Gulfstream Park: Casiguapo plays catch-up in bid to earn Fountain of Youth berth

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Casiguapo has been out of sight and out of mind since finishing second behind Rise Up in the Grade 3 Delta Jackpot Stakes on Nov. 23. But the runner-up in the 2013 Hopeful is ready to launch his 3-year-old campaign and will try to earn himself a spot back on the Kentucky Derby trail when he takes on eight rivals at Gulfstream Park in Sunday’s first-level optional $75,000 claiming feature at six furlongs.

[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]

Casiguapo was sent to the farm in Ocala to be freshened after making five starts at 2. Along with runner-up finishes in the Delta Jackpot and Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes, he was fourth behind winner Havana and runner-up Honor Code in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes.

“We gave him some time off on the farm and he’s had only two real works since getting back to Calder, so this race will be like a third work for him,” said trainer Mario Morales through an interpreter, clerk of scales Victor Sanchez. “He’s really grown up, gotten bigger and stronger since returning to training, and if he runs well on Sunday we’re going to think about trying him in the Fountain of Youth [on Feb. 22].”

Casiguapo also will have an equipment change for his 3-year-old debut, racing in blinkers for the first time on Sunday.

[Clocker Reports: Get Mike Welsch’s clocker reports from Gulfstream Park and Palm Meadows]

“It’s an experiment, but I think he’ll be an even better horse running with blinkers,” Morales said.

Casiguapo will break from the rail against a field that includes Manhattan Johnnie, who kicks off his 3-year-old campaign after closing out an abbreviated 2-year-old season finishing a distant 10th in the Grade 2 Nashua Stakes.

Cairo Prince unlikely for Fountain of Youth

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said on Friday that he would likely bypass the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth with Holy Bull winner Cairo Prince to await the $1 million, Grade 1 Florida Derby five weeks later, on March 29.

“He bounced out of the race extremely well but the Holy Bull was a very big effort and the Florida Derby will be run under equal weights,” McLaughlin said. “But if he were to really be kicking the barn down over the next couple of weeks, there is a chance we could still run in the Fountain of Youth.”

Cairo Prince dominated a strong field of 3-year-olds with a 5 3/4-length triumph in the Holy Bull, earning a career-best 95 Beyer Speed Figure.

Back from injury, Saez wins

Jockey Gabriel Saez wasted little time returning to the winner’s circle after being sidelined almost six weeks due to a fractured collarbone sustained in a spill over the turf course here on Dec. 13, guiding Little Tom to victory for trainer Tim Hills in Thursday’s fourth race.

“It’s awesome,” said Saez, who turns 26 on Saturday. “I’m just glad to be back and to come back with a win. You can’t beat that.”
Saez had barely returned to action when he incurred his latest injury. Saez previously sustained a hairline fracture near his left elbow in a riding mishap at Delaware Park on Sept. 25.

Saez, whose cousin Luis is third in the jockey standings at the current meet, is best known for his victories in 2008 aboard Proud Spell in the Kentucky Oaks and Alabama Stakes.