Speed Hunter to Contest Fountain of Youth

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From Gulfstream Park
Trainer Elliott Walden will run Frank L. Mansell's Speed Hunter in Saturday's grade 1 Fountain of Youth, after being undecided earlier this week. What made him decide?

"Two hundred thousand dollars and the grade 1 status," said Walden over the phone from Payson Park Feb. 13. "The horse is doing well, and Rene Douglas will be the jockey."

Speed Hunter, who scored an impressive three-length tally in the first start of his 3-year-old season at Gulfstream Jan. 19, breezed a half-mile in :53 at Payson on Feb. 2. In his local bow in allowance company at seven furlongs, the gelding by Alydeed was always well placed, took command at the sixteenth pole and quickly drew off.

The Kentucky-bred had been away from the races since the day after Thanksgiving, when he finished second in similar company at Churchill Downs but was beaten less than two lengths at the wire.

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