Green Light Go confirmed for Fountain of Youth; Structor out

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Green Light Go is in but Structor will be out when entries are drawn early Wednesday afternoon for Saturday’s Grade 2 Fountain of Youth.

Trainer Jimmy Jerkens said Monday he intends to run his Grade 2 winner Green Light Go in the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth, but the much-anticipated 3-year-old and main-track debut for the undefeated Chad Brown-trainee Structor will have to wait another day.

“Structor is not going to run in the Fountain of Youth,” Brown told Daily Racing Form over the weekend. “He had a minor setback and I’m still in the process of determining a new schedule for him.”

Structor was a finalist for 2-year-old champion after going perfect in three starts, all on grass, including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, last season.

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Green Light Go won the Grade 2 Saratoga Special and finished second behind Tiz the Law in the Grade 1 Champagne to close his juvenile campaign. He opened the new year finishing a non-threatening third behind Mischevious Alex in the seven-furlong Swale on Feb. 1.

“That race was a little disappointing,” Jerkens said. “I thought they’d be more spread out down the backside instead of clumped up like that, and he wasn’t in a very comfortable spot. He ran evenly down the lane at least, which was encouraging. He picked up the bit again a little at the end.”

Green Light Go has worked twice since the Swale, including six furlongs in 1:13 last Friday at Palm Meadows.

“He’s trained well since his last start, he had a nice work the other day in company with Mihos,” Jerkens said. “He seems to be moving forward. Now it’s time to see what we have. It’s hard to say where he fits distance-wise. He’s a son of Hard Spun, who gets all sorts of horses, so you can’t go by him. The dam [Light Green] is by Pleasantly Perfect. She was a sprinter, and her mother was a sprinter. But his body type changed over the winter. He’s become longer and more slender through the middle, like he might be a router. I just hope he draws a good post. We’ve got to give it a shot and see where we stand.”

Javier Castellano will again have the call on Green Light Go in the Fountain of Youth.

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A field of eight 3-year-olds is shaping up for the race and along with Green Light Go figures to include likely favorites Dennis’ Moment and Chance It, As Seen On Tv, Ete Indien, Gear Jockey, Shotski, and The Falcon.

The Fountain of Youth draw takes place Wednesday after the first race and will be broadcast live on the Gulfstream Park simulcast show. First post Saturday is set for 11:30 a.m.

Chance It breezed a very easy three-eighths in 34.62 seconds before galloping out a half-mile into the clubhouse turn in 47.32 with regular rider Tyler Gaffalione aboard shortly after the renovation break here Monday, capping off a strong series of works since his game win over As Seen On Tv in the one-mile Mucho Macho Man seven weeks earlier.

“I thought he went extremely well this morning,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “It was an easy work, the time was good, but the most important thing was the way he did it. He traveled well, on the bridle, and it didn’t seem to faze him in the least. Obviously, this is going to be a tough spot, but we feel we’re bringing a horse over with as much talent and ability as any of them. He still has to run his race, but if he does, I think we have as good a chance to win as anybody.”

The previous morning, Dennis’ Moment worked an easy four furlongs in 48.02 with his regular exercise rider, Tammy Fox, in the saddle, galloping out five-eighths in 1:01.42 while also never really being asked at any point. Dennis’ Moment has been away since his eventful trip in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, when he lost all chance after stumbling badly at the start.

“I thought it went perfect,” trainer Dale Romans said of Dennis’ Moment’s final Fountain of Youth prep. “I told Tammy to break him off at the half-mile pole and just sit on him, don’t do a thing. He galloped out strong and looked good to me.”

Flavien Prat will replace Irad Ortiz Jr., who will be in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, aboard Dennis’ Moment in the Fountain of Youth.