Upstart to face seven in Fountain of Youth

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A field of just eight 3-year-olds, led by Holy Bull Stakes winner Upstart, was drawn Monday for Saturday’s $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes. The Grade 2, 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth is the last of eight stakes on Saturday’s card, which also features the 2015 debut of the multiple Eclipse Award winner Main Sequence in the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida.

Upstart, an impressive 4 3/4-length winner of the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull, drew post No. 7 with regular rider Jose Ortiz aboard. He’ll break just outside of his chief rival, Frosted, whom he easily defeated in the Holy Bull. Frosted will race with blinkers on for the first time in the Fountain of Youth.
The remainder of the field, in post-position order, consists of Juan and Bina (Javier Castellano), Bluegrass Singer (Paco Lopez), Frammento (John Velazquez), Gorgeous Bird (Joel Rosario), Itsaknockout (Luis Saez), and Danny Boy (Corey Lanerie).

Trainer Rick Violette said he was pleased with the draw while somewhat surprised that Upstart, who broke from post No. 8 in the Holy Bull, will have to face only seven rivals in the Fountain of Youth.

“I actually wouldn’t have minded being further inside, where he could sit in the pocket and get some experience down in there,” said Violette. “I’m guessing Frosted, with the blinkers on, will show more speed than he did in the Holy Bull, and I think Itsaknockout has some speed, too. He could wind up getting the same kind of stalking trip he did last time, although remember that day the pace was 48 and change. If it’s 47 and change Saturday, we might not be as close. The main thing is for Jose to step on the gas a little early to get whatever position is available and then ride the race from there.”

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Violette said things could not have gone any better for Upstart since the Holy Bull.

“I treated him a little kinder since his last start. He’s had two breezes and two-minute licked a mile, which was awesome,” said Violette. “The fitness the last race secured for us has to be a benefit, and coming back in four weeks, I think we’re in a good spot. He couldn’t be doing any better.”

Main Sequence will break from the rail under regular rider Rajiv Maragh while facing seven opponents in the 1 3/8-mile Mac Diarmida. Main Sequence was perfect in four starts, all against Grade 1 competition, in 2014. He breezed an easy half-mile in 50 seconds in company with Ring Weekend on Monday at Palm Meadows.

The Grade 2 Davona Dale for 3-year-old fillies lured a full field of 14, led by Birdatthewire, the impressive winner of the seven-furlong Forward Gal Stakes in her 2015 debut. The lineup also includes a pair from the barn of trainer Todd Pletcher, Eskenformoney and Enchantress.

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The four other graded stakes on the outstanding card are the Grade 3 Rampart at a mile for older fillies and mares, the Grade 3 The Very One for fillies and mares going 11 furlongs on turf, the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint at 6 1/2 furlongs, and the Grade 3 Canadian Turf going a mile on grass.