Burnham Square, Sovereignty among eight in Fountain of Youth; La Cara, Ballerina d'Oro top Davona Dale

Feb 24, 2025 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

Burnham Square began his career in a high-priced maiden claimer but has proven to be much more valuable than that. Victorious in his stakes debut in the Feb. 1 Holy Bull (G3), the gelded son of Liam's Map will look to further enhance his Kentucky Derby (G1) credentials in the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.

Narrowly beaten in each of his first two starts, Burnham Square has really stepped up his game since adding blinkers. Popping up to win a maiden by nine lengths in his first step with the hood, Burnham Square followed up with a 1 3/4-length decision in the Holy Bull, which was run over the same 1 1/16-mile distance as the Fountain of Youth.

The Fountain of Youth is the season starting point for Godolphin homebred Sovereignty, who graduated in his third attempt by an emphatic five lengths in the Oct. 27 Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs. The form of the Street Sense has worked out, with place-getters Tiztastic and Sandman earning Derby points in both the Southwest (G3) and Rebel (G2) this winter.

Todd Pletcher, who has trained a record four Fountain of Youth winners, will saddle stakes newcomer River Thames and the stakes-winning sprinter Gate to Wire. River Thames has won his first two starts at Gulfstream by a combined 11 1/4 lengths, while Gate to Wire stretches out off a five-length romp in the seven-furlong Hutcheson S.

The field of eight also includes Keep It Easy, a 5 1/4-length winner of the Ed Brown S. at Churchill Downs going 6 1/2 furlongs in late November, and the multiple stakes-placed Neoquos from the barn of Saffie Joseph Jr. The field is rounded out by McKellen and Solid Left, both of whom appear outsiders on paper and are cross-entered in a Gulfstream allowance on Thursday.

The Fountain of Youth offers Kentucky Derby qualifying points of 50-25-15-10-5 to the respective top five finishers. The scheduled post time is 5:42 p.m. ET.

Earlier on the card, seven three-year-old fillies will line up in the $200,000 Davona Dale (G2) over one mile. Kentucky Oaks (G1) points of 50-25-15-10-5 will be up for grabs for the first five across the finish.

Two fillies are likely to garner much of the wagering support. La Cara has captured two Oaks preps already, the Pocahontas (G3) at Churchill Downs and the Suncoast S. at Tampa Bay Downs, and is versatile in running style. In contrast, Demoiselle (G2) runner-up Ballerina d'Oro is a deep closer who might need a very strong pace while as she shortens up from nine furlongs.

The Davona Dale post time is scheduled for 3:04 p.m. Both it and the Fountain of Youth can be watched and wagered on at TwinSpires.com.