Paolucci to run longshot The Falcon in Fountain of Youth, Nikki and Papa in Davona Dale

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Ron Paolucci resisted the urge to run the maiden filly Nikki and Papa in the Fountain of Youth on Saturday at Gulfstream Park, but perhaps only in deference to his ownership partners.

“I had somebody just buy in for 20 percent of the filly,” Paolucci said Monday from Texas, “and now I own 50 percent of her. I’d love to have run her against the boys if this was like her third start, but she’s only run the one time. Hopefully, we’ll be able to do it when the circumstances are a little more in our favor.”

Nikki and Papa, a $500,000 purchase as a 2-year-old, is an Ohio-bred filly who finished a respectable third despite getting away in a tangle in her only previous start, the Grade 3 Forward Gal on Feb. 1 at Gulfstream. Paolucci has become somewhat notorious in the racing industry for his unconventional ways, but after weeks of contemplating what to do with her next, he and trainer Bob Hess Jr. agreed to forgo the Fountain of Youth and run her instead here Saturday against fillies in the Grade 2 Davona Dale.

And still, Paolucci was intending to be represented with a longshot maiden in the Fountain of Youth when entries for the Grade 2, $400,000 fixture were drawn after the first race here Wednesday. A chestnut colt named The Falcon, most recently second in a Turfway Park maiden race for trainer Anthony Quartarolo, was expected to bring the field to at least eight. Marcos Meneses will ride.

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“He’s going to be 90-1 or whatever, but he’s a closer, and that style looks like it could fit this race,” Paolucci said. “Most of the other horses look like they need to be close to the pace. This is a big, good-looking sucker. He reminds me a lot of Dortmund,” who was well known several years ago for his imposing physique.

Dennis’ Moment is the probable favorite for the 74th Fountain of Youth, a 1 1/16-mile race that offers 85 qualifying points (50-20-10-5) toward the May 2 Kentucky Derby. The Dale Romans-trained colt had his final pre-race breeze here Sunday when going a half-mile in 48 seconds.

Flavien Prat has the call on Dennis’ Moment with his regular rider, Irad Ortiz Jr., away this weekend to ride in Saudi Arabia.

As of Monday, this was the expected field for the Fountain of Youth: As Seen On Tv, Chance It, Dennis’ Moment, Ete Indien, Gear Jockey, Green Light Go, Shotski, and The Falcon.

Chance It, a winner in 4 of 6 starts, is the likely second choice, with Shotski, Ete Indien, and Green Light Go in the next group odds-wise.

As Seen On Tv, a speedy Lookin At Lucky colt, had been considered for other Derby preps by trainer Kelly Breen, including the Gotham or Tampa Bay Derby, both to be run March 7. As Seen On Tv took Chance It to the wire in their last meeting, the Jan. 4 Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream, before losing a head-bob.

“We settled on the Fountain of Youth for a few reasons,” said Breen, based at the nearby Palm Meadows training center. “A little bit because of the timing, a little because the field won’t be that big, but mostly because it’s right in our backyard.

“We’ve had no hiccups or bumps in the road since his last race. His works week after week have been excellent. We’re sitting on go.”

The Fountain of Youth is one of nine graded stakes on a sensational card that also will feature the Grade 2 Davona Dale, a one-mile race worth 85 Kentucky Oaks points.