Next not set for Tempted to Tapit

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Tempted to Tapit worked an easy four furlongs in 49.15 seconds here Monday morning. Several hours later he drew post position 2 for Saturday's Risen Star at the Fair Grounds.

But by early afternoon, trainer Steve Klesaris had not ruled out the possibility that Tempted to Tapit, an impressive maiden winner at Aqueduct in his 3-year-old debut, could still stay here and compete in Saturday's Grade 2 Fountain of Youth.

Entries for the 1 1/8-mile Fountain of Youth close on Wednesday. That's the same day Tempted to Tapit must board a plane for New Orleans if he's to run in the Risen Star.

"There are reasons to go and reasons to stay," said Klesaris. "We drew a good post and I like the distance of a mile and one-sixteenth for the Risen Star a little better than a mile and one-eighth here. But I also like the way he's been moving over this racetrack since he shipped to Florida."

Tempted to Tapit earned a chance at a Kentucky Derby prep by registering a Beyer Speed Figure of 100 for his maiden win in New York.

Another potential Fountain of Youth candidate to complete his work here Monday was Lost Aptitude, who went an easy five furlongs in 1:02.67 for trainer Dale Romans. Lost Aptitude, a stakes winner on grass, has yet to run on dirt.

Sunday was also a busy day for Buddy's Saint and Eskendereya, who figure to vie for favoritism with Jackson Bend in the Fountain of Youth.

Buddy's Saint had a few scary moments during his six-furlong breeze, having to weave his way in and around a set of four members of the Patrick Biancone stable who were two-minute-licking down the stretch. Jockey Jose Lezcano successfully negotiated the traffic, with Buddy's Saint completing his drill in 1:13.66. He galloped out seven-eighths in 1:26.93 and a mile in 1:42.66.

"Patrick actually came up and apologized to me later," said Levine. "But it's just one of those things that can happen in the morning. I told a friend the night before that I'd be happy if he went in 1:13 and a couple, so it worked out perfectly."

Eskendereya and his stablemate Aikenite both worked five furlongs in 1:01.60 at Palm Meadows on Sunday.