Grade 2, $300,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes, 1 1/16 miles, Gulfstream Park, Feb. 27, 2021
(50 Derby qualifying points for first, 10 for second, 10 for third, 5 for fourth)

Winner: Greatest Honour, by Tapit
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Owner: Courtlandt Farms
Beyer Speed Figure: 89

Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest Stakes, 1 1/16 miles, Oaklawn Park, Feb. 27, 2021
(10 Derby qualifying points for first, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)

Winner: Essential Quality, by Tapit
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Luis Saez
Owner: Godolphin LLC
Beyer Speed Figure: 96

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The undefeated champion Essential Quality will put his status as the early Kentucky Derby favorite on the line Saturday in the Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

The mile and a sixteenth race will be Essential Quality’s first start at 3 and his first since winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. He’s part of a field of seven that includes Jackie’s Warrior, an Eclipse Awards finalist at 2, and Southern California shipper Spielberg, a Grade 2 winner who has recency on both horses.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla – Although the supporting cast is a strong one, all eyes will be on Greatest Honour as he attempts to continue his forward march along the Kentucky Derby trail with a victory in Saturday’s $300,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles. The Grade 2 fixture highlights an outstanding 14-race program at Gulfstream Park that features nine stakes, eight of them graded, along with the 3-year-old debuts of two Breeders’ Cup winners, Fire At Will in the Fountain of Youth and 2-year-old filly champion Vequist in the Grade 2 Davona Dale.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The field for next Saturday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes remained a work in progress a week out, with only four horses considered definite and a few other fringe players under consideration.

The Gotham lost one expected starter on Friday when trainer Wesley Ward said One Fast Cat, a debut winner at Turfway Park on Feb. 4, would not make the race. Though One Fast Cat worked five furlongs in 1:02.60 at Keeneland on Friday, Ward said the horse missed too much training and will now be pointed to the Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct on April 3.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The colt named Soup and Sandwich will get his shot at making the Kentucky Derby after passing a simple test in an allowance race Wednesday at Tampa Bay Downs.

Soup and Sandwich, a gray Florida-bred by the red-hot sire Into Mischief, faced just two opponents in what amounted to little more than a paid workout when getting a mile and 40 yards in 1:39.65 with jockey Antonio Gallardo up. He earned an 80 Beyer Speed Figure, which followed an eye-catching Jan. 28 debut in a 6 1/2-furlong Gulfstream maiden race that resulted in an 89 Beyer.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla – A field of 10 topped by Holy Bull winner Greatest Honour and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf hero Fire At Will was drawn Wednesday for Saturday’s $300,000 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park. The Grade 2 Kentucky Derby prep tops a card that will feature seven other graded stakes, highlighted by the appearance of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner and 2-year-old filly champion Vequist in the Grade 2 Davona Dale.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Wipe the Slate will cut back to one turn when he ships cross-country from California to run in the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes on March 6, trainer Doug O’Neill confirmed Wednesday.

:: KENTUCKY DERBY 2021: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Jackie’s Warrior established himself as an elite member of his division last year and on Saturday he’ll be looking to pick up where he left off when he launches his 3-year-old season against champion Essential Quality in the Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

“He’s an awfully nice horse that we’re very fortunate to get the chance to run,” said Steve Asmussen, who trains Jackie’s Warrior.

Fire At Will already has proven he’s a terrific grass horse, highlighted by his victory last year in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. But there’s only one time in his lifespan when he’ll be a 3-year-old in the springtime, and that requires serious consideration for the Kentucky Derby.

That time is now, so Fire At Will is going to be given an opportunity to see if he can compete with some of the division’s best dirt runners when he takes on the likes of Greatest Honour, the Holy Bull winner, in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.