Expert Pick of the Week: 2024 Fountain of Youth Stakes

Feb 29, 2024 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

A superb field of nine three-year-olds will travel 1 1/16 miles on the Gulfstream Park main surface in Saturday’s $400,000 Fountain of Youth S. (G2). The 2024 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series contest will reward the top-five finishers with qualifying points towards the Run for the Roses on a 50-25-15-10-5 basis.

Conditioner Todd Pletcher has a formidable duo in the deep field, and I am banking on both of his horses running huge. Speak Easy debuted on the course on January 27 and gave a fine impression of himself when posting a stylish, 1 3/4-length victory in a seven-furlong maiden special weight event. The Kentucky-bred son of Constitution was assigned the rail in that heat, and he broke alertly while contesting a solid pace prior to powering home in the stretch in a very professional manner.

Speak Easy has posted a pair of nice morning drills at Palm Beach Downs in the interim, and I expect the colt to move forward in his second lifetime appearance, and first going a route of ground, as well. Irad Ortiz, Jr. retains the ride atop the exciting prospect.

One year after @KentuckyDerby winner Mage won a Pegasus World Cup Day maiden race at Gulfstream Park, Speak Easy impressed in an identical maiden contest.

Your KY Derby Maiden Watch 👀 ⤵️ https://t.co/bmUgPnRh4w

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) January 29, 2024

Breeders’ Futurity (G1) victor Locked had a very successful juvenile campaign and is the one to beat while making his sophomore debut. Third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita to cap 2023, the chestnut son of Gun Runner has been working steadily since December in advance of this race, and he figures to give a nice account of himself while making his first lifetime run over the surface.

Locked has earned strong Brisnet Late Pace figures in each of his quartet of career outings to date, and the $425,000 yearling purchase lands in a field where the tempo will surely be a healthy one, too. The Kentucky-bred will stalk the pace before being asked for his best in the lane under the guidance of regular pilot Jose Ortiz.

Expert Pick

An exacta box with #1 Speak Easy and #8 Locked in the 2024 Fountain of Youth Stakes is the Best Bet of the Week.