A field of 10 line up in the $300,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park. (Photo credit: Gulfstream Park).
The Shug McGaughey trained Greatest Honour is the one to beat in Saturday’s $300,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park.
The colt was my top pick in the Holy Bull (G3) which he won by 5 ¾ lengths and returned $7.60 to win. His odds are going to be a bit lighter taking on nine foes in the Road to the Kentucky Derby points race.
The race offers up 50-20-10-5 points toward entry into this year’s Kentucky Derby. The colt is currently in 16th place in the Road to the Kentucky Derby points standings with 10 and a win would assure a starting spot in the gate on the first Saturday of May.
The colt put in a pair of works at Payson Park and appears to be coming into the race in top form for the Hall of Fame trainer.
“He had a really good work up there Sunday morning. I was pleased with the work and was very pleased with the way he looked and the way he was acting,” said McGaughey.
The colt is currently listed at 15-1 in early Kentucky Derby betting odds at Jazz Sports.
2021 Holy Bull Replay
The race serves as a prep for the Florida Derby (G1) on March 27 and is one of nine stakes on the 14-race card on Saturday.
Among his main foes are Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) winner Fire At Weill (7-2), Swale (G3) victor Drain the Clock (5-1) and Prime Factor (5-1) who was the beaten favorite when third in the Holy Bull.
The Saffie Joseph trained Drain the Clock drew the rail and will be going two turns for the first time. The colt has won three of his four starts, losing his jockey in his lone loss which came at Delta Downs.
“He’s a very talented horse. He showed that before he even ran. The second or third breeze he showed he had talent,” Joseph said. “The only blemish on his record was at Delta, and that wasn’t his fault. Last time, he couldn’t have won any easier than he did. He’s won all his races in a good fashion. Hopefully, he can keep it going.”
My Best Plays Report for Saturday will include my strongest plays from Oaklawn Park, Gulfstream Park and Aqueduct.
Let’s head out to Gulfstream Park for Saturday’s featured race of the day:
Gulfstream Park Race 14 The Fountain of Youth (G2) 6:10 ET
8 Greatest Honour 9-5
1 Drain the Clock 5-1
4 Fire At Will 7-2
2 Prime Factor 5-1
Greatest Honour
The McGaughey trainee was our top pick in the Holy Bull (G3) last out in his stakes debut and he did not disappoint. The colt was coming off a maiden win in his fourth career start and jumped forward with a good looking effort in the win. Near the back of the pack early after getting off a step slow, he stalked the early pace, came with a four wide bid to sweep to the lead and drew away to win by 5 ¾ lengths. He just gets better with each start and looks as if he still has plenty of upside. He is garnering comparisons to Shug’s Orb who broke his maiden in his fourth start, beat Alw-1 foes then swept the Fountain of Youth, Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby in 2013. The colt is going to be a short price here but tough to take a stand against him in this spot.
Drain the Clock
This colt will go two turns for the first time here for the Joseph barn that is 21% winners moving runners from sprint to route. The colt has won four of his five starts, his lone loss coming at Delta Downs last November where there was an equipment failure which led to him losing his jock. He rebounded by winning the Limehouse here at six furlongs and last out rolled to a 6 ¼ length win in the Swale (G3) at seven furlongs. He draws the rail and owns solid early and mid pace numbers. It seems likely that Zayas is going to send him from the inside. There is some speed to his outside so the early fractions could be contested. He has enough pedigree to handle more ground, by MacLean’s Music out of an Arch mare that has dropped two other winners including Amazing Audrey ($225,408) who was a four-time winner, all in turf routes.
Fire At Will
It will be this guy’s first start over a fast main track for the Maker trainee. The colt makes his first start since winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) by three lengths at Keeneland last November. Only three he beat in that race have started since including Mutasaabeq who won the Mucho Macho Man here on the main track on Jan. 2. The colt has been working steadily over the main track here over the last month and has looked as if he is handling dirt well. His pedigree does scream turf. His only try on the main track came in the slop at Saratoga last September where he won the off the turf With Anticipation which was his second career start. Maker is 17% winners with runners coming back off a 61–180-day layoff. He reunites with Carmouche who was aboard him or his win in the Pilgrim (G2) two back at Belmont Park.
Wagering
WIN: Greatest Honour to win at 9-5 or better.
EXACTA: 8 / 1,2,4,7 and 1,8 / 1,4,8
