Albaugh Family Stables LLC’s Dennis’ Moment and Shooting Star Thoroughbreds LLC’s Chance It are prominent on the list of nominations for the $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park Saturday, Feb. 29.
The 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth, a key prep for the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) March 28, will highlight a program featuring eight other graded stakes, including the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Mile (G2), $200,000 Davona Dale (G2) and $200,000 Mac Diarmida (G2).
Trained by Dale Romans, Dennis’ Moment rebounded from an eventful debut, in which he clipped heels and unseated his jockey, with a spectacular 19 ¼-length victory at Ellis Park last July. He came right back to capture the Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs in September. Favored at 4-5 for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita Nov. 1, Dennis’ Moment stumbled badly at the start and was never a factor.
The Romans-trained Attachment Rate, a dominating 6 ¼-length maiden winner at Gulfstream for owners Jim Bakke and Gerry Isbister has also been nominated to the Fountain of Youth.
Chance It, who made a victorious 3-year-old debut in the Jan. 4 Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream, is also on the list of high-profile nominees. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained colt, who battled back in deep stretch to win the one-turn mile Mucho Macho Man, was the hero of the 2019 Florida Sire Stakes Series, in which he won the $400,000 In Reality at the 1 1/16-mile distance of the Fountain of Youth.
Jeff Drown and Don Rachel’s Structor, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) winner, is also on the list of nominees for the 74th running of the Fountain of Youth. Trained by Chad Brown, Structor was undefeated in three starts last year, following up a debut victory at Saratoga and a triumph in the Pilgrim (G3) at Belmont with a fast-closing win in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita Nov. 1. The son of Palace Malice, who has not run on dirt, closed from 11th on the turn into the homestretch to score by three-quarters of a length in the Juvenile Turf.
Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable, Pantofel Stable and Howling Pigeon Farms LLC’s Shotski, who captured the 1 1/8-mile Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct in his 2019 finale, was nominated by trainer Jeremiah O’Dwyer. The son of Blame set the pace before finishing second in the Withers (G3) at Aqueduct in his 3-year-old debut Feb. 1.
Colts Neck Stables LLC’s Big City Bob is a Fountain of Youth nominee who finished third behind victorious Tiz the Law in the Champagne (G1) at Belmont after capturing the Sapling at Monmouth Park. The son of Shanghai Bobby is trained by Jorge Duarte Jr.
Trainer Patrick Biancone is represented by Sole Volante and Ete Indien on the list of nominations. Owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Andie Biancone and Limelight Stables Corp., Sole Volante captured the Feb. 8 Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs after finishing third in the Mucho Macho Man. Linda Shanahan and partners’ Ete Indien set the pace in the Feb. 1 Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream before finishing second behind Tiz the Law.
Screen Door Stables LLC’s As Seen On Tv, who finished a head behind Chance It in the Mucho Macho Man, is also nominated to the Fountain of Youth. The Kelly Breen-trained son of Lookin At Lucky captured the Juvenile Sprint for Florida-breds at Gulfstream Park in his previous start.
A trio of Todd Pletcher-trained recent maiden winners, Palm Springs, Candy Tycoon and Texas Swing are on the list of Fountain of Youth nominees.
The $200,000 Gulfstream Park Mile (G2), a one-turn mile for older horses, attracted 22 nominations, including Jim Bakke and Gerry Isbister’s Mr. Freeze, who finished second in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) presented by Runhappy at Gulfstream Jan. 25.
Godolphin LLC’s Lake Avenue, who captured the Demoiselle (G2) at Aqueduct in December, tops 26 nominations for the $200,000 Davona Dale (G2), a one-turn mile for 3-year-old fillies.
The $200,000 Mac Diarmida (G2), a 1 3/8-mile turf stakes for older horses, drew 33 nominations, including Michael Hui’s Zulu Alpha, the winner of the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Jan. 25.
The $150,000 Canadian Turf (G3), a mile turf stakes for older horses, drew 27 nominations; the $150,000 Palm Beach (G3), a 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-olds, attracted 28 nominations; the $150,000 Herecomesthebride (G3), a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies, received 29 nominations; the $150,000 The Very One (G3), a 1 3/16-mile stakes for older fillies and mares, drew 19 nominations; and the $150,000 Honey Fox (G3), a mile turf stakes for older fillies and mares, received 21 nominations.
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