Promising 3yos Face Off in Strong Fountain of Youth

[Wandering Eyes]

A very strong and intriguing group of sophomore colts will look to take their next steps down the road to the GI Kentucky Derby Saturday in Gulfstream’s GII Xpressbet Fountain of Youth S. One of the most hyped horses in this test is ‘TDN Rising Star’ Hidden Scroll (Hard Spun). The Juddmonte homebred wowed the crowd on debut at Gulfstream on GI Pegasus World Cup day Jan. 26, when romping home to an ultra-impressive 14-length graduation in the slop.

“You have to have one win like he did the first time and come out of it in good order,” Hall of Famer Bill Mott told the Gulfstream notes team. “He’s got an awfully good mind. Usually, after a first race, horses will get a little hyped up and you have to wait for them to come back down. He eats well and has been good in his training. His works have been good. This isn’t a normal situation for us to jump right into a graded stake, but it’s that time of year and he’s doing well enough that we’re going to give him this one shot and see where it takes us.”

The well-related Global Campaign (Curlin) is another coming off of a ‘TDN Rising Star’-performance. Donning cap and gown by 5 3/4 lengths in his seven-panel debut in Hallandale, the bay turned in another good-looking effort last time in a track-and-trip allowance Feb. 9 to earn the ‘Rising Star’ moniker.

The most accomplished contender in the field is Signalman (General Quarters), who makes his sophomore bow in this test. Runner-up in the GI Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity S. in October, the Ken McPeek trainee was third in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs Nov. 2 and captured the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. when last seen Nov. 24.

Another getting his 3-year-old season underway in this spot is undefeated Vekoma (Candy Ride {Arg}). Graduating at first asking at Belmont in September, the chestnut followed suit with a win in Aqueduct’s GIII Nashua S. Nov. 4.

Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB}) looks to rebound off a disappointing fourth in the Mucho Macho Man S. here Jan. 5. Following up a decisive debut win at Saratoga Aug. 18 with a second in Belmont’s GI Champagne S. Oct. 6 after a troubled trip, the chestnut was a late scratch from the Breeders’ Cup after spiking a fever the morning of the race. Under consideration for the GII Remsen S. at Aqueduct a month later, the homebred was re-routed to the Mucho Macho Man after a subpar work, but failed to produce the strong rally seen in his previous efforts and was fourth to ‘TDN Rising Star’ Mihos (Cairo Prince).

“You would think it would help him,” trainer Shug McGaughey said about his charge trying two turns for the first time. “We’ll have to wait and see, but I’m looking forward to running him two turns.”

Opening his account with a win at Aqueduct Nov. 14, Bourbon War (Tapit) finished fourth in the Dec. 2 Remsen, but returned to winning ways with a decisive optional claimer win over course and distance Jan. 18.

 

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