Marconi faces tough assignment in Fountain of Youth

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Although he’s won three of the last five renewals of the Grade 1 Florida Derby, trainer Todd Pletcher has won the primary prep for the race, the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, just once since 2010. That victory came three years ago with Itsaknockout following the stewards’ disqualification of Upstart, who had crossed the wire first.

As usual, Pletcher has a plethora of promising 3-year-olds to choose from for the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth on March 3, led by Marconi, who has shipped down from New York for the race off a troubled third-place finish in the Withers Stakes.

Marconi, a well-bred son of Tapit and the younger brother of Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Mucho Macho Man, figures to get better the farther he goes. Marconi has made all three of his starts at 1 1/8 miles, graduating at second asking by 5 1/2 lengths in his 2-year-old finale before finishing third behind the more seasoned duo of Avery Island and Firenze Fire earlier this month in the Withers. All three starts have come at Aqueduct.

“He seems to have settled in nicely since he’s come down here, and I thought he worked well the other day,” Pletcher said, referring to Marconi’s half-mile breeze in 49.60 seconds last Saturday at Palm Beach Downs. “A mile and one-sixteenth might be a little short for him, but the race looks like it should have some pace in it, and I think that should help.”

Marconi figures to be no better than the fourth choice in the wagering in the Fountain of Youth should the prospective field hold together. Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner and 2-year-old male champion Good Magic will be favored, with Holy Bull Stakes runner-up Free Drop Billy and the undefeated Strike Power also expected to garner support.

Pletcher also said he was pleased with Noble Indy’s third-place finish in last Saturday’s Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds. Noble Indy, who won here in his first two starts, including a two-turn allowance race on Jan. 11, was beaten two lengths by longshot winner Bravazo while earning a career-best 91 Beyer Speed Figure.

“He was real hard to saddle, but aside from that I thought he handled all the other stuff really well – the things I was concerned about, including the starting gate, shipping, and change of scenery,” said Pletcher. “We’ll see how things unfold. He could possibly run back in the Louisiana Derby, although as we know everything can change from week to week with the 3-year-olds at this time of the year.”

Caledonia Road gets started

Caledonia Road, was back on the work tab Wednesday for the first time since winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 4 to secure an Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old filly. She breezed an easy three furlongs in 38.45 from the quarter pole at Palm Meadows. Trainer Ralph Nicks said she galloped out a half-mile in “52 and change.”

“She went very easy, handled it well,” said Nicks.

Caledonia Road had surgery to remove a flake from her ankle following the Breeders’ Cup, but never left her trainer’s barn this winter.

“It was a minor thing, but we didn’t want to leave anything that could harm her going forward,” Nicks said. “She wasn’t breathing any harder when she finished the breeze this morning than from a routine gallop, so we’ll probably come back with a regular half-mile in a week and see where it goes from there. It’s amazing how quick her muscle tone came back and how much stronger she seems to get on a daily basis. It just shows you what good athletes like her can do.”

Nicks said he isn’t sure if the filly can make the Kentucky Oaks in May.

“I’m not ruling the Oaks out, but I’m not going to push her to get there, either,” said Nicks. “Right now, it’s an open avenue.”

◗ Jockey Nik Juarez and agent Jay Rushing have reunited after parting ways last season. Juarez was 10th in the standings with 26 wins at the meet entering Wednesday.