Buddy's Saint works for Fountain of Youth
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Buddy's Saint hopes to extend his winning streak in the Fountain of Youth -- Photo by EquiSport Photos
At Gulfstream Park on Sunday, multiple Grade 2 hero BUDDY'S SAINT (Saint Liam) drilled six furlongs in 1:13 2/5 on the fast track in his final major move for Saturday's Fountain of Youth S. (G2). The Bruce Levine trainee posted fractions of :12 3/5, :25 2/5 and :49 2/5.
"He worked really good, but didn't go super fast," Levine said of the colt, who had blitzed six furlongs in a bullet 1:12 in his last work on February 7.
"He went 13 and change and I was really happy with it -- just what I was looking for. He galloped out really good in 27 (for seven furlongs). It wasn't super fast, but he couldn't work any better.
"We're on schedule. He'll have a couple gallops this week and that's it. Everything is behind us now."
Buddy's Saint was last seen capturing the November 28 Remsen S. (G2) at Aqueduct by 4 3/4 lengths.
Three other likely candidates for the Fountain of Youth also worked in Florida Sunday morning. At Gulfstream, PLEASANT PRINCE (Indy King), runner-up in an allowance in his latest, sped five panels in 1:00 1/5.
On the fast track at Palm Meadows, the Todd Pletcher duo of AIKENITE (Yes It's True) and ESKENDEREYA (Giant's Causeway) each zipped five-eighths in 1:00 3/5.
Multiple Grade 1-placed Aikenite, who was fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) two starts ago, is coming off a disappointing sixth in the Holy Bull S. (G3). Pilgrim S. romper Eskendereya, a troubled ninth in the Juvenile two back, rebounded with a driving allowance score at Gulfstream.
