Quality Road (Elusive Quality-Kobla, by Strawberry Road) won the Fountain of Youth Stakes by daylight over Theregoesjojo (Brahms-Slewie Blues, by Seattle Slew) Saturday in one of the better performances by a thtee year old yet this year.
The race got off to an awkward start, as the winner, Capt. Candyman Can (Candy Ride-Stormy Way, by Storm Creek), This Ones For Phil (Untuttable-Heavens Gate, by Septime Ciel), Taquarub (Aldebaran-Honor Bestowed, by Honor Grades) and Break Water Edison (Lemon Drop Kid-August Storm, by Storm Creek) jostled each other and Bee Cee Cee (Songandaprayer-Mighty Ride, by Mighty Appealing) and Theregoesjojo got off slowly. You've got to think all the action dramatically affected the pace setup.
After recovering, This Ones For Phil and Quality Road ran 1-2 down the backside, setting fractions of :23.45, :45.55 and 1:09.40. Quality Road was in front by a length at the top of the stretch and steadily increased his lead down the lane to hit the wire four in front. The final time was 1:35.01.
Theregoesjojo was a clear second-best by four lengths over Beethoven (Sky Mesa-Moonlight Sonata, by Carson City), who was tenth early and dramatically passed tired rivals to be third. Gulfstream still has a wicked speed bias. What kind of horse is he to make up that much ground down the lane? I still haven’t given up on this one.
Next came Capt Candyman Can, This Ones For Phil, Bee Cee Cee, Hutcheston winner Notonthesamepage (Catienus-Blue Holiday, by Cure the Blues), Jack Spratt (Candy Ride-Mayapple, by Miners Mark), Taquarub and Break Water Edison, who was eased.
I see Beethoven moving forward out of this and Quality Road becoming a nice horse, if not a Derby horse. Those still hanging on to Break Water Edison as a Triple Crown hopeful can probably give up on that, and This Ones For Phil still looks like a fair sprinter to me.
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