Fountain of Youth and Risen Star Stakes Results and Analysis
by Patricia Woo | Feb 22 2010
Two of the most important Kentucky Derby prep races yet were run Saturday, Feb. 20: the $250,000 Gr. 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., and the $300,000 Gr. 2 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, La.
The $250,000 Gr. 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes was the next step on the Triple Crown trail for several highly regarded Derby contenders like Jackson Bend, Buddy's Saint and Eskendereya – one of trainer Todd Pletcher's many talented 3-year-olds. With John Velazquez aboard, Eskendereya settled just off the pace behind Lost Aptitude, who claimed the early lead from another Pletcher hopeful, Aikenite. Race favorite Buddy's Saint, under Jose Lezcano, jostled with Aikenite as they entered the first turn and did not recover, while the pairing of Jackson Bend and Jeremy Rose stalked the leaders.
Around the final turn, Lost Aptitude weakened, allowing third choice Eskendereya to take over the lead. Jackson Bend challenged briefly but could not stay with the Giant's Causeway colt, who drew away in the home stretch to win by an impressive 8 ½ lengths; his winning time was 1:48.87. Second choice Jackson Bend finished second, while Aikenite and Alan Garcia rounded out the top three. Pleasant Prince, Ice Box, Pulsion, Positive Split, Prince Will I Am, Buddy's Saint and Lost Aptitude completed the order of finish.
The Fountain of Youth Stakes is Eskendereya's first graded stakes score. He began 2010 with an allowance race win on Jan. 7, also at Gulfstream Park. Now 2-2-0-0 on the year and with career earnings of $275,700, Eskendereya will now set his sights on his final prep before the Kentucky Derby, the $750,000 Gr. 1 Florida Derby held on March 20.
Another of Todd Pletcher's Derby prospects was victorious on Feb. 20, this time in the $300,000 Gr. 2 Risen Star Stakes moments later at Fair Grounds Race Course. It was Discreetly Mine, a son of Mineshaft, who led the 1 1/16-mile race from gate to wire. With Javier Castellano aboard, Discreetly Mine claimed the lead immediately, with challengers Tempted to Tapit (under David Cohen) and race favorite Drosselmeyer (under Kent Desormeaux) in pursuit. But Discreetly Mine never faltered, turning back a late bid from Tempted to Tapit, and hit the wire 1 ½ lengths ahead of his closest rival in a time of 1:44.88. Northern Giant and Drosselmeyer rounded out the top four. $100,000 Gr. 3 LeComte Stakes winner Ron the Greek came in sixth of 12 starters.
This is Discreetly Mine's first win in two starts this year. He began his 3-year-old campaign with a fourth-place finish in the $100,000 Spectacular Bid Stakes on Jan. 9, also at Gulfstream Park. In 2009, his first two forays into graded stakes competition netted him two second-best finishes: in the $250,000 Gr. 2 Futurity Stakes and the $400,000 Gr. 1 Champagne Stakes, both at Belmont Park. Next up for the Fountain of Youth Stakes champion is likely a return to Fair Grounds for the $750,000 Gr. 2 Louisiana Derby on March 27.
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