Florida Stallion In Reality Stakes at Calder Racecourse in October. Trained by Ed Plesa.

9. He’s Had Enough is shipping in from Southern California for trainer Doug O’Neill. The gray Tapit colt finished 3rd in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita on February 2 after a two month rest. He broke his maiden on dirt first out at Del Mar last summer. An interesting move to test the grass next out resulted in a 6th place finish in the Oak Tree Juvenile Turf Stakes at Del Mar. He then shipped to Kentucky where he ran 11th in the Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland on the all weather. He shipped back to Santa Anita and ran an impressive 2nd to Shanghai Bobby in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) on dirt. Six weeks later he ran 5th in the CashCall Futurity (G1) at BetFair Hollywood Park. Now he ships once again across the country. The plan for this colt was not mapped out well. Hopefully the travel and different surfaces don’t hinder his abilities. He’s certainly shown he can run with the cream of the crop.

10. Falling Sky comes off a solid gate to wire effort in defeating Dynamic Sky in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs on February 2. He covered the 1 1/16 miles dirt race in 1:44.79. It was his 3rd win in 4 races for the Lion Heart colt with the others coming in an AOC $75,000 at Gulfstream Park on December 15 and his maiden win at Calder Race Course on November 1. The other race for the John Terranova trained colt was a 4th in the Inaugural Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs going six furlongs. He’s now shown he can run middle and long distances. He will be a force to reckon with on race day.

11. Sr. Quisqueyano has been a consistent performer on the entry level stakes level by winning an Allowance and Seacliff Stakes at Calder, with three other runner-up performances to add to his resume. The Exclusive Quality colt trained by Luis Olivares ran well in the Gulfstream Park Derby, but was clearly 2nd best to Itsmyluckyday. He was overmatched in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park where he finished a well beaten 8th. Don’t see him making much noise in here.

ORDER OF FINISH

1. Orb
2. Violence
3. Speak Logistics
4. Majestic Hussar
5. He’s Had Enough
6. Cerro (IRE)
7. Sr. Quisqueyano
8. Joshua’s Compromise
9. Elmutahid

Falling Sky & Sky Captain were SCRATCHED

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