Gulfstream: Sky Captain seems likely to pass Fountain of Youth

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Eleven horses were entered for Saturday's Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park, but at least one, Sky Captain, figures to come out at scratch time. Trainer Mark Casse said Wednesday that barring any significant scratches, he’ll come out and await either Turfway’s Battaglia or the Grade 3 Gotham at Aqueduct for Sky Captain’s stakes debut. Both races will be decided March 2.

“If we had drawn the rail or the 2 hole, I might have gone for it, but not from where we’re at,” said Casse, referring to the fact that Sky Captain drew post 7 for the Fountain of Youth. “There is definitely a significant speed bias on this track, especially in races going a mile and one-sixteenth with such a short run to the first turn. That combined with the fact it’s an 11-horse field, and I’m probably going to scratch, although he’s training well and sitting on go up at Palm Meadows if something changes and I decide at the last minute to run.”

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

Casse also reported that his top 2-year-old prospect, Uncaptured, continues to train well in Ocala and is now likely to make his 3-year-old debut in the Grade 3 Spiral at Turfway on March 23 rather than the ungraded Rushaway the same afternoon.

“He breezed a half-mile in 47 and galloped out five-eighths in 1:00 on Tuesday and is doing really well,” Casse said. “I was a little worried we were going to be behind with him, but I’m a lot less worried now. He’s really come around nicely, and if he continues to do as well as he is, we’ll probably head to the Spiral and go for the Derby points instead of the Rushaway.”