(February 14, 2004) - Read The Footnotes, under jockey Jerry Bailey, won the Fountain Of Youth (GII) at Gulfstream Park Saturday, taking a stretch-long duel by a neck over Second Of June. The top pair were nearly eight lengths in front of third place finisher Silver Wagon.

Read The Footnotes made it three wins in a row with Saturday's win, taking the Remsen (GII) and Nashua (GIII), both at Aqueduct, last fall. Overall, he has won five out of six, his only loss being a sixth place finish in the Champagne (GI) at Belmont.

The Fountain Of Youth marked Read The Footnotes' three-year-old debut, but trainer Richard Violette was quietly confident before the race, saying it was time to see if he ready to face this kind of class test. The New York bred son of Smoke Glacken responded to the challenge of Second Of June and jockey Cornelio Velasquez.

Second Of June actually had the lead as they entered the stretch, as longshot pacesetter Frisky Spider began to fade. He was joined quickly by Read The Footnotes, who had run third most of the way. Second Of June dug in very gamely on the rail, but the eventual winner wore him down near the wire.

"I needed every bit he had in him," said Bailey, who was riding his horse furiously down the lane. "Neither horse wanted to lose."

"We were grinding it out and I thought the layoff would get to us, but it didn't," trainer Violette said. "He's a very fast horse, he's five for six, and he's the real deal." He indicated that the Florida Derby (GI) would be next for his star colt.

Read The Footnotes earned $150,000 for the victory, bringing his career mark to $390,660 for owner Klaravich Stables, Inc. Read the Footnotes paid $6.20, $3.20 and $2.20. Second of June returned $2.60 and $2.20. Silver Wagon's show price $2.60. The $2 exacta paid $13.60.

Completing the order of finish was El Prado Rob in fourth, followed by Sir Oscar, Broadway View, Frisky Spider and Hopefortheroses.

UNDERCARD: Two-year-old champion Birdstone also made his three-year-old debut at Gulfstream Saturday, easily taking a 1 mile and 70 yard allowance race by three lengths, as the 1-5 favorite, over five opponents.

"That was great, just what I was looking for," trainer Nick Zito said. "There's always doubt when a horse hasn't raced in a while."

Birdstone's next race is uncertain, but he could end up in the Florida Derby against Read The Footnotes.

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