Pletcher has army of runners for Fountain of Youth Day

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Before saddling Prime Factor for the Fountain of Youth, trainer Todd Pletcher will have a busy Saturday with some of his other stakes runners.

One of his top hopes is Fearless in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile, which Pletcher has won a record five times. Fearless, last seen finishing sixth behind Tom’s d’Etat in the Stephen Foster last summer at Churchill Downs, will be returning from an eight-month layoff when he faces the heavily favored Performer.

“It’s a tall order, coming back in a race like this,” said Pletcher. “But he’s been training great, and he won his first two starts last winter at Gulfstream, so we know he likes the track.”

Pletcher also will run Winters Back in the Canadian Turf, Fighting Force in the Palm Beach, and Con Lima in the Herecomesthebride. He is skipping the The Very One with Always Shopping and the Davona Dale with Zaajel.

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Always Shopping will wait for the Orchid on the March 27 Florida Derby card, while Zaajel goes next in the Busher at Aqueduct or the Fair Grounds Oaks. Zaajel won the Jan. 30 Forward Gal to stay unbeaten in two starts.

“I need a little more time with her,” said Pletcher.

Looking ahead to next Saturday at Tampa, Pletcher said he probably will run Promise Keeper and Unbridled Honor in the Tampa Bay Derby and Jouster in the Florida Oaks.

Meanwhile, it won’t be long before Pletcher will be known as Hall of Fame trainer. It was announced Wednesday that Pletcher is on the ballot in his first year of eligibility for the Racing Hall of Fame.