Brisset thinking Fountain of Youth for Tarantino

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Rudy Brisset said Monday he is leaning toward running Tarantino in the Feb. 27 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream after the Pioneerof the Nile colt breezed a half-mile Sunday in 49.40 seconds at Palm Meadows in his first work since finishing second at 26-1 in the Jan. 30 Holy Bull.

“Right now I am 60-40 toward running at Gulfstream,” said Brisset. “He will work one more time and I will school him in the paddock. If I think we need another week, we will wait for Tampa” for the March 6 Tampa Bay Derby.

Tarantino, a $610,000 yearling purchase, was making his first start on dirt following three turf races to begin his career when he forced all the pace in the Holy Bull, ultimately settling for second behind Greatest Honour.

The Grade 2 Fountain of Youth and Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby are both 50-20-10-5 points qualifiers toward the May 1 Kentucky Derby. The Fountain of Youth will be one of nine graded stakes on a huge Feb. 27 card.

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Meanwhile, trainer Mike Maker said Luis Saez will have the mount on Fire At Will in the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth. Fire At Will, a 30-1 winner of the Nov. 6 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in his most recent start, breezed six furlongs Saturday at Gulfstream in 1:15.40.

Maker also said his turf standout Zulu Alpha is “still a couple of weeks” from returning to his care at Gulfstream after recovering from a minor injury diagnosed in October.

Royal Delta the highlight

The lone stakes of the coming weekend at Gulfstream is the Grade 3, $100,000 Royal Delta, to be run Saturday at 1 1/16 miles. A well-matched field of fillies and mares was expected when entries were taken here Wednesday, with the leading contenders being Eres Tu, Mrs. Danvers, Bajan Girl, and Dream Marie.

Letruska, one of the leaders in the local filly-mare division, is skipping the Royal Delta as trainer Fausto Gutierrez continues to seek a suitable stepping-stone for the 5-year-old mare toward the $1 million Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park on April 17. Letruska won the Dec. 12 Rampart at Gulfstream by 6 3/4 lengths prior to a similarly dominant triumph in the Jan. 31 Houston Ladies Classic in Texas.