Tipsheet: 2022 Fountain of Youth Stakes

An overflow field of 13 sophomores has been entered for a fantastic renewal of the $400,000 Fountain of Youth S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. The 1 1/16-mile test will offer a total of 85 qualifying points (50-20-10-5) to the top-four finishers in the 2022 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series event.

Fountain of Youth Stakes Picks

• #8 Emmanuel
• #4 In Due Time
• #3 Howling Time
• #7 A. P.’s Secret

Fountain of Youth Stakes Wagers

• $20 win and place 8
• $1 trifecta 8 with 3, 4, 7 with all
• 50-cent trifecta 8 with all with 3, 4, 7

Fountain of Youth Stakes Contenders

#1 MARKHAMIAN (20-1) is a head shy from being unbeaten from a trio of lifetime tries. The recent Pasco S. victor gets a dream post on the rail, but faces a huge class rise while making his two-turn debut for Juan Carlos Avila. The Social Inclusion youngster is bred for the trip, and he could challenge for a placing with a well-timed ride.

#2 SIMPLIFICATION (7-2) overcame a poor break to finish a game runner-up in the Holy Bull S. (G3) last time out. The Not This Time colt has trained well in the interim, and he would benefit from getting a clean start on Saturday. Jose Ortiz inheriting the mount atop the contender is a positive.

#3 HOWLING TIME (15-1) looked like a star in the making when dominating the Rags to Riches S. at Churchill Downs in his second lifetime outing, but he regressed in his seasonal finale when tiring in the lane of the Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) for Romans. The dark bay colt is firing bullets on the surface as of late, and I expect him to run a big one at a nice price in this spot. Regular pilot Joe Talamo stays.

#4 IN DUE TIME (6-1) was a superb allowance winner in his latest appearance for conditioner Kelly Breen. The chestnut did endure a dream trip in that event, but he passed the visual test, and the Kentucky-bred figures to improve with additional distance. Paco Lopez will be in the silks.

#5 DEAN DELIVERS (15-1) hasn’t done much wrong to date with a win and three runner-up finishes from four career assignments. The Michael Yates pupil will face a fine field while going long for the initial time, and others simply have more appeal than the talented gelding.

#6 RATTLE N ROLL (12-1) capped his two-year-old campaign with a pair of sharp wins in succession, led by a dominating showing in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland. The Ken McPeek trainee has worked well in advance of his sophomore bow, but he will need the right set up to aid his late running style, and he might not be fully ‘cranked’ for his first try since October. Brian Hernandez will guide the talented long-term prospect.

#7 A. P.’S SECRET (20-1) ran his best race to date in his recent allowance tally while wearing blinkers for the initial time. The gray Cupid colt has improved his Brisnet Speed number in each career outing to date, and he has been working in swift fashion in advance of his stakes debut. Tyler Gaffalione picks up the potentially live mount.

#8 EMMANUEL (9-2) has romped in both lifetime races to date in preparation of his initial stakes endeavor for trainer Todd Pletcher. The son of More Than Ready possesses early speed and a strong turn of foot, and the colt is training in lights-out fashion. He has the look of a budding superstar and gets top billing with Luis Saez in the controls.

#9 HIGH OAK (8-1) rolled home in the Saratoga Special S. (G2) in his second lifetime race for trainer Bill Mott. The bay son of Gormley lands in an especially difficult spot for his 2022 debut, but he is clearly full of ability, and the bay wouldn’t be a total shock with something resembling his big tally at Saratoga in the summer. Junior Alvarado retains the ride.

#10 GIANT GAME (15-1) checked in third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) to cap his juvenile campaign, but he faded badly late in the Holy Bull in his three-year-old debut. The son of Giant’s Causeway gets a wide post and is hard to endorse with confidence following his latest run.

#11 O CAPTAIN (30-1) finished a distant third in the Limehouse S. most recently, and he would be a huge surprise for trainer Gustavo Delgado.

#12 MO DONEGAL (3-1) was made the morning line favorite but has a slight fever and will not start.

#13 GALT (12-1) led into the stretch before tiring when fourth in the Holy Bull. The half-brother to the exquisite Songbird is obviously bred for the moment, and he is continually improving, but he would need a lifetime-best run from the widest draw to make the frame against this group.