Trio of Unbeatens Go Toe to Toe in Fountain of Youth
The featured Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes February 27 at Gulfstream has Kentucky Derby implications as a talented field of six is set to contest the key three year-old prep race at a mile and a sixteenth.
Mohaymen (6/5) has been nothing short of impressive in his young career winning all four starts and three consecutive stakes victories. The Kiaran McLaughlin trainee looked to be in cruise control while dominating his rivals last out in the Grade 2 Holy Bull, geared down at the wire, but still over 3 lengths clear of the second-place finisher. The gray or roan son of Tapit has worked well since that triumph and is clearly the one to beat while breaking from the outside post 6 under regular rider Junior Alvarado. The horse many consider to be the top Kentucky Derby contender at this point will face a pair of talented stretchout sprinters who figure to be his primary competition.
Zulu regally bred for distance
Zulu (3/1),undefeated in his own right, is 2 for 2 for trainer Todd Pletcher with both victories coming at Gulfstream. In his last start, Zulu smoked six overmatched rivals over a sloppy track at seven furlongs and could improve while making his first start around two turns. The son of 2006 Three Year-Old Champion and Grade 1 Preakness Stakes winner Bernardini, Zulu's breeding is a positive indicator of his potential. As Pletcher acknowledged in an interview leading up to the race, Zulu will likely need to improve from a speed figure standpoint to make a serious bid for the win, but that improvement is not too far-fetched.
Awesome Banner should be on lead
Awesome Banner (7/2) is another unbeaten sprinter and enters the Fountain of Youth after winning the Grade 3 Hutcheson Stakes and Grade 2 Swale - the former a six furlong race and the latter seven furlongs - at Gulfstream. The Stanley Gold trainee figures to be on the early lead and certainly rates a huge chance in a spectacular race.
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