Tipsheet: Fountain of Youth Stakes

The $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) will be run Saturday as race 14 at Gulfstream Park.  The 1 1/16-mile race is for 3-year-olds and is part of the 2020 Road to the Kentucky Derby series with 50-20-10-5 points going to the top four finishers. There are many in the field of 12 that have early speed, and the ones that drew the outside will have no choice but to gun to the front. There are many rider changes since the $20 million Saudi Cup is being conducted earlier in the day and both Jose Ortiz and Luca Panici are out with injuries.

Top Picks for the Fountain of Youth

• #7 Country Grammer
• #6 As Seen on Tv
• #5 Dennis’ Moment
• #1 Candy Tycoon

Betting the Fountain of Youth

• $10 Win/Place: 7
• $1 Trifecta Box: 1-5-6-7 ($24)

#1 Candy Tycoon just missed two starts back here going a one-turn mile as the 1-5 favorite then came back and broke his maiden by four lengths going this distance. He set a slowish pace last out so it looks like he can let the speed clear from his outside and stalk while saving ground.   

#2 Makabim tries two turns for the first time and moves up in class. Even with a perfect trip he doesn’t look good enough.

#3 Masterday broke his maiden from just off the pace in his career debut going six furlongs here. Badly outrun in a strong allowance race going a one-turn mile, he came back with a decent second going this distance last out.

#4 The Falcon just missed in his career debut on a sloppy track at Churchill Downs then finished a close second going two turns on the synthetic track at Turfway Park. Still a maiden, at least the son of Union Rags has some pedigree to finish well.  

#5 Dennis’ Moment broke his maiden second time out by 19 lengths in fast time going seven furlongs then was able to relax off the pace to win the Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs. He lost all chance when he stumbled out of the gate in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), but has worked brilliantly over the track here. Flavien Prat picks up the mount.

#6 As Seen on Tv started his career in good form while sprinting. He stretched out to a one-turn mile here last out and was a game second in a listed stakes. If the son of the underrated Lookin at Lucky can relax off the speed, he has a big shot, but it’s a lot to ask to make your two-turn debut against graded stakes foes. Paco Lopez wins 25% with his route mounts and they show a healthy flat-bet profit.  

#7 Country Grammer raced evenly in his career debut on the turf at Belmont Park. He came back at Aqueduct and broke his maiden on the main track that was playing extremely slow. Modernist was able to go from there to win a division of the Risen Star (G2), and Chad Brown is deadly off this type of layoff.  

#8 Gear Jockey is still a maiden after five tries and three of them came on the turf. He has run well against good company and made a strong middle move from post 11 last out here. Still, you see a lot of Calumet Farm horses race over their heads so I expect him to return to the turf after this.

#9 Liam’s Lucky Charge looked good two starts back winning a seven-furlong stakes race in fast time at Tampa Bay Downs when blinkers were added. He tired badly in a poor effort two weeks ago in the Risen Star, but that might indicate that something other than acting up in the gate might have happened.

#10 Shotski broke his maiden by four lengths in his dirt debut with Lasix and blinkers added. After racing evenly against stakes foes going a one-turn mile, he bounced back to win the Remsen (G2) going gate to wire over the Aqueduct quirky main track. He wore down in his last start and should be fitter today.

#11 Ete Indien won his dirt debut two starts back here going a one-turn mile then held on for second in the Holy Bull (G3). Post 11 will be tough, but he has a similar training pattern to stablemate Solo Volante, who won the Sam F. Davis (G3).

#12 Chance It comes in off three strong races in fast times, but I can’t see how he can overcome post 12 against this group. Tyler Gaffalione has the choice of sending him and being forced wide or taking back and be farther behind than he has ever been. This a nice colt that loves it here, but I don’t envision him being any kind of contender.