Saturday February 17, 2001

The 55th Fountain Of Youth Stakes
10th @ Gulfstream

2. High Cascade...Baze/112...Failed by 5 in his two-turn bow. It wasn't completely unexpected as his last race last year was a lackluster effort as well. The breeding looks good. Could it be he wants no part of the distance? Lukas winning only 7% at the meet, but he makes the call on perennial Northern California super-jock, Russell Baze.

3. Songandaprayer...Prado...Didn't much care for Gulfstream in the Holy Bull. That might be a damaging blow to his classic chances. A couple of 7 furlong works later, here he is again for another two-turn assignment. Is this his last chance to join the trail?

4. Global Gait...Nakatani...Baffert's mystery horse, late of the Maryland circuit, makes his debut for fun boy. A winner of his last 3 by over 20 lengths, including the Maryland Juvenile, his times were nothing to write home about. Neither was his competition. That last win though is slightly impressive. Any 2 year-old that can win at 9 panels late in the year should be considered live in this spot. Baffert's layoff record is stellar. Getting a fair price should be the priority here.

5. City Zip...Santos...Let's face it, running strong late in a 7 furlong affair with sharp fractions is in a different continent from doing that around both turns. This guy, while an extremely nice animal, has never won past a mile, and failed miserably when facing this level of competition.

6. Outofthebox...Bailey...Won a mid-level allowance here on opening day. Hot trainer Bernie Flint calls on Bailey, who once again is pushing 30% at the meet. This is a whole different field here though, and though he's coming off a mini-layoff, I expect he'll bounce a bit here, and that might be enough to keep him out of the money.

7. Buckle Down Ben...Velasquez...Got what he needed in the Holy Bull and works suggest he is sitting on a winner. Klesaris and Velasquez winning 27% with a nice healthy ROI. I've got a feeling he's going to be smiling for the camera.

8. Radical Riley...Nunez...Making his 14th start, is the Calder early meet magic slipper going to fit again? Probably not as this is where the BIG boys start progressing and the pretenders start undressing. Happy to see sire Wheaton (a son of Alydar) making his mark. I'll be playing against him here though.

9. Cee Dee...Migliore...Ohio Valley trooper making his 12th start here. He might be coming to hand at a good time, or he could bounce here. Tough call.

10. Holiday Thunder...Smith...Three two-turn efforts last year in Kentucky and he was no worse than 3rd in any of them. Ward and Oxley appear loaded this spring. It would be nice to see them accomplish the impossible, or what must seem nearly impossible. Not an optimal post position though.

11. Meetyouatthebrig...Day...Didn't care for his first two-turn assignment at Keeneland last fall, so he shortened up and won the Iroquois on BC day at Churchill. Now he'll have to stretch again, but this time after 3 sharp spins at Payson. Outside post hurts, but the works over that deep surface always seem to liven them up here.

           Buckle Down Ben damned near won the Holy Bull right off the shelf for Klesaris. Another step forward here.

            Baffert is trying to complete a Florida double after being blanked here at the BC 2 years ago. Global Gait is his entrant to try and fill up the last half of the Captain Steve/Donn card. Vast improvement needed beyond this point to be considered serious classic material.

            It sure is hard to ignore the Payson works on Meetyouathebrig.

            Holiday Thunder could take a drastic step up here and is a threat all over the Superfecta!