Study Guide: 2025 Fountain of Youth Stakes

Feb 24, 2025 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Sovereignty broke his maiden in stakes-record time in the Street Sense

Sovereignty broke his maiden in stakes-record time in the Street Sense (Photo by Coady Media)

A talented eight-horse field has entered Saturday’s Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park, a Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier worth 50-25-15-10-5 points to the top five finishers.

Held over 1 1/16 miles on dirt, the Fountain of Youth boasts a rich history. Five Fountain of Youth winners have gone on to claim first prize in the Kentucky Derby, including the four-time Eclipse Award winner Spectacular Bid.

Let’s take a horse-by-horse look at the 2025 Fountain of Youth field:

Gate to Wire

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

Owner: Donegal Racing
Breeder: Moyglare Stud Farm
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Dylan Davis

Top Speed Rating: (99) when winning the Swale S. at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $192,790

Sire: Munnings
Dam: Sansibar Jewel
Color: Chestnut

Gate to Wire made his dirt debut with a five-length win in the seven-furlong Swale S. at Gulfstream. That effort yielded a strong 99 Brisnet Speed rating, but Gate to Wire is unproven racing beyond sprint distances, and horses with experience racing one mile or farther historically have an advantage in the Fountain of Youth.

Sovereignty

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

Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: Godolphin
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado

Top Speed Rating: (93) when winning the Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $143,280

Sire: Into Mischief
Dam: Crowned
Color: Bay

Sovereignty impressed in the Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs last fall, launching a last-to-first rally to dominate the 1 1/16-mile Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier by five lengths. He hasn’t run since, but Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott wins at a 22% rate with horses returning from layoffs of 90 days or more, so expect Sovereignty to run a competitive race in his return.

Burnham Square

Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Whitham Thoroughbreds
Breeder: Whitham Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Ian Wilkes
Jockey: Edgard Zayas

Top Speed Rating: (101) when winning the Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $202,330

Sire: Liam’s Map
Dam: Linda
Color: Bay

Burnham Square is unbeaten in two starts wearing blinkers. He trounced a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Gulfstream by nine lengths, then won the Holy Bull (G3) over the same track and distance by 1 3/4 lengths. The latter win produced an eye-catching 101 Brisnet Speed rating, stamping Burnham Square as the horse to beat in the Fountain of Youth.

McKellen

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

Owner: Leon King Stable
Breeder: Brookstone Farm, Lee Mauberret, and Gary Joyner
Trainer: Jose D’Angelo
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

Top Speed Rating: (88) when finishing second in a Churchill Downs allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $41,700

Sire: McKinzie
Dam: Don’t Blame Me
Color: Bay

McKellen showed tenacity to win his debut at Gulfstream, but his latest effort—a sixth in Gulfstream’s one-mile Mucho Macho Man S.—wasn’t as sharp. He’ll need a rebound to challenge in the Fountain of Youth. Note that he is cross-entered to a Thursday allowance.

Solid Left

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

Owner: Susan and Jim Hill
Breeder: Jim and Susan Hill
Trainer: Brian Lynch
Jockey: Luis Saez

Top Speed Rating: (86) when winning a Gulfstream Park maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $42,400

Sire: West Coast
Dam: Solid Appeal
Color: Dark bay/brown

Solid Left scored a win over the Fountain of Youth track and distance when winning a Jan. 26 maiden special weight by 2 1/2 lengths. But the 86 Brisnet Speed rating he earned looks a little light against Saturday’s field, and he too is cross-entered to the Thursday allowance.

River Thames

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

Owner: WinStar Farm and CHC
Breeder: CTR Stables
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez

Top Speed Rating: (99) when winning a Gulfstream Park $75,000 allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $85,200

Sire: Maclean’s Music
Dam: Proportionality
Color: Bay

River Thames is unbeaten and unchallenged in two starts. He won his debut sprinting at Gulfstream by 4 3/4 lengths, then dominated a one-mile $75,000 allowance optional claimer by 6 1/2 lengths. With Brisnet Speed ratings of 96 and 99 under his belt, River Thames looms as a serious win threat for the hot jockey/trainer duo of John Velazquez and Todd Pletcher, who have teamed up to win the Fountain of Youth twice in the past.

Neoequos

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

Owner: Ian Parsard, Shining Stables, and Stefania Farms
Breeder: Helen Barbazon, Joseph Barbazon, and Matalona Thoroughbres
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (101) when finishing second in the FTBOA Florida Sire Affirmed S. at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $137,800

Sire: Neolithic
Dam: Bold Birdie
Color: Bay

Neoequos brings strong Brisnet Speed ratings to the table and exits a 3 1/2-length romp in a six-furlong allowance for Florida-bred horses. But like Gate to Wire, he’s yet to run farther than seven furlongs, so stepping up in class and distance could be challenging.

Keep It Easy

Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, and CJ Thoroughbreds
Breeder: Mr. and Mrs. William L. Pape
Trainer: Dale Romans
Jockey: Corey Lanerie

Top Speed Rating: (96) when winning the Ed Brown S. at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $207,671

Sire: Hard Spun
Dam: Boxwood
Color: Dark bay/brown

Keep It Easy was much the best in the 6 1/2-furlong Ed Brown S. at Churchill Downs last fall, defeating future Sugar Bowl S. winner Tough Catch by 5 1/4 lengths. Keep It Easy clearly has talent, but stretching out a quarter-mile in distance for his first race in three months could be a tricky task.

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