| Grade II race | |
|---|---|
| Fountain of Youth Stakes | |
| Location | Gulfstream Park Hallandale Beach, Florida |
| Inaugurated | 1945 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | www.gulfstreampark.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1-1/16 Miles (8 1/2 furlongs) |
| Track | Dirt, left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds |
| Weight | Assigned |
| Purse | $400,000 |
| Bonuses | Usually run in late February |
The Fountain of Youth Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida at the beginning of March. A Grade II event open to three-year-olds willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt, it offers a purse of $400,000. It is the final stakes prep to the Florida Derby and is an official prep race for the Kentucky Derby.
The race was named for the mythical Florida spring that granted eternal youth, it was sought by Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon who searched throughout the south eastern United States for it but never found the fountain.
Four colts, Tim Tam (1958), Kauai King (1966), Spectacular Bid (1979), and Thunder Gulch (1995) won this race then went on to become "Dual Classic Winners," the first three won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes the last won the Derby and the Belmont Stakes. The 1985 winner, Proud Truth, won that year's Breeders' Cup Classic.
The Fountain of Youth Stakes was inaugurated in 1945 and run at various distances until 1953 when it was modified to 1 1/16 miles. In 2005, it was changed to a distance of 1⅛ miles. In 2009, it was run at one mile. In 2012, Gulfstream added a second finish line so the Fountain of Youth and other dirt races could be contested at 1 1/16 miles.
The race was run twice in 1947 (at the beginning of the year for 3-year-olds and at the end of the year for 2-year-olds). The race was run in two divisions in 1953, 1983, 1986 and 1993.
Contents |
Speed record:
Most wins by an owner:
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Distance (Miles) |
Time |
Purse |
Grade |
| 2011 | Soldat | 3 | Alan Garcia | Kiaran McLaughlin | Clarke, Robertson, Braverman & Namcook Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:50.23 | $400,000 | II |
| 2010 | Eskendereya | 3 | John Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Zayat Stables | 1-1/8 | 1:48.87 | $250,000 | II |
| 2009 | Quality Road | 3 | John Velazquez | James A. Jerkens | Edward P. Evans | 1 mile | 1:35.01 | $350,000 | II |
| 2008 | Cool Coal Man | 3 | Kent Desormeaux | Nick Zito | Robert V. LaPenta | 1-1/8 | 1:50.07 | $350,000 | II |
| 2007 | Scat Daddy | 3 | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Scatuorchio & Tabor | 1-1/8 | 1:49.11 | $350,000 | II |
| 2006 | First Samurai * | 3 | Edgar Prado | Frank L. Brothers | Bruce Lunsford/Robbins | 1-1/8 | 1:49.00 | $300,000 | II |
| 2005 | High Fly | 3 | Jerry D. Bailey | Nick Zito | Live Oak Plantation | 1-1/8 | 1:49.70 | $300,000 | II |
| 2004 | Read the Footnotes | 3 | Jerry D. Bailey | Richard Violette, Jr. | Klaravich Stables | 1-1/16 | 1:42.71 | $250,000 | II |
| 2003 | Trust n Luck | 3 | Cornelio Velasquez | Ralph Ziadie | Paul Robsham | 1-1/16 | 1:43.33 | $200,000 | I |
| 2002 | Booklet | 3 | Jorge Chavez | John T. Ward, Jr. | John C. Oxley | 1-1/16 | 1:44.49 | $200,000 | I |
| 2001 | Songandaprayer | 3 | Edgar Prado | John F. Dowd | Bobby Hurley | 1-1/16 | 1:43.48 | $200,000 | I |
| 2000 | High Yield | 3 | Pat Day | D. Wayne Lukas | M. Tabor & R & B Lewis | 1-1/16 | 1:42.56 | $200,000 | I |
| 1999 | Vicar | 3 | Shane Sellers | Carl Nafzger | James B. Tafel | 1-1/16 | 1:45.64 | $200,000 | I |
| 1998 | Lil's Lad | 3 | Jerry D. Bailey | Neil J. Howard | Durst/Farish/Centennial | 1-1/16 | 1:42.63 | $200,000 | II |
| 1997 | Pulpit | 3 | Shane Sellers | Frank L. Brothers | Claiborne Farm | 1-1/16 | 1:41.86 | $200,000 | II |
| 1996 | Built For Pleasure | 3 | Gary Boulanger | Tommy Heard, Jr. | Tommy Heard, Jr. | 1-1/16 | 1:43.64 | $200,000 | II |
| 1995 | Thunder Gulch | 3 | Mike E. Smith | D. Wayne Lukas | Michael Tabor | 1-1/16 | 1:43.21 | $200,000 | II |
| 1994 | Dehere | 3 | Craig Perret | Reynaldo Nobles | Due Process Stable | 1-1/16 | 1:44.70 | $200,000 | II |
| 1993 # | Duc d'Sligovil | 3 | Julie Krone | Jeremy McNeill | Ray McNeill | 1-1/16 | 1:45.16 | $187,500 | II |
| 1993 # | Storm Tower | 3 | Rick Wilson | Ben Perkins, Jr. | Charles Hesse | 1-1/16 | 1:44.98 | $187,500 | II |
| 1992 | Dance Floor | 3 | Chris Antley | D. Wayne Lukas | Oaktown Stable | 1-1/16 | 1:45.32 | $250,000 | II |
| 1991 | Fly So Free | 3 | Jose A. Santos | Scotty Schulhofer | T. & E. Valando | 1-1/16 | 1:44.30 | $122,500 | II |
| 1990 | Shot Gun Scott | 3 | Dave Penna | Ronald J. Sarazin | Jean Friedberg/A. Scott Hamilton | 1-1/16 | 1:44.60 | $130,000 | II |
| 1989 | Dixieland Brass | 3 | Randy Romero | Charles Peoples | Bayard Sharp/W. Farish | 1-1/16 | 1:44.60 | $130,000 | II |
| 1988 | Forty Niner | 3 | Eddie Maple | Woody Stephens | Claiborne Farm | 1-1/16 | 1:43.20 | $165,000 | II |
| 1987 | Bet Twice | 3 | Craig Perret | Warren A. Croll, Jr. | Blanche P. Levy/Cisley Stable | 1-1/16 | 1:43.40 | $167,500 | II |
| 1986 # | Ensighn Rhythm | 3 | Julio Pezua | Leo Azpurua, Jr. | Lushland Farm | 1-1/16 | 1:45.60 | $130,000 | II |
| 1986 # | My Prince Charming | 3 | Jose A. Santos | Newcome Green | Don Aronow | 1-1/16 | 1:45.00 | $130,000 | II |
| 1985 | Proud Truth | 3 | Jorge Velasquez | John M. Veitch | Darby Dan Farm | 1-1/16 | 1:43.60 | $175,000 | II |
| 1984 | Darn That Alarm | 3 | Mike Venezia | George Gianos | Happy Valley Farm | 1-1/16 | 1:43.00 | $95,000 | II |
| 1983 # | Highland Park | 3 | Don Brumfield | Anthony Basile | Bwamazon Farm | 1-1/16 | 1:44.60 | $75,500 | II |
| 1983 # | Copelan | 3 | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | Mitch Griffin | Fred W. Hooper | 1-1/16 | 1:43.60 | $75,500 | II |
| 1982 | Star Gallant | 3 | Sandy Hawley | Leonard Imperlo | Buckram Oak Farm | 1-1/16 | 1:43.20 | $91,000 | II |
| 1981 | Akureyri | 3 | Eddie Maple | Woody Stephens | Hickory Tree Stable | 1-1/16 | 1:44.40 | $80,000 | III |
| 1980 | Naked Sky | 3 | Jerry D. Bailey | Neal Winick | Maribel G. Blum | 1-1/16 | 1:43.80 | $50,000 | III |
| 1979 | Spectacular Bid | 3 | Ron Franklin | Bud Delp | Hawksworth Farm | 1-1/16 | 1:41.00 | $60,000 | III |
| 1978 | Sensitive Prince | 3 | Mickey Solomone | H. Allen Jerkens | Top the Marc Stable | 1-1/16 | 1:41.20 | $37,500 | III |
| 1977 | Ruthies Native | 3 | Craig Perret | Eugene Jacobs | Ruth A. Perlmutter | 1-1/16 | 1:42.00 | $45,000 | III |
| 1976 | Sonkisser | 3 | Braulio Baeza | Stephen A. DiMauro | Harold Snyder | 1-1/16 | 1:43.80 | $37,500 | III |
| 1975 | Greek Answer | 3 | Mickey Solomone | Frank H. Merrill, Jr. | W. Preston Gilbride | 1-1/16 | 1:42.80 | $37,500 | III |
| 1974 | Green Gambados | 3 | Chuck Baltazar | John W. Jacobs | Harbor View Farm | 1-1/16 | 1:42.40 | $77,400 | III |
| 1973 | Shecky Greene | 3 | Braulio Baeza | Lou M. Goldfine | Joseph Kellman | 1-1/16 | 1:43.80 | $37,650 | III |
A # designates that the race was run in two divisions in 1993, 1986 and 1983.
* In 2006, Corinthian won but was disqualified for interference and placed third.
MI Developments Inc. announced August 27, 2010 a special bonus program involving tracks owned by the company that could result in a $5.5 million bonus for the winner of the 2011 Preakness Stakes. MID also announced that purses of the Florida Derby and Santa Anita Derby would both be increased to $1 million. MID said the "historic and unique bonus program" called "Preakness 5.5" is designed to "allow both east and west coast based 3-year-olds to qualify by having the preliminary races at Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields."
In addition to the purses earned in the qualifying races and the Preakness on May 21, 2011, the owner of a horse winning the bonus would receive $5 million and the trainer would get $500,000. "The purpose of this grand prize is to provide a spectacular event for the fans and to create a potential life changing experience for the stakeholders of the racing industry," Frank Stronach, chairman of MID, said in a statement.
To qualify for the Preakness 5.5 at Gulfstream Park, a horse must win either the Holy Bull Stakes or the Fountain of Youth Stakes and then go on to win the Florida Derby on April 3, 2011. To qualify for the Preakness 5.5 at Santa Anita Park, a horse must win either the Robert B. Lewis Stakes or San Felipe Stakes and then go on to win the Santa Anita Derby. The winner of the El Camino Real Derby, which is scheduled to be run on Feb. 12, 2011 at Golden Gate Fields, will also qualify for the Preakness 5.5 if it goes on to win the Santa Anita Derby.
MID also announced that XpressBet will sponsor the XpressBet.55, a consolation prize of $550,000 ($500,000 to the owner and $50,000 to the trainer) to be awarded to the winner of the 2011 Preakness if that horse was not eligible for the Preakness $5.5 million bonus but was a runner in one of the initial qualifying races and finished first, second, or third at the Santa Anita Derby or Florida Derby.
Paths to $5,500,000 Preakness Bonus:
1) win Holy Bull Stakes + win the Florida Derby + win The Preakness Stakes
2) win Fountain of Youth Stakes + win the Florida Derby + win The Preakness Stakes
3) win Robert B. Lewis Stakes + win the Santa Anita Derby + win The Preakness Stakes
4) win San Felipe Stakes + win the Santa Anita Derby + win The Preakness Stakes
5) win El Camino Real Derby + win the Santa Anita Derby + win The Preakness Stakes
Paths to $550,000 XpressBet Bonus:
1) run in Holy Bull Stakes + win, place or show in the Florida Derby or win, place or show in the Santa Anita Derby + win The Preakness Stakes
2) run in Fountain of Youth Stakes + win, place or show in the Florida Derby or win, place or show in the Santa Anita Derby + win The Preakness Stakes
3) run in Robert B. Lewis Stakes + win, place or show in the Florida Derby or win, place or show in the Santa Anita Derby + win The Preakness Stakes
4) run in San Felipe Stakes + win, place or show in the Florida Derby or win, place or show in the Santa Anita Derby + win The Preakness Stakes
5) run in El Camino Real Derby + win, place or show in the Florida Derby or win, place or show in the Santa Anita Derby + win The Preakness Stakes