Expert Pick of the Week: 2022 Fountain of Youth Stakes

Mar 03, 2022 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

A sensational field of 12 three-year-olds is set for Saturday’s $400,000 Fountain of Youth S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park. The feature race on a huge day of racing has attracted an outstanding cast of Triple Crown prospects in the 2022 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series contest. A total of 85 qualifying points (50-20-10-5) will go to the top-four finishers of the 1 1/16-mile test.

Trainer Todd Pletcher has scratched the early morning-line choice Mo Donegal but he is set to take home the top prize on Saturday with his other entrant. Emmanuel will make his stakes debut in this tough spot but seems poised for a breakthrough in his third lifetime performance. He is the Expert Pick of the Week.

Emmanuel commenced his career on the course on December 11 in a one-mile maiden special weight contest, and dominated in gate-to-wire fashion to win by a facile 6 3/4 lengths as the 7-5 favorite while never being asked for his best in the stretch. The bay vaulted into an allowance test second time out at Tampa Bay Downs and once again was never headed en route to a 4 1/2-length waltz.

The More Than Ready colt has displayed, to this point of his development, both excellent gate presence and a robust closing kick. He has superb human connections as well as the catalog page to become a star, as his dam is a half-sister to a pair of Grade/Group 1 winners, including 2018 Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) romper Hawkbill and 2017 Breeders’ Futurity (G1) star Free Drop Billy.

Emmanuel is not a need-the-lead type, and I expect him to track the early pace while forwardly placed in his second try on the Gulfstream strip. Luis Saez, who rode the excellent prospect in his debut offering, will be in the silks once again.

The Fountain of Youth field is so deep that it’s difficult to narrow down the contenders for the minor awards. Kelly Breen’s In Due Time was a fantastic allowance winner on the surface in his latest endeavor and merits inclusion while making his stakes debut. The chestnut son of Not This Time has shown improvement in each lifetime start to date, and the sophomore will appreciate the added ground on Saturday beneath Paco Lopez.

Rags to Riches S. star Howling Time didn’t run his best race to close out his juvenile campaign, but the Dale Romans trainee has a lot of potential, and he will be at a big number, too. And potential pacesetter Simplification finished second in the recent Holy Bull S. (G3) despite a poor start, and he will be dangerous with a swift exit from the gate for conditioner Antonio Sano.

An exacta with #8 Emmanuel on top of #2 Simplification, #3 Howling Time, and #4 In Due Time in the Fountain of Youth Stakes is the Best Bet of the Week.