Soldat draws off in Fountain of Youth; To Honor and Serve third
Soldat put away To Honor and Serve turning for home and stamped himself as a major prospect for the 137th Kentucky Derby when speeding away to a clear-cut victory Saturday in the 65th running of the Grade 2, $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.
Ridden by Alan Garcia, Soldat returned $4.80 as the slight favorite in a field of eight Triple Crown hopefuls. Gourmet Dinner, the 7-2 third choice, rallied to be second, about two lengths behind the winner, while To Honor and Serve, the 8-5 second choice making his 3-year-old debut, faded to be third. Bowman’s Causeway was fourth.
Soldat, owned by Harvey A. Clarke and W. Craig Robertson III and trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, finished the 1 1/8-mile distance in 1:50.23 over a fast track after setting fractions of 24.34, 47.99, and 1:12.43.
The $2 exacta (1-2) paid $13.80 and the $1 trifecta (1-2-7) returned $18.80.
The Fountain of Youth is the last graded Gulfstream prep toward the April 3 Florida Derby.