The 73rd renewal of the Fountain of Youth – the second of 16 Championship Series races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve – will award 85 points to the Top 4 finishers: 50 to first, 20 to second, 10 to third and 5 to fourth. Impressive debut winner Hidden Scroll is the 9-5 favorite in the field of 11 that also attracted stakes winners Vekoma and Signalman.
The 1 1/16-mile race goes as Race 13 at Gulfstream Park with a scheduled post time of 5:32 p.m. (all times Eastern). On Friday, trainer Aidan O’Brien has a pair of Triple Crown nominees – favored Western Australia (IRE) and second-choice Van Beethoven – entered in the Patton at Ireland’s Dundalk, which offers 20-8-4-2 points on the European Road to the Kentucky Derby. Later Friday afternoon, a pair of first-level allowances could produce starters in next-round preps. Mucho is odds-on in a six-furlong sprint at Gulfstream. Roadster, Dessman and Nolo Contesto are entered to race one mile at Santa Anita. There’s only one race this week on Road to the Kentucky Oaks. Champion 2-year-old filly Jaywalk is the 2-5 favorite in the Gulfstream Park’s Grade II, $200,000 Davona Dale (Race 12 at 5:01 p.m.). The 145th runnings of the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles and $3 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) for 3- year-olds at 1 ¼ miles will be staged at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. in nine weeks on Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4, respectively.
UPCOMING ROAD TO THE DERBY RACES
Date Race Track Top 4 Points
March 1 Patton* Dundalk 20-8-4-2
March 2 Fountain of Youth GP 50-20-10-5
March 6 Road to the Derby* Kempton 20-8-4-2
March 9 Gotham Aqueduct 50-20-10-5
March 9 San Felipe Santa Anita 50-20-10-5
March 9 Tampa Bay Derby Tampa Bay Downs 50-20-10-5
March 9 Jeff Ruby Steaks Turfway Park 20-8-4-2
March 16 Rebel Oaklawn Park 50-20-10-5
March 23 Louisiana Derby Fair Grounds 100-40-20-10
March 24 Sunland Derby Sunland Park 50-20-10-5
March 30 UAE Derby Meydan 100-40-20-10
March 30 Florida Derby GP 100-40-20-10
March 31 Fukuryu# Nakyama 40-16-8-4
April 6 Wood Memorial Aqu 100-40-20-10
April 6 Blue Grass Keeneland 100-40-20-10
April 6 Santa Anita Derby Santa Anita 100-40-20-10
April 11 Cardinal Condition* Chelmsford 30-12-6-3
April 13 Arkansas Derby Oaklawn Park 100-40-20-10
April 13 Lexington Keeneland 20-8-4-2
# Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby
* European Road to the Kentucky Derby
Scully’s Kentucky Derby Top 10
1. IMPROBABLE: Top billing heading into San Felipe
2. GAME WINNER: San Felipe won’t be easy spot for 2yo champ’s return
3. HIDDEN SCROLL: Impressive debut winner tests mettle in Fountain of Youth
4. COUNTRY HOUSE: Plenty of upside for Risen Star runner-up
5. WAR OF WILL: Flashy winner of Risen Star and Lecomte at Fair Grounds
6. VEKOMA: Unbeaten Nashua scorer tries two turns in Fountain of Youth
7. BOURBON WAR: Fountain of Youth next for sharp Gulfstream allowance winner
8. GUNMETAL GRAY: His late kick could prove effective at some point
9. SIGNALMAN: Kentucky Jockey Club hero back for Fountain in Youth
10. MAXIMUM SECURITY: Exciting colt faces class and distance check in Florida Derby