Strong casts for Fountain of Youth undercard stakes

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The Fountain of Youth won’t be the only race of consequence Saturday at Gulfstream Park. Not even close.

Eight other stakes are on a blockbuster 14-race card that starts at 11:30 a.m. Eastern, with all but one of them graded. The Davona Dale, with 50 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Oaks to the winner, is perhaps the most important supporting event.

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This was the outlook just prior to the races being drawn Wednesday afternoon:

◗ Grade 2, $200,000 Davona Dale: Fly So High, an impressive allowance winner here in early January, could vie for favoritism in this one-turn mile for 3-year-old fillies with Take Charge Paula, already a four-time stakes winner. Also entered are Alter Moon, Cache, Heavenhasmynikki, Miss Mo Mentum, and Sultry.

◗ Grade 2, $200,000 Mac Diarmida: The Mike Maker trio of Oscar Nominated, Markitoff, and Run Time were among at least 12 older horses entered in the 23rd running of this 1 3/8-mile turf race. Some of the others are Bernay, Gold Shield, Muqtaser, Nessy, Sadler’s Joy, and Some in Tieme.

◗ Grade 3, $150,000 Canadian Turf: Highland Sky, Shakhimat, Galleon Mast, and Hogy are among a well-matched field of at least eight older horses in this one-mile turf race.

◗ Grade 3, $150,000 The Very One: The 2017 Queen’s Plate winner, Holy Helena, will make her first start in a turf stakes following a sharp allowance triumph in her turf debut here Feb. 4 for Stronach Stables and trainer Jimmy Jerkens. A short field was likely for this 1 3/16-mile race.

◗ Grade 3, $100,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint: Favorable Outcome, the winner of the Swale here last year and most recently third in the Grade 1 Malibu, will make his 4-year-old debut against at least nine others in this 6 1/2-furlong race. Other starters include Extravagant Kid, Mr. Jordan, and Eight Town.

◗ Grade 3, $100,000 Palm Beach: Speed Franco, the winner of the most recent race in the local series for 3-year-old turf horses, the Feb. 3 Dania Beach, is one of at least seven in this 1 1/16-mile race.

◗ Grade 3, $100,000 Herecomesthebride: Thewayiam, already a winner of the Ginger Brew and Sweetest Chant at this meet, figures as a solid favorite for trainer Graham Motion and jockey Jose Ortiz in a field of at least six 3-year-old fillies in this 1 1/16-mile turf race.

◗ $100,000 Sand Springs: Celestine will face at least six other female turf milers when favored to build on a record that includes a Grade 1 victory and more than $1.1 million in career earnings.