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Upstart an expected heavy favorite in Fountain of Youth

Upstart was too much horse for some of his Fountain of Youth rivals in the Holy Bull (Adam Coglianese Photography) Upstart figures to be a strong favorite when he takes on seven rivals in the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) over 1 1/16 miles at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. A dominating winner of the January 24 Holy Bull (G2) over the same track and distance, Upstart will face four rivals from that race as well as three new shooters in the premier prep for next month's Florida Derby (G1). The Fountain of Youth highlights a stakes-laden card and awards the winner 50 points toward Kentucky Derby (G1) eligibility as part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby series.

A New York-bred, Upstart beat state-breds in his first two outings before placing in the Champagne S. (G1) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). He kicked off his three-year-old campaign in the Holy Bull, which he won with ease under Jose Ortiz.

"This isn't your father's New York-bred, so to speak," trainer Rick Violette said. "The bar has been raised. There was a terrific cast of New York-breds last year all across the country. There is certainly no longer an asterisk or a stigma as to where they were bred."

Frosted (Tapit) runner-up in the Holy Bull as the 3-2 favorite, was also second as the public choice in the Remsen S. (G2) in November. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin is hoping the gray can turn the tables on Upstart.

"I think the winner was most impressive that day and hopefully he doesn't run as impressive this time and he drops back to us a length or two and we gain a length or two with the blinkers and a better post position," McLaughlin said. "We think we have a good chance. We have a lot of respect for Upstart, but we just hope he doesn't run such a monster race again."

Mucho Macho Man winner Bluegrass Singer, a tiring third in the Holy Bull after setting the pace, will attempt to take the field wire-to-wire again.

"He finished third, beaten seven lengths. He kind of sprung a shoe and I think that definitely had something to do with it," trainer Marcus Vitali said. "I'm not big on making up excuses. It is what it is. It's horse racing. It unfolded the way it did, but I was still ecstatic the way he ran first time going a mile and a sixteenth. We're just gearing up."

Also exiting the Holy Bull are also-rans Juan and Bina (Indian Charlie), who ran fourth, and sixth-place finisher Frammento (Midshipman).

The new shooters include the Todd Pletcher-trained Itsaknockout (Lemon Drop Kid), a 5 1/4-length allowance winner in early January; Gorgeous Bird (Unbridled's Song), a seven-length allowance scorer for Ian Wilkes on January 24; and Danny Boy (Harlan's Holiday), who was Grade 3-placed on turf last fall and fourth in his only prior dirt attempt.

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