Tag: Triple Crown

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Forte is slated to make his 3-year-old debut in Saturday's $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park, seeking to build on his championship juvenile season.

The 2022 Eclipse Award 2-year-old champion is the 7-5 morning-line favorite for the 1 1/16-mile stakes for sophomores, which will headline a program with nine stakes, including eight graded stakes, worth $1.85 million in purses.

First-race post time for the 14-race Fountain of Youth program is set for 11 a.m. (ET)>

The Fountain of Youth, the dress rehearsal for the $1-million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) April 1 at Gulfstream, offers 100 qualifying points for this year's Kentucky Derby (G1), with 50 points going to the winner, 20 to the runner-up, 15 to the third-place finisher, 10 to the fourth-place finisher, and 5 to the fifth-place finisher.

Forte is scheduled to meet nine rivals in the 76th running of the Fountain of Youth while making his first start since clinching the 2-year-old title with a 1 ½-length victory over heavily favorite Cave Rock in the Nov. 4 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Keeneland.

“He seems to be thriving right now,” said Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher before Forte drew the No. 4 post position Saturday afternoon. “I hope he can continue on that trajectory. We're super-pleased with the way he's coming into the race.”

Forte won four of five starts during his championship juvenile season that was launched with a 7 ¾-length victory at Belmont Park last May. After finishing fourth in the six-furlong Sanford (G2), he rallied from off the pace to win the seven-furlong Hopeful (G1) at Saratoga. He polished off a stellar campaign with a pair of off-the-pace scores around two turns in the Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1).

“Physically, he's done well. He's put on some weight. He's always been a leggy colt, so I wouldn't say he's grown height-wise, but he has filled out. He reminds me of his sire,” said Pletcher, who trained Violence, a Grade 1 winner who finished second, a half-length behind Orb, in the 2013 Fountain of Youth (G2). “He's a super intelligent colt, very easy to train, very straightforward. He's very willing when you want him to be.”

Having built a solid foundation while gaining extensive race experience during his juvenile season, Forte is scheduled for two starts leading up to the Kentucky Derby.

“That afforded us a little time for him to freshen up. With that type of seasoning, I'm very comfortable with two races leading up, hopefully, to the Derby,” Pletcher said. “We've approached it from various angles and felt like this was the right path for him. So far everything has been going to plan. Hopefully, it continues to do that.”

Pletcher has saddled three Fountain of Youth winners – Itsaknockout (2016), Eskendereya (2010) and Scat Daddy (2007), who went on to give his trainer one of his record six victories in the Florida Derby.

Irad Ortiz Jr., who was aboard for Forte's five races last season, has the return call for the Fountain of Youth.

Frank Fletcher Racing Operations Inc.'s Rocket Can (Post No. 8; 8-1) enters the Fountain of Youth off a gutsy half-length victory in the Feb. 4 Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the son of Into Mischief raced considerably wide thorough the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull but kicked in through the stretch to win by three-quarters of a length under Junior Alvarado in his 2023 debut.

“The first race back down here wasn't that hard on him, and he seems to have recovered fairly well,” Mott said. “A lot of times the first race will tire them out a little, but he seems to come back good, so hopefully he moves forward a little more.”

Alvarado expressed admiration for Rocket Can's performance in the face of adversity.

“I was very pleased with that race. He won, and a lot of people say it was a slow number here and there. But if you actually pay attention to the race, I was probably seven, eight-wide on the first turn and then turning for home it was probably the same thing,” Alvarado said. “I was four, five, six-wide, and for a baby going two turns and having to give up that much ground, it has to take a toll. I thought he was very game at the end. I'm pretty pleased with him.”

Peachtree Stable's Shadow Dragon is also scheduled to represent the Mott stable in the Fountain of Youth after closing fast to finish second in the Holy Bull, just a half-length behind Rocket Can. The New York-bred son of Army Mule had previously won his debut and finished off-the-board against state-breds at Aqueduct last fall.

Jose Ortiz has retained the mount aboard Shadow Dragon.

Rodeo Creek Racing LLC's Blazing Sevens, who finished fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile after encountering trouble at the start, is scheduled to take on Forte again while making his 2023 debut in the Fountain of Youth. The Chad Brown-trained son of Good Magic captured the mile Champagne (G1) at Aqueduct prior to the Juvenile. Blazing Sevens won impressively at first asking at Saratoga before finishing 12 lengths behind Forte while finishing third in the Hopeful (G1).

Joel Rosario has the call on Blazing Sevens, who is rated second in the morning line at 7-2.

Courtlandt Farms' General Jim, who recovered from early bumping to capture the seven-furlong Claiborne Swale (G3) on the Holy Bull undercard, is scheduled to stretch out around two turns in the Fountain of Youth, for which he drew the No. 1 post position.

The son of Into Mischief, won twice and finished third in a stakes around two turn on turf in New York last year. General Jim, who lacked room while finishing fourth in his 3-year-old debut in the Jan. 1 Mucho Macho Man, raced with blinkers for the first time in the Swale.

Luis Saez has the return call on General Jim, who is rated third at 6-1.

Rounding out the field: Albaugh Family Stables LLC's Cyclone Mischief, the beaten Holy Bull favorite while coming off a stunning optional claiming allowance win at Gulfstream; Daniel Walters, Devin Smith, Anthony Smith and trainer Rohan Crichton's Legacy Isle,, whose three-race undefeated streak was snapped with a fourth-place finish in the Holy Bull; OGMA Investments LLC, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing LLC and CMNWLTH's Mage, an eye-catching debut winner for trainer Gustavo Delgado; Palm Beach Racing V LLC's Dangerous Ride, a multiple stakes-placed optional claiming allowance winner last time out; and Alex Andres LLC's Il Miracolo, who was out-of-the money in the Mucho Macho Man and Holy Bull.

The field for the Fountain of Youth in post-position order, with morning-line odds.

1. General Jim              6-1
2. Legacy Isle              20-1
3.  Shadow Dragon     12-1
4. Forte                          7-5
5. Il Miracolo              30-1
6. Blazing Sevens         7-2
7. Mage                          8-1
8. Rocket Can               8-1
9. Cyclone Mischief   12-1
10. Dangerous Ride    30-1

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Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's champion Forte completed his serious preparation for a highly anticipated 2023 debut in next Saturday's $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park after breezing five furlongs Saturday morning at Palm Beach Downs.

The Todd Pletcher-trained son of Violence closed out his Eclipse Award-winning 2-year-old campaign with a victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Keeneland to earn the role of favorite in the Fountain of Youth, a 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-olds that will headline a 14-race program with nine stakes, eight graded, worth $1.85 million.

Forte was timed in 1:01.99 for the five-furlong distance for his sixth workout at Palm Beach Downs in preparation for his season bow.

“Last week was the work we wanted to make sure that we were on target. We got a good strong work into him. We got a good work today, but after last week, we weren't looking for him to do too much,” Pletcher said. “We're right on schedule and think we are where we want to be.”

Forte won four of five starts during his 2-year-old season, which he closed out with victories in the seven-furlong Hopeful (G1) at Saratoga and the 1 1/16-mile Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland, where he went on to capture the 1 1/16-mile Juvenile by 1½ lengths.

At Gulfstream Park, Daniel Walters, Dennis Smith, Anthony Smith, and trainer Rohan Crichton's Legacy Isle, the Jan. 1 Mucho Macho Man winner who experienced his first career loss in a fourth-place Holy Bull finish; breezed five-furlongs in 1:00.80 for the Fountain of Youth. Albaugh Family Stables LLC's Cyclone Mischief, the beaten favorite in the Holy Bull, breezed five furlongs in 1:01.02. Alex Andres LLC's Il Miracolo, fifth in the Holy Bull, breezed five furlongs in 1:02.43.

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Outlining plans for his army of Kentucky Derby (G1) prospects in early January at Oaklawn, two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox was asked if he had any 3-year-olds that have yet to start who he believes still had a chance to make the starting gate May 6 at Churchill Downs.

“It's a little early to say, but listen, I have several unraced horses that I think we may see,” Cox said. “I don't want to say any names because there is a small handful, but I'm hopeful that one of them do jump up and could be a factor.”

One of those horses, Triple Crown nominee Heroic Move, may have given Cox something to think about after winning his career debut Feb. 18 at Oaklawn under Joel Rosario.

A homebred for Gary and Mary West, Heroic Move captured the one-mile maiden special weight race by a half-length as the 3-2 favorite. The winning time over a fast track was 1:38.17. Heroic Move, through Friday, was one of just three starters to win a route race from post 10 at the 2022-2023 Oaklawn meeting. He also galloped out strongly past the wire, indicating the son of Quality Road wants more ground.

“I think he's a good horse,” Cox said Thursday morning. “We're kind of letting the dust settle right now before we come up with an exact (next) race. But I'm excited about his future and think he's a good horse.”

Cox also trains Dec. 17 Oaklawn entry-level allowance winner Hit Show for the Wests. Hit Show captured a Kentucky Derby points race, the Withers Stakes (G3) Feb. 11 at Aqueduct, in his most recent start. Cox was scheduled to send out the top two program choices in Saturday's $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn in Verifying and Giant Mischief.

The Rebel offered 100 points (50-20-15-10-5, respectively) to the top five finishers toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby. The Rebel was the final major local prep for the $1.25 million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 1. The 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby is Oaklawn's fourth and final Kentucky Derby points race.

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Trainer Brad Cox bids for his seventh victory in a 2022-2023 Kentucky Derby points race in the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) Saturday at Oaklawn.

The 1 1/16-mile Rebel anchors as 12-race program that begins at noon (Central). The card also features the $300,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles and the $150,000 Carousel Stakes for older fillies and mares at 6 furlongs. Probable post time for the Rebel, the 11th race, is 5:23 p.m. (Central). The infield, weather permitting, will be open for the first time this season.

The Rebel will offer 100 points (50-20-15-10-5, respectively) to the top five finishers toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby. The Rebel is the final major local prep for the $1.25 million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 1. The 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby is Oaklawn's fourth and final Kentucky Derby points race.

The projected 11-horse Rebel field from the rail out:

1. Verifying, Florent Geroux to ride, 122 pounds, 2-1 on the morning line;
2. Powerful, Isaac Castillo, 117, 20-1;
3. Red Route One, Cristian Torres, 117, 10-1;
4. Gun Pilot, Ricardo Santana Jr., 122, 8-1;
5. Giant Mischief, Irad Ortiz Jr., 117, 5-2;
6. Reincarnate, John Velazquez, 122, 7-2;
7. Confidence Game, James Graham, 119, 15-1;
8. Talladega, Flavien Prat, 117, 30-1;
9. Event Detail, Gerardo Corrales, 117, 30-1;
10. Bourbon Bash, Mickaelle Michel, 117, 20-1; and
11. Frosted Departure, Francisco Arrieta, 117, 20-1.

Cox, a two-time Eclipse Award winner (2020 and 2021) as the country's outstanding trainer, is scheduled to send out the top two program choices, Verifying and Giant Mischief, in search of his first Rebel victory and fifth victory in Oaklawn's last 11 Kentucky Derby points races.

Among Cox's six victories in 2022-2023 Kentucky Derby points races is the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes at 1 mile Jan. 1 at Oaklawn with Victory Formation. Smarty Jones runner-up Angel of Empire returned to win a Kentucky Derby points race, the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes (G2) at 1 1/8 miles, last Saturday at Fair Grounds. The week before, Cox struck in another 1 1/8-mile qualifying race, the $250,000 Withers Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct, with Oaklawn entry-level allowance winner Hit Show.

“Look, we've got a good group of horses,” Cox said. “We kind of knew that a year-and-a half ago when we went to the Keeneland yearling sale shopping. Think we selected a very good group of horses and we were fortunate to be sent a lot of good horses as well. Look, we're in a good position. Fair Grounds and Oaklawn, between those two tracks, it gives us the opportunity to split some of these up and been able to send one up to New York as well. We'll continue to go down those avenues and hopefully these horses can continue to develop throughout the winter and into the spring.”

Verifying, a half-brother to champion and multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Midnight Bisou, exits a powerful 5 ¼-length entry-level allowance victory at 1 mile Jan. 14 at Oaklawn in his 3-year-old debut. From the first crop of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, Verifying's time of 1:37.23 was then a meet best and the race produced two next-out winners in Gun Pilot (second) and Two Eagles River (third).

“It looks like it was a key race,” Cox said. “Hopefully, he can move forward as well off that race. He certainly seems to have physically. He really seems to have developed over the last month or so. He's doing good. Little bit of a tough post, but good horses overcome posts and I'm hopeful and think that he's a good horse. So, we'll see how it goes.”

A $775,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, Verifying has four published workouts at Fair Grounds since his allowance victory. He will be ridden for the first time by Ortiz, honored four times with an Eclipse Award as the country's outstanding jockey.

Giant Mischief will be making his first start since finishing a troubled second in the $400,000 Remington Park Springboard Mile Stakes Dec. 17 at Remington Park. A son of Into Mischief, Giant Mischief has won 2 of 3 starts after being purchased for $475,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Giant Mischief has worked five times this year at Fair Grounds in advance of the Rebel, which has been scheduled 3-year-old debut for two months.

“He's really doing well,” Cox said. “Happy with how he's training leading up (to the Rebel). I thought he ran a winning race last time. I'm hopeful and confident that he'll be able to get out of the gate and get himself a good position and he can handle the mile and a sixteenth.”

Lightly raced Gun Pilot (2 for 3) makes his stakes debut for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. After winning his career debut on Churchill Downs' Nov. 26 “Stars of Tomorrow 2” program, Gun Pilot finished second to Verifying in his two-turn debut. Gun Pilot returned to beat Bourbon Bash by two lengths in an entry-level allowance at 1 mile Feb. 4 at Oaklawn.

Gun Pilot, a son of 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner, received his early lessons in south Texas, at El Primero Training Center (run by Asmussen's parents, Keith and Marilyn), and races for his breeder, Three Chimneys Farm (Goncalo Torrealba). Three Chimneys stands Gun Runner.

“It's extremely promising,” Asmussen said. “A very nice homebred of Three Chimneys. Went to Laredo. Came out of there and dad was very high on the horse. Won first time out at Churchill. I think we were unfortunate for him to get stuck in quarantine (equine herpesvirus) at Churchill and just stay there 30 days past time to get out of there and I thought he really needed his first run here and move forward after it. Has trained well since the allowance win and we're going to jump off in the deep water of the Rebel.”

Asmussen is also scheduled to send out another son of Gun Runner, Red Route One, who exits a second-place finish behind unbeaten Arabian Knight in the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) Jan. 28. Red Route One fell far back early in the 1 1/16-mile Southwest before rallying to finish 5 ½ lengths behind Arabian Knight in Oaklawn's second Kentucky Derby points race.

“I thought he came out of it well,” Asmussen said. “His work back here over the racetrack was good. But obviously the way he finished up in the Southwest was encouraging.”

Reincarnate, from the first crop of champion Good Magic, has won his last two starts, including the $100,000 Sham Stakes (G3) at 1 mile Jan. 8 at Santa Anita. Reincarnate was recently transferred from Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who has won the Rebel a record eight times, to another Southern California-based trainer, Tim Yakteen.

Horses trained by Baffert are ineligible to collect qualifying points, owing to a suspension by Churchill Downs. The suspension stems from Baffert's Medina Spirit being disqualified from his 2021 Kentucky Derby victory because of a medication violation. Yakteen is a former Baffert assistant.

Confidence Game finished third behind the Cox-trained Instant Coffee in the $200,000 Lecomte Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 21 at Fair Grounds in his last start for trainer Keith Desormeaux. Frosted Departure won the inaugural $150,000 Renaissance Stakes for 2-year-olds at 6 furlongs Dec. 31 at Oaklawn for trainer Kenny McPeek before stretching out to finish third in the Southwest.

Bourbon Bash returns to stakes company after finishing second earlier this month behind Gun Pilot for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Bourbon Bash had made his previous five starts in stakes, including a third-place finish behind Frosted Departure and Two Eagles River in the Renaissance.

“We've got to get better,” Lukas said. “We've got to get a good trip and the horse has to improve. The whole thing has to improve. That's going to be a little bit rougher. The hill's getting steeper now and we've got to hope that the maturity is going to let him do better. We have to do better. We'd like to be on the board. If we're on the board, I'd call that a success at this point.”

Cox, with a victory Saturday, would join Baffert, Asmussen and Lukas as the only trainers to sweep Oaklawn's four-race series of Kentucky Derby points races.

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