Gulfstream Park: Fountain of Youth could be next for My Name Is Michael and Speak Logistics

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - My Name Is Michael and Speak Logistics, the third- and fourth-place finishers in Saturday’s Grade 3 Sam F. Davis at Tampa, could return here on Feb. 23 in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, said their respective trainers, Mott and Eddie Plesa Jr.

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

My Name Is Michael was making his first start for Mott and first on dirt in the Sam Davis, rallying from last after the opening half-mile to finish just over three lengths behind race winner Falling Sky.

“I thought he ran well,” said Mott. “He shuffled himself back a little from the kick-back during the early stages, leveled off midway through the race, and seemed to be closing better than anybody, so there were some encouraging things to take out of this race. We are in the discussion process right now, but I wouldn’t rule out bringing him back in the Fountain of Youth. We’ll definitely consider it.”

Speak Logistics ranged up inside the pacesetter Falling Sky on the final turn of the Sam Davis before taking up sharply near the quarter pole, effectively losing all chance in the Sam Davis.

“He didn’t get the best of starts, he sort of leaped out of there, but I thought he was going to run by the winner at the quarter pole when then the hole closed,” said Plesa. “It’s hard to say what would have happened, although the incident surely took his momentum away. What I really liked is that he showed he doesn’t have to be on the lead and I thought the whole race was a positive experience for him.”

Plesa said the Fountain of Youth and the Tampa Bay Derby were both options for Speak Logistics’s next start.

“I’m anxious to see how the Fountain of Youth comes up,” said Plesa. “We’ll look for the easiest spot. I’m not concerned about the quick turnaround time with him if we go to the Fountain of Youth since he’s had plenty of time off and he’s a fresh horse.”

Plesa also said Itsmyluckyday is doing extremely well since last week’s big win over 2-year-old champion Shanghai Bobby in the Grade 3 Holy Bull. Itsmyluckyday is expected to bypass the Fountain of Youth to await the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 30.