NEWS
Quality Road wins Fountain of Youth
Posted: Saturday, February 28, 2009 5:28 PM
QUALITY ROAD
Bob Coglianese photo
by Mike Curry
Quality Road capably handled a significant step up in class and soundly defeated a deep, talented field in a 4 1/4-length romp in the $250,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
The one-mile Fountain of Youth drew eight stakes winners, including three graded stakes winners, and was billed as a key race on the road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
Much of the attention leading up to the race was focused on graded stakes winners Capt. Candyman Can, Beethoven, and Break Water Edison as well as a trio of speedy stakes winners—This Ones for Phil, unbeaten Taqarub, and record-setting Notonthesamepage. But a pair of colts entering off a seven-furlong allowance race stole the show in the Fountain of Youth.
Quality Road stalked pacesetter This Ones for Phil through quick early fractions and powered well clear in the stretch en route to a convincing win in 1:35.01 on a track rated as fast. Making his stakes debut off a runner-up finish to Theregoesjojo in an allowance race at Gulfstream Park on January 10, Quality Road had all but cemented the victory by the eighth pole under John Velazquez.
"I knew we would have a lot of speed, but the trick was to settle him in there and make him relax,” Velazquez said.
Jimmy Jerkens trains Quality Road, who was sent off as the 5.50-to-1 fourth betting choice in the ten-horse field, for owner-breeder Edward P. Evans. Jerkens said the Florida Derby (G1) on March 28 at Gulfstream and the Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) on April 4 at Aqueduct are options for Quality Road.
“We've thought a lot of him from his first start,” Jerkens said. “He's got the pedigree to go on, but a one-turn mile is still basically a sprint and a lot different than going two turns. We missed the first deadline [for Triple Crown] nominations, but we'll put it up in March. It will just cost a little more."
Theregoesjojo surged into contention with a sweeping move on the turn and closed gamely to finish second. Trained by Ken McPeek, the Brahms colt was four lengths clear of third-place finisher Beethoven.
Hutcheson Stakes (G2) winner Capt. Candyman Can finished another length back in fourth, followed by Sunshine Millions Dash Stakes winner This Ones for Phil. Spectacular Bid Stakes winner Notonthesamepage faltered entering the stretch and finished seventh. Taqarub faded to ninth and 2008 Nashua Stakes (G3) winner Break Water Edison was eased in the stretch.
The Fountain of Youth was expected to feature a lively pace and that scenario quickly developed as This Ones for Phil, Taqarub, and Quality Road broke alertly and dueled for the early lead. This Ones for Phil seized command with Quality Road stalking in second, followed by Taqarub, Capt. Candyman Can, Break Water Edison and Notonthesamepage through an opening quarter in :23.83 and a half-mile in :45.55.
Taqarub faded on the turn and This Ones for Phil ran out of gas in early stretch as Quality Road accelerated to a clear advantage to record a dominant win in his third career start.
Quality Road boosted his earnings to $182,830 with two wins and one runner-up finish in three starts. He is out of the Strawberry Road (Aus) mare Kobla, a full sister to 1997 champion three-year-old filly Ajina.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
