NEWS

Deep field in Fountain of Youth

Posted: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 4:43 PM

CAPT. CANDYMAN CAN

Bob Coglianese photo

by Mike Curry

With a deep, talented field slated to contest the $250,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) on Saturday at Gulfstream Park, the one-mile race figures to be a key stop on the road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).

The Fountain of Youth, a one-turn mile on the dirt main track, drew a field of 12 that features runners with class, speed, and, of course, plenty of promise.

Led by Hutcheson Stakes (G2) winner Capt. Candyman Can, who ranks sixth among the top 20 contenders on the THOROUGHBRED TIMES Road to the Triple Crown poll, the Fountain of Youth drew eight stakes winners.

Capt. Candyman Can won the Iroquois Stakes (G3) as a juvenile for trainer Ian Wilkes and closed his two-year-old campaign with a third-place finish in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) on November 29 at Churchill Downs. The Candy Ride (Arg) gelding was beaten by a half-length in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, which was won by fellow Fountain of Youth contender Beethoven. Capt. Candyman Can won the Hutcheson by 1 1/2 lengths on January 30 in his season debut.

Beethoven and Break Water Edison are the other graded stakes winners entered in the Fountain of Youth. Beethoven, a Sky Mesa colt trained by John Ward, will attempt to improve upon a fourth-place finish in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) on January 31 at Gulfstream Park. Ranked 13th in the THOROUGHBRED TIMES poll, Beethoven lost considerable ground in the Holy Bull after breaking from the far outside post in the 11-horse field.

Break Water Edison’s trainer, John Kimmel, said on Monday he was concerned about a different potential problem—the Lemon Drop Kid colt getting trapped down on the inside. Kimmel said he thinks Break Water Edison’s two worst performances—unplaced finishes in the Champagne Stakes (G1) and Hutcheson—might be due to starting from the inside post.

Kimmel said he would consider scratching the 2008 Nashua Stakes (G3) winner if he drew post one or two, but he will not have to make the decision after Break Water Edison drew post eight for the Fountain of Youth.

The Fountain of Youth should feature plenty of pace as This Ones for Phil, Notonthesamepage, and unbeaten Taqarub all enter off visually impressive victories in six-furlong stakes.

Taqarub led at every call while winning the Jimmy Winkfield Stakes on January 19 at Aqueduct as did Notonthesamepage while winning the Spectacular Bid Stakes by 8 1/4 lengths on January 3 at Gulfstream.

This Ones for Phil stumbled at the start of the Sunshine Millions Dash Stakes, but regrouped to stalk the pace en route to a comfortable score on January 24 at Gulfstream. The speedy trio will be joined by front-running Quality Road, while Todd Pletcher’s impressive allowance winner Take the Points, Capt. Candyman Can, and Rocketing Returns also normally run close to the pace.

Take the Points is cross-entered in the $200,000 Sham Stakes (G3) on Saturday at Santa Anita Park.

The abundance of pace could set up for a contender closing from off the pace, such as Beethoven, Break Water Edison, Hutcheson third-place finisher Bee Cee Cee, turf stakes winner Jack Spratt, or trainer Ken McPeek’s highly touted allowance winner Theregoesjojo.

A Brahms colt, Theregoesjojo won his career debut at Churchill Downs before finishing fourth in the Bashford Manor Stakes (G3) in July, also at Churchill. He returned from a layoff of six moths with a 2 3/4-length win in a seven-furlong allowance race at Gulfstream Park on January 10.

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor

Fountain of Youth S.