Fountain of Youth

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A loaded field of 12 sophomores will line up in the $250,000 Fountain of

Youth S. (G2) at Gulfstream on Saturday in one of the most anticipated events of

the three-year-old season to date. A dizzying array of talent and speed will

line up in this one-mile test, and we feel compelled to find value in here.

We absolutely freaked over the debut of QUALITY ROAD (Elusive Quality) in

November, when the Jimmy Jerkens trainee annihilated a well-meant, 13-horse

maiden bunch under a hand ride. The well-bred bay returned last out in an

allowance race over this strip and missed the break, rushed up the rail and

dueled for the entirety of the seven furlongs, before ultimately settling for

the place spot in a solid showing. He's since come back with a quintet of works,

including three smokers in advance of this. We really like the outside draw for

this one, as he might get first run turning for home beneath John Velazquez, and

the addition of Lasix rarely hurts a horse.

TAQARUB (Aldebaran) has yet to be headed in three lifetime starts and is

working up a storm for Kiaran McLaughlin. The well-bred bay trounced an

overmatched group in the Jimmy Winkfield S. at Aqueduct last out, and we feel

that he's the speed of the speed on this occasion. A lot of this race comes down

to the opening quarter-mile -- if this one breaks on top and the jockeys aboard his pace

foes decide to let him go rather than duel, he might run this field off their

respective feet. Alan Garcia retains the mount.

CAPT. CANDYMAN CAN (Candy Ride [Arg]) looked superb in his Hutcheson S. (G2) score

and looks live once again for Ian Wilkes. The talented gelding, who bagged the

Iroquois S. (G3) as a juvenile, settled nicely last out and that will be

essential in here, because he will almost surely be outfooted leaving the

gate. If the bay receives a good trip under Julien Leparoux, we view him as a

huge win threat. 

The wildcard in this one is Nashua S. (G3) star BREAK WATER EDISON (Lemon

Drop Kid), who has been as inconsistent as a horse can be for John Kimmel. When

the talented colt is right, he's very good, as evidenced by his Nashua score, huge

second in the Saratoga Special S. (G2) and solid fourth in the Hopeful S. (G1).

But when he's not on his game, he throws in such clunkers as his non-factoring eighth in the

Champagne S. (G1) and last in the recent Hutcheson. He loses Garcia to Taqarub

and adds blinkers, so we have no idea what to expect from him on this day. But

we feel strongly that he will love the smoking early tempo under Eibar Coa,

before closing late, so he's in all of our plays at a healthy price. Note that

he performs best when drawn toward the outside, as he is on Saturday.

THEREGOESJOJO (Brahms) looked good in taking a high-level allowance race over

Quality Road here in his sophomore bow, but the bay was the beneficiary of a perfect

trip last out and we can't expect such a scenario to unfold on this occasion.

The Ken McPeek charge has ability and should have little trouble negotiating

another furlong in this test, but we'd prefer to include him on the

bottom of the vertical exotics.

THIS ONES FOR PHIL (Untuttable) might have moved up considerably with the

switch to Richard Dutrow, or he may have simply landed in the right spot at the

right time in the Sunshine Millions Dash. It's difficult to tell, but there is no taking away

from the fact that

the gelding earned a stellar 111 BRIS Speed number for his efforts. The chestnut

is bred to run at least this far, so the distance should be of no concern, and

he reportedly hasn't missed a beat in advance of this. If he and Edgar Prado can

overcome the widest post, they'll be live once again.

Grade 2 victor BEETHOVEN (Sky Mesa) has been a model of consistency in his

last five tries for John Ward. The bay put in a fine fourth-place showing in the

Holly Bull S. (G3) last out from a nightmare post position, and he now cuts back

to one turn while drawn infinitely better in this one. We expect Beethoven to sit

well off the early tempo and try to make one run to the wire, and that strategy

could lead to a top three placing beneath Calvin Borel.

NOTONTHESAMEPAGE (Catienus) is pure speed and earned a whopping 109 Speed number for his rout in the Spectacular Bid S. for Wesley Ward. He is the

inside speed in this spot, but will likely have plenty of

company early and often in this rich field, and we're not sure if he'll be able

to withstand the heat for the entire eight furlongs. Elvis Trujillo has the

call.

JACK SPRATT (Candy Ride [Arg]) has never run a bad one and sports a really

interesting pedigree for the high-percentage Michael Maker. The dark bay has

raced solely on turf and synthetic surfaces leading up to this one but has earned a

right to try the main oval on this occasion. The colt won from the 13 post last

out and has been pointed toward this event since his win in the Dania Beach S.,

so he could rally for a piece off of the expected torrid early pace.

ROCKETING RETURNS (Gone West) was not much of a factor in the Hutcheson most recently and will need much better for Nick Zito to impact this

outcome. The bay gets a rider switch to Jose Lezcano and an extra furlong to work with, but he

still seems like a bit of an outsider at this stage of the game.

BEE CEE CEE (Songandaprayer) is drawn on the rail in here for Eddie Plesa

Jr., but even a dream, rail-skimming trip would only find the Florida-bred

competing for minor awards against these runners.

TAKE THE POINTS (Even the Score), who was entered only as an insurance

policy, shipped to Santa Anita for Saturday's nine-furlong Sham S. (G3).