We take another step toward the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, with crucial points on the line in the $400,000 Grade II Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.
The winner of the 1 1/16-mile race on the dirt track lands 50 points, which essentially guarantees the horse and its connections a spot in the starting gate for the 148th edition of the annual "Run for the Roses" on May 7 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.
Major Kentucky Derby points on the line this weekend!@ToddTVG & @SimonTVG take a closer look at the top contenders in Saturday's G2 Fountain of Youth @gulfstreampark & G2 San Felipe Stakes @SantaAnitaPark!
Watch each race on the 1st Saturday in March on @TVG. pic.twitter.com/lPESIMTmoM
— TVG (@TVG) March 4, 2022
The Fountain of Youth is just one of four Derby prep events happening across the country. Horses looking to punch their ticket for a spot in the Churchill Downs starting gate on the first Saturday of May go at it in the $400,000 San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park as well.
The Gotham Stakes (G3) will be run at Aqueduct, along with the $125,000 John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park, to highlight the loaded schedule.
Looking to build on their sizzling and profitable form, TVG analyst Andie Biancone and Action Network handicapper Jeremy Pond are back, searching for more victories with even better payouts. The duo continued their tear in the Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 19, highlighted by their winning late Daily Double that paid a whopping $308.40 on a $2 winning ticket.
Epicenter stands at the top of the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 64 points following Saturday's victory in the G2 Risen Star Stakes!@ABE_Dubai "Performance of the Week"#RoadtotheDerbypic.twitter.com/NyL31y8Ptf
— TVG (@TVG) February 23, 2022
Prior to that tasty hit, Biancone nailed longshot winner White Abarrio in the Holy Bull Stakes on Feb. 5 at Gulfstream, plus they each connected on another Daily Double tied to the race that paid $129.40 on a $2 ticket.
Pond added to the winning card the duo produced by hitting the Holy Bull exacta and trifecta wagers, closing out the strong showing.
That said, Biancone and Pond are hoping to make some more magic happen here and have taken a deep look at the Fountain of Youth field, featuring 12 entrants. Let's check out their best bets and other featured wagers.
Tune in to TVG for coverage of the Fountain of Youth Stakes and the entire racing card at Gulfstream Park, which will also feature Biancone delivering analysis for the day's slate of races.
2022 Fountain of Youth Stakes (Grade II) Odds
*Latest Odds via TVG
| PP | HORSE | ODDS (MORNING LINE) | JOCKEY |
|---|---|---|
| 1 — Markhamian | 20-1 | M. Meneses |
| 2 — Simplification | 5-2 | J. Ortiz |
| 3 — Howling Time | 15-1 | J. Talamo |
| 4 — In Due Time | 6-1 | P. Lopez |
| 5 — Dean Delivers | 15-1 | M. Vasquez |
| 6 — Rattle N Roll | 8-1 | B. Hernandez, Jr. |
| 7 — A. P.'S Secret | 15-1 | T. Gaffalione |
| 8 — Emmanuel | 3-1 | L. Saez |
| 9 — High Oak | 8-1 | J. Alvarado |
| 10 — Giant Game | 15-1 | C. Lanerie |
| 11 — O Captain | 30-1 | J. Castellano |
| 13 — Galt | 15-1 | J. Rosario |
Race Information
Date | Post Time: Saturday | 5:42 p.m. ET
Distance | Surface: 1 1/16 miles | Dirt
Location: Gulfstream Park | Hallandale Beach, Fla.
Fountain of Youth Top Picks & Longshots
Andie Biancone
No. 8 Emmanuel (3-1): This is my top pick for the Fountain of Youth.
I'm extremely excited to see this horse stretch out to the 1 1/16-mile distance and based on the way he looks this shouldn’t be an issue at all. Of the horses part of the Todd Pletcher brigade, Emmanuel has been one of the more impressive animals to me both physically, as well as his past performances.
I love the mid-pack post position as well. I think Emmanuel will have the speed to either take the lead or at least be close to it. Based on his past races, this horse hasn't met a serious challenge yet, so it will be extremely interesting to see how he handles the Florida heat.
Positive words coming from Trainer Antonio Sano who shares with @CBredar how well SIMPLICFICATION has been improving heading into Saturday's G2 Fountain of Youth Stakes @GulfstreamPark!
Race 12, 5:42PM ET#RoadtotheDerbypic.twitter.com/xCF1Oox8XY
— TVG (@TVG) March 3, 2022
No. 2 Simplification (5-2): This horse has been impressive to say the least and has only been improving with distance.He finished a game second in the Holy Bull despite facing a troubled trip, forcing him to rally from off the pace.
Simplification has shown versatility in his running style, proving he has speed but can also rate. That versatility will prove to be a huge advantage in a race that has so much potential early speed, plus I like the post position he drew.
He also has an edge point in terms of experience. His fitness is also solid, as he has been consistently running and working leading up to this stakes event.
If Simplification gets a clean trip, he should be right there.
"We're gonna see a better version of him as a 3-year-old." Trainer @KennyMcPeek speaks with @andie_biancone about how his G2 Fountain of Youth Stakes runner Rattle N Roll is coming into Saturday's Derby prep @GulfstreamPark!#RoadtotheDerby@McPeekRacingpic.twitter.com/UhYfgDKkT7
— TVG (@TVG) March 3, 2022
Longshot — No. 6 Rattle N Roll (8-1): I love this horse at the morning-line price of 12-1 odds.
He's coming off a lengthy layoff, but you absolutely cannot knock his record. The only time Rattle N Roll has ever run off the board was when he ran in a Maiden Special Weight event at Saratoga Race Course, where he was accidentally struck in the left eye by another rider’s whip.
To this day, Rattle N Roll has a leaky eye from that incident, but it didn’t stop him from breaking his maiden next time out and then followed that with an impressive 4 1/2-length victory in the Grade 1 Breeders Futurity at Keeneland, where he beat Sam F. Davis winner Classic Causeway.
Although this horse is lightly raced, I think it's almost an advantage point in some ways that he was given time to grow during his 2-year-old campaign instead of being pushed into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He also has quite the impressive work tab leading up to this race and is proven going this distance.
Jeremy Pond
Best Bets
$10 Win | Place | Show: No. 6 Rattle N Roll (8-1)
$4 Exacta: 2-6-8 over 2-4-6-8-9-12
$1.50 Trifecta: 2-6-8 over 2-4-6-7-8-9-10 over 2-4-6-7-8-9-10
Exotic Wagering
(Races 12-13)
Biancone's Daily Double
Fountain of Youth Stakes | Herecomesthebride Stakes
2-4-6-7-8 | 2-5-8-9
Pond's Daily Double
Fountain of Youth Stakes | Herecomesthebride Stakes
2-4-6-8-9 | 2-5-8-12
Road to the 2022 Kentucky Derby
| DATE | STAKES RACE (GRADE) | TRACK (POINTS) OR WINNER |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 22 | Lecomte (Grade III) | Call Me Midnight |
| Jan. 29 | Southwest (III) | Newgrange |
| Feb. 5 | Holy Bull (III) | White Abarrio |
| Feb. 5 | Withers (III) | Early Voting |
| Feb. 6 | Robert B. Lewis (III) | Messier |
| Feb. 12 | Sam F. Davis (III) | Classic Causeway |
| Feb. 12 | El Camino Real Derby | Blackadder |
| Feb. 19 | Risen Star (III) | Epicenter |
| Feb. 26 | Rebel (II) | Un Ojo |
| March 5 | John Battaglia Memorial | Turfway Park (10-4-2-1) |
| March 5 | Fountain of Youth (II) | Gulfstream Park (50-20-10-5) |
| March 5 | San Felipe (II) | Santa Anita Park (50-20-10-5) |
| March 5 | Gotham (II) | Aqueduct (50-20-10-5) |
| March 12 | Tampa Bay Derby (II) | Tampa Bay Downs (50-20-10-5) |
| March 26 | UAE Derby | Meydan Racecourse (100-40-20-10) |
| March 26 | Louisiana Derby (II) | Louisiana Downs (100-40-20-10) |
| March 27 | Sunland Derby (III) | Sunland Park (50-20-10-5) |
| April 2 | Florida Derby (I) | Gulfstream Park (100-40-20-10) |
| April 2 | Arkansas Derby (I) | Oaklawn Park (100-40-20-10) |
| April 2 | Jeff Ruby Steaks (III) | Turfway Park (100-40-20-10) |
| April 9 | Wood Memorial (II) | Aqueduct (100-40-20-10) |
| April 9 | Blue Grass (II) | Keeneland (100-40-20-10) |
| April 9 | Santa Anita Derby (I) | Santa Anita Park (100-40-20-10) |
| April 16 | Lexington (III) | Keeneland (100-40-20-10) |
