Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. is going to bypass the March 5 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) with Holy Bull (G3) hero White Abarrio but will be represented in the 1 1/16-mile Triple Crown prep by A. P.'s Secret.
The lightly raced son of Cupid, who is coming off a sharp optional claiming allowance score at Gulfstream Jan. 9, has been nominated for the important prep for the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) April 2.
Nominations for the Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth close Sunday.
“A.P.'s Secret is a quality colt that we believe is at [White Abarrio's] level also, but he's going to have to jump forward to prove it,” Joseph said. “We're going to go to the Fountain of Youth with him and give him a chance to prove it.”
Gentry Farms' A.P.'s Secret drew off to win his Nov. 9 debut at Gulfstream by four lengths while running seven furlongs. He came back to finish second in a mile optional claiming allowance to Strike Hard, who went on to finish second in the Jan. 1 Mucho Macho Man at a mile. A.P.'s Secret will enter the Fountain of Youth off a 1 ¼-length victory at a mile in his last start.
Joseph, meanwhile, is happy with the way White Abarrio has come out of his impressive 4 ½-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull Feb. 5.
“He came out of that race exceptional. His level of energy has been high. We're 11 days in and there's been no lull. There's a lot of energy from him,” Joseph said. “We're very happy how he came out of it.”
Among the most celebrated Triple Crown hopefuls, White Abarrio will have one more prep for the May 7 Kentucky Derby (G1) in the Curlin Florida Derby.
“We're thankful to have a horse of his quality and the way he won. All indications would make you think he would improve off that race,” Joseph said. “If he can just maintain, it would be nice, but you would think he'd improve.”
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