Offlee Wild Sizzles in Fountain of Youth Workout

Offlee Wild completed preparations for Saturday's Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. I) with a lightning-quick five-furlong drill over a fast Gulfstream Park main track Wednesday.

The longshot Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) winner worked the distance handily and was clocked galloping out six furlongs in 1:11.40 by trainer T.V. Smith. The move was the fastest of 34 at the distance.

"It was an excellent work," tSmith said. "I got him going the last three furlongs in :35 and change and going out a half-mile in :48 2/5. I wanted him to finish strong and he did. I hope it wasn't too fast. But it's similar to the way he worked before the Holy Bull and he won that race."

The son of Wild Again won the Holy Bull in his seasonal debut for Azalea Stables. He broke his maiden Oct. 27 at Churchill Downs in his second career start and concluded his campaign three weeks later with a second-place finish in a 6 1/2 furlong entry-level allowance.

Among Offlee Wild's expected rivals is Ten Cents a Shine. Trainer Ken McPeek gave his latest impressions of the colt after returning from a business trip to Brazil.

"He's doing well," McPeek said. "He had a good work on Monday and came back in great shape. He's on track for Saturday's Fountain of Youth."

Ten Cents A Shine won his maiden start at Churchill Downs then was second in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II) at that track in his 2002 finale on Nov. 30. In his 2003 debut, Ten Cents A Shine finished in a dead-heat for first with Senor Swinger on Jan. 31.