Irish War Cry to have one breeze for Fountain of Youth Stakes
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HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Irish War Cry is scheduled to breeze Saturday at the Palm Meadows training center in preparation for his next stop along the Kentucky Derby trail, the March 4 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
The work will be the only one between races for Irish War Cry, who extended his unbeaten record to three when leading all the way to win the Feb. 4 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream. Trainer Graham Motion confirmed Monday that he intends to enter the chestnut Curlin colt in the Grade 2, $400,000 Fountain of Youth at 1 1/16 miles.
His opposition will not include Classic Empire, who has been declared from consideration by trainer Mark Casse in favor of a later prep. Casse said he still might have a Fountain of Youth starter in either State of Honor, third in the Sam F. Davis Stakes, or Lookin for Eight, a recent private acquisition by Gary Barber and John Oxley.
Other confirmed prospects include Gunnevera, second in the Holy Bull, and Three Rules, second in the Swale Stakes the same day. Chad Brown is seriously considering Practical Joke for the race, while Todd Pletcher said he intends to run one of his many highly regarded 3-year-olds, with Sonic Mule, Made You Look, and Third Day among them.
“I don’t expect it will be more than one horse,” Pletcher said. “I will try to spread everyone out, and I probably won’t make a decision until after next week.”
The Fountain of Youth comes four weeks before the richest Gulfstream race for 3-year-olds, the $1 million Florida Derby on April 1. The Fountain of Youth will be one of nine stakes on a blockbuster March 4 program.
