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Orb's Next Start Undecided, McGaughey Says

A decision on the next start for Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth (gr. II) winner Orb has not been made, according to trainer Shug McGaughey, who reported the son of Malibu Moon was doing well Feb. 24.

Falling Sky, Sky Captain Scratch from FOY

Falling Sky, winner of the Feb. 2 Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. III) at Tampa Bay Downs, was scratched from the Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth (gr. II) the morning of the race, as was maiden winner Sky Captain.

Fountain of Youth Not Out of Pletcher's Reach

Todd Pletcher didn't win the grade III Holy Bull Stakes this year, but the grade II Fountain of Youth is certainly not out of reach.

Shanghai Bobby, Violence Ready for Gulfstream

Trainer Todd Pletcher said both Shanghai Bobby and Violence are on target for their respective 3-year-old debuts, the Jan. 26 Holy Bull (gr. III) and the Feb. 23 Fountain of Youth (gr. II).

Churchill Revamps Derby Qualifying System

Churchill Downs announced major changes in the "Road to the Kentucky Derby" and Kentucky Oaks June 14, with a points system that rewards top finishes in selected races from this fall through the 2013 edition of the classics.

Triple Crown Talk: A Can't-Miss Weekend

The weekend of Feb. 25-26 is loaded with important races, including the Fountain of Youth.

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Discreet Dancer's Challenges in FOY

The grade II Fountain of Youth could come down to whether one of the three top-rated horses reacts well to a touch of the whip.

Union Rags Takes on Pletcher Duo in FOY

The high-anticipated 3-year-old race pits the current Derby favorite, Union Rags, against two undefeated and top-class horses from the barn of leading trainer Todd Pletcher, Algorithms and Discreet Dancer.

Pletcher Pair Work for Fountain of Youth

Todd Pletcher's powerful duo of Algorithms and Discreet Dancer turned in their final works for the Feb. 26 Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II), breezing a half-mile and five-eighths, respectively, at Palm Meadows Feb. 20.

Union Rags Ready for Fountain of Youth

Union Rags signaled his readiness for next Sunday's Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park when he breezed four furlongs in :48 4/5 Sunday at Palm Meadows Training Center.

Union Rags Breezes for Fountain of Youth

One day after losing his regular rider for his 2012 debut in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II), Union Rags was out on the track at Palm Meadows for a five-furlong breeze in 1:03.08 Feb. 13.

Union Rags Breezes Bullet Half

Champagne winner has solid tune-up for 3-year-old debut in Fountain of Youth

Union Rags Continues His Work

Union Rags, one of the top early season Triple Crown contenders, worked for the fourth time this month, breezing five furlongs in 1:02 3/5 Jan. 31 at Palm Meadows.

No Race-Day Medication Phaseout at Gulfstream

Gulfstream Park has backed off plans to try to start a phase-out of race-day medications with the 2011-2012 race meet that runs Dec. 3 through April 8 at the Hallandale Beach, Fla., track.

Gulfstream Announces 2011-12 Stakes Schedule

Gulfstream Park's meet, which will run from Dec. 3-April 8 will have 53 stakes. A second finish line has been added to allow for races at 1 1/16 miles. The Florida Derby (gr. I) to be run Saturday, March 31.

Ky. Derby Trail: Dis and Dat

It took only a week for the Derby picture to get muddled again, as To Honor and Serve's disappointing effort left a log jam at the top of the list.

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Derby Threat: Soldat

A winner on turf, dirt, and slop, Fountain of Youth (gr. II) winner Soldat has versatility on his side.

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Soldat Wire-to-Wire in Fountain of Youth

Soldat ran away from To Honor and Serve and held off Gourmet Dinner to win the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (gr. II) Feb. 26 at Gulfstream Park.

Soldat Taking Next Step Toward Derby

Soldat has blossomed into a prominent candidate for the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), especially if he can win the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (gr. II) Feb. 26 at Gulfstream.

Fountain of Youth: It's Upside vs. Experience

The field for the Grade II Fountain of Youth Stakes could be divided into two camps, with four of the entries having a fair amount of starts under their belts and four having limited experience and thus more upside potential.

Triple Crown Insider - 02/23/2011

Triple Crown Insider tracks the top 3-year-olds, rating the 20 best contenders in the weeks leading up to Kentucky Derby 137. Presented by Taylor Made Stallions.

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To Honor and Serve Takes Center Stage in FOY

To Honor and Serve will make his much-anticipated 3-year-old debut against a well-rounded field in the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (gr. II) Feb. 26 at Gulfstream Park.

Fountain of Youth Coming Up Strong

Gourmet Dinner worked a strong half-mile in :47 3/5 Feb. 16 at Gulfstream Park for trainer Steve Standridge in preparation for the $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) on Feb. 26.

Florida Derby Back up to $1 Million

Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino announced Sept. 2 its richest stakes schedule ever for 3-year-olds, highlighted by the $1 million Florida Derby (gr. I).

$5.5 Million Bonus Program Tied to Preakness

MI Developments Inc. announced Aug. 27 a bonus program involving tracks owned by the company that could result in a $5.5 million bonus for the winner of the 2011 Preakness Stakes (gr. I).

Devil Eleven's Florida Farm in Foreclosure

Basketball star Bobby Hurley's Devil Eleven Farm is in foreclosure for the non-payment of nearly $3 million in loans from PNC Bank.

Is Buddy's Saint Still a Derby Threat?

Trainer Bruce Levine said the colt would have to run well in the Wood to continue on the Derby trail.

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Zayat to Keep Control of Stable

Thoroughbred owner Ahmed Zayat will keep control of his stable for the time being as Fifth Third Bank has decided not to seek a trustee to run Zayat Stables.

Separating the Men From the Boys

With five 3-year-old stakes on the docket, this is easily the most important weekend of the Triple Crown prep season so far.

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THS: Fountain of Youth & Risen Star

Jason, Tom, and James Scully of brisnet/twinspires.com preview the Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) and the Risen Star (gr. II).

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HRTV To Air Onsite Coverage of Derby Preps

HRTV's Gary Stevens and Scott Hazelton will provide onsite coverage of the Risen Star at Fairgrounds; Caton Bredar and Jay Privman will cover the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park.

Fasig-Tipton Ramps Up Gulfstream Sponsorship

Fasig-Tipton has ramped up its race sponsorship at Gulfstream Park as the Lexington sales company and Florida racetrack unveiled the new "Fasig-Tipton Filly Festival" to be run during the 2010 meet.

Five Questions: Bruce Levine

Trainer Bruce Levine, currently at Gulfstream with a string of a dozen horses, took some time out from his Monday morning to answer five questions.

Buddy's Saint Targets Fountain of Youth

Buddy's Saint, open-length winner of the Nashua Stakes (gr. II) and Remsen Stakes (gr. II) at Aqueduct in November, is being pointed toward the $250,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park.

Florida Derby Preps Undergo Minor Changes

There will be slight modifications this year to the Fountain of Youth (gr. II) and Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III), two preps for the Florida Derby (gr. I) that will be run March 27 at Gulfstream Park.

HRTV: Pursuit of the Crown March 6

HRTV's weekly series analyzing the pursuit of the Triple Crown. This week's episode includes recaps of the Fountain of Youth and Sham, a focus on Stardom Bound - comparing her to Winning Colors, a look at the Kentucky Derby Challenge Stakes, and a preview of the Gotham.

Continuing Down a Quality Road

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Foals from the first Elusive Quality crop conceived after Smarty Jones's heroics have come to hand earlier. Even though they've only just turned 3, five of their number are stakes winners. Prominent among them is Fountain of Youth winner Quality Road.

Ky. Derby Trail: Road to the Roses

The last Saturday in November is NYRA's farewell to grade I and grade II racing, with the running of the Cigar Mile (gr. I) and the grade II Remsen and Demoiselle Stakes for 2-year-olds. But last year, there was a buzz in the air that had nothing to do with any of those three races.

Quality Road Rolls in Fountain of Youth

Despite making just the third start of his career and facing stakes company for the first time, Edward Evans' homebred Quality Road romped to a resounding 4 1/4-length victory in the $250,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 28 at Gulfstream Park.

Fountain of Youth Analysis

Triple Crown Talk blog, with host Jason Shandler, offers Fountain of Youth Analysis and Selections.

THS: Fountain of Youth (Video)

Tom and Evan analyze the Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (gr. II) at Gulfstream on February 28. The Wizard's Spotlight Play is Race 8 at Fair Grounds on Saturday.

Fountain of Youth: Pace Makes the Race

Our core premise in the one-mile, grade II Fountain of Youth Stakes is that if Notonthesamepage breaks well, he's going to shoot for the lead, and almost all the others will struggle to, well, stay on the same page with him. The question thus becomes whether there's anything in the race that will overtake him.

Loaded Fountain of Youth Has it All

A deep and talented field has been entered for the $250,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II),and when the dust finally settles on the Gulfstream Park oval Feb. 28, the still muddled Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) picture should become a little bit clearer.

Big Drama Back to Work

Harold Queen's 3-year-old Florida homebred Big Drama breezed an easy half-mile in :50-flat Feb. 22 at Calder, his first workout since Jan. 18 as the colt's training schedule was interrupted by a bone bruise that required surgery after kicking himself in a shin in his stall.

F-T to Sponsor Fountain of Youth Stakes

Fasig-Tipton is teaming with Gulfstream Park to sponsor the $250,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II). The 63rd running of the race, which will called the "Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes," is scheduled for Feb. 28 in South Florida. The Fasig-Tipton Florida select sale of 2-year-olds in training will be held March 3.

Gulfstream Banking on 2009 Meet Changes

Gulfstream Park is hoping that a move to a five-day race week will help produce larger fields and attract more live fans and other bettors on days that have proven more popular than its newly-dark Mondays.

Z Humor Works at Churchill Downs

Prepping for a run in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), Zayat Stables' Z Humor worked four furlongs in :47.50 at Churchill Downs April 17.

Cool Coal Man Sharp in Churchill Work

Robert LaPenta's Cool Coal Man, a major contender for the May 3 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), prepped for a planned run in the April 12 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland with a sharp half-mile work at Churchill Downs April 3.

Adriano Impresses in Lane's End S.

Adriano gave trainer Graham Motion plenty to think about with an impressive win in the $500,000 Lane's End Stakes (gr. II) at Turfway Park March 22.

Elysium Fields Works Toward Fla. Derby

In his first workout since his strong runner-up performance in the $350,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 29, Robert Evans's Elysium Fields posted a half-mile breeze March 6 at Gulfstream Park.