Study Guide: 2026 Fountain of Youth Stakes

Feb 25, 2026 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Commandment wins the Mucho Macho Man Stakes. (Photo by Coglianese Photos)

Saturday’s $425,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park is an important stop on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, awarding 50-25-15-10-5 qualifying points to the top five finishers.

Through the years, the Fountain of Youth has produced 15 Kentucky Derby winners, including Mage in 2023 and Sovereignty in 2025.

Let’s meet the horses entered in the 2026 Fountain of Youth:

Jackson Hole

Jackson Hole wins at Gulfstream Park.(Photo by Coglianese Photo)

Start(s): 2
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: WinStar Farm, CHC, and First Go Racing
Breeder: Springhouse Farm and Hunter Valley Farm
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez

Top Speed Rating: (88) when winning a $125,000 allowance optional claimer at Fair Grounds.
Total Earnings: $60,000

Sire: Nyquist
Dam: Spa Treatment
Color: Bay

Jackson Hole is unbeaten in two starts, most recently leading all the way to win a 1 1/16-mile $125,000 allowance optional claimer at Fair Grounds. But the runner-up, Colt Forty Seven, subsequently finished last of eight in the Risen Star (G2) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, so it’s fair to wonder how Jackson Hole will perform while facing tougher competition in the Fountain of Youth.

A 3YO on the rise! 🌟

JACKSON HOLE is a gate-to-wire winner in R4 at @fairgroundsnola as the 4/5 betting favorite!

Todd Pletcher trains and Flavien Prat had the mount.

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/zymkGMPhhB

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) January 17, 2026

Rockies Balboa

Rockies Balboa wins at Gulfstream Park. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)

Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Charles Monfort, America’s Pastime Stable, Bloom Racing Stable, and Edwin S. Barker
Breeder: Tonya Hunt
Trainer: Dale Romans
Jockey: Luis Saez

Top Speed Rating: (93) when winning an allowance at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $78,465

Sire: Girvin
Dam: Toni Ann’s Miracle
Color: Bay

Rockies Balboa has won his last two starts at Gulfstream Park in decisive fashion. But both were sprints, and he was facing easier competition. Stepping up sharply in class and distance for the Fountain of Youth could be a tricky task.

Talkin

Tallkin wins the Stardale at Saratoga. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Pine Racing Stables, Legendary Thoroughbreds, Belmar Racing and Breeding, and R. A. Hill Stable
Breeder: Fifth Avenue Bloodstock
Trainer: Danny Gargan
Jockey: Joel Rosario

Top Speed Rating: (92) when winning a maiden special weight at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $156,250

Sire: Good Magic
Dam: Rote
Color: Bay

Talkin ran well in his first start on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, rallying to finish second in the one-mile Champagne (G1). But he was beaten 6 1/2 lengths by Fountain of Youth rival Napoleon Solo, and he’ll have to rebound from a disappointing ninth-place finish in the Remsen (G2) if he’s going to challenge at Gulfstream Park.

Commandment

Commandment wins the Mucho Macho Man Stakes. (Photo by Coglianese Photos)

Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Wathnan Racing
Breeder: Lee Pokoik
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (96) when winning the Mucho Macho Man S. at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $165,459

Sire: Into Mischief
Dam: Sippican Harbor
Color: Bay

Commandment impressed in the one-mile Mucho Macho Man S. at Gulfstream Park last month, closing from midfield to dominate by 6 3/4 lengths. The 96 Brisnet Speed rating he received suggests he’s fast enough to factor even while facing tougher competition in the Fountain of Youth.

Bravaro

Bravaro wins at Bemont at the Big A. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)

Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Albert Ciuffetelli, Stephanie S. Brennan, Shining Stables, BAG Racing Stables, and Paul Braverman
Breeder: Stephanie Baltzan
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

Top Speed Rating: (92) when finishing second in the Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $203,500

Sire: Upstart
Dam: Opera Star
Color: Bay

Bravaro won his first two starts before joining the Road to the Kentucky Derby in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream. In that race, he tracked a blazing pace in third place before staying on to finish second. A similar performance in the Fountain of Youth could put Bravaro in the hunt for a top-three finish.

Chief Wallabee

Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Michael and Katherine G. Ball
Breeder: Mike Ball and Katherine Ball
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado

Top Speed Rating: (96) when winning a maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $40,800

Sire: Constitution
Dam: A La Lucie
Color: Bay

Chief Wallabee debuted in a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park, in which he finished fast from just off the pace to triumph by 1 1/2 lengths with a 96 Brisnet Speed rating. His pedigree suggests he’ll improve while stretching out over 1 1/16 miles in the Fountain of Youth, so victory isn’t out of the question for Chief Wallabee.

Napoleon Solo

Napoleon Solo wins the Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)

Start(s): 2
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Gold Square
Breeder: John D. Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock
Trainer: Chad Summers
Jockey: Kendrick Carmouche

Top Speed Rating: (98) when winning the Champagne (G1) at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $319,000

Sire: Liam’s Map
Dam: Atomic Blonde
Color: Gray/roan

Napoleon Solo is unbeaten and unchallenged in two starts. Last fall, he led all the way through blazing pace fractions to beat Talkin by 6 1/2 lengths in the Champagne. Napoleon Solo hasn’t run since then, but a series of fast workouts at Palm Meadows suggest he’s ready to pick up where he left off. They’ll have to catch him to beat him in the Fountain of Youth.

Bull by the Horns

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 2

Owner: Peachtree Stable and Mark Corrado
Breeder: Ashview Farm and Colts Neck Stables
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Jockey: Micah Husbands

Top Speed Rating: (83) when finishing third in a $75,000 allowance optional claimer at Tampa Bay Downs.
Total Earnings: $31,975

Sire: Essential Quality
Dam: No Sweat
Color: Gray/roan

Bull by the Horns won a one-mile maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park by 6 1/2 lengths, but his career-best 83 Brisnet Speed rating suggests he’ll need improvement to handle tougher competition in the Fountain of Youth.

Global Aviator

Global Aviator wins at Gulfstream Park.(Photo by Coglianese Photo)

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Special Aviators and Joseph M. Imbesi
Breeder: Robert M. Evans
Trainer: Rohan Crichton
Jockey: Joe Bravo

Top Speed Rating: (93) when winning a maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $31,425

Sire: Global Campaign
Dam: Frisco Girl
Color: Dark bay/brown

Global Aviator won his debut, dashing six furlongs at Gulfstream with an encouraging 93 Brisnet Speed rating. However, he regressed to an 83 when finishing a distant fifth in the Holy Bull. It’s possible he’s more effective as a sprinter.

Solitude Dude

Solitude Dude wins the Swale Stakes at Gulfstream Park. (Photo by Coglianese Photo /Credit to Susie Raisher)

Start(s): 3
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Chris Fountoukis
Breeder: Martha Buckner and Matthew Ernst
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Jockey: Flavien Prat

Top Speed Rating: (99) when winning the Swale S. at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $176,070

Sire: Yaupon
Dam: After the Party
Color: Dark bay/brown

Solitude Dude has won all three of his races by a minimum of 3 3/4 lengths. He’s already won two stakes races, including the seven-furlong Swale S. at Gulfstream. However, his pedigree is geared strongly toward speed, so racing 1 1/16 miles in the Fountain of Youth may stretch the limits of his stamina.

Lost Money

Start(s): 3
Wins: 0
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Olga Diaz
Breeder: Aaron Sones
Trainer: Juan Arias
Jockey: Javier Castellano

Top Speed Rating: (81) when finishing fourth in a maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $16,680

Sire: Street Sense
Dam: Bev’s Summer Song
Color: Dark bay/brown

Lost Money is improving with every start and exits a respectable runner-up finish in a fast one-mile maiden special weight at Gulfstream. However, he was beaten eight lengths in that race, and his career-best 81 Brisnet Speed rating looks light against the Fountain of Youth field.