Laurie Ross
Tracksideview.com

The Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes has been run since 1945 and is a major steppingstone to the Kentucky Derby. Four winners of this race have gone on to wear the roses; the last was Thunder Gulch in 1995.

RATINGS:
« Not optimal for this horse (surface and/or distance)
«« Below average ability (Class, Surface, Distance)
««« Average ability (Class, Surface, Distance)
«««« Superior ability, stakes ability (Class, Surface, Distance)
««««« Graded stakes winning ability (Class, Surface, Distance)

Class Rating: Determines if the horse is up to the level of competition.
Surface Rating: Determines if the horse is bred for the surface.
Distance: Determines if the horse can get the race distance.

Ratings are assigned according to how a horse compares to the rest of the field in a given race. They are based upon pedigree strength, surface preferences, ability to get the race distance and the horse’s works or previous races.

Race 9 | Fountain of Youth Stakes (Grade 2) | 1 Mile | Open | 3-Year-Olds Stakes | Purse: $250,000

BEE CEE CEE (Songandaprayer – Mighty Rose, by Mighty Appealing) [$200,000 OBSFEB ’08] Bee Cee Cee is a half brother to stakes placed Mighty David and although his immediate female family is mainly blue collar, he is inbred to Old Bess. Old Bess was a good broodmare whose daughters produced the sires Songandaprayer, Montbrook, Halo’s Image, Outofthebox and Mighty Appealing. Bee Cee Cee was third in both the 6F Spectacular Bid Stakes and the 7F Hutcheson Stakes. He hit the gate in the Hutcheson, but showed overall improvement, speed figure wise and has three good works.
Class: ««« Distance:««« Surface: «««

THEREGOESJOJO (Brahms – Slewie Blues, by Seattle Slew) [$42K FTOCT ’07] Brahms was graded stakes placed in England as a two-year-old. Slewie Blues is an unraced half sister to hard-knocking Minnie The Moocher and out of the Grade 2 placed Incredible Blues. Theregoesjojo won a seven-furlong allowance prep for this race, beating Quality Road. He shows a series of steady five-furlong works.
Class: ««« Distance:««« Surface: «««

NOTONTHESAMEPAGE (Catienus – Blue Holiday, by Cure the Blues) [None] Sire’s offspring can win early, but generally improve with distance and age, Notonthesamepage hails from a modest female family and he is the only black type in the first two female generations. He was a very precocious two year old and finished second in the Tyro Stakes in July. Given time to mature between October and January, he rewarded his connections with a tremendous eight-length win in the Spectacular Bid Stakes. He’s had almost two months to recover from that effort and brings a series of very fast works into this race.
Class: «««« Distance:««« Surface: «««

JACK SPRATT (Candy Ride – May Apple, by Miner’s Mark) [$100K FTMMAY ’08] Sire is off to a quick start at stud and his offspring should improve with distance. Jack Spratt is the most accomplished foal from this modest female family. All of his starts have been over turf or synthetic tracks and he won the Dania Beach Stakes in his last start. Dirt should pose no problem and may even be his preferred surface, as his sire is a son of Personal Ensign and his second damsire is the dirt handicap horse, Cox’s Ridge. Jack Spratt shows several dirt works, stepping it up in his last two.
Class: «««« Distance:««« Surface: «««

ROCKETING RETURNS (Gone West – Spring Meadow, by Meadowlake) [None] Sire is known for fast precocious babies and is a world class sire. Dam is a Grade 3 winning and Grade 1 placed sprinter who earned $451,277in 19 starts. This is her first foal. Second dam was unraced, but third and fourth dams were stakes winners. Rocketing Returns finished a tired fifth while pressing the pace in the Hutcheson Stakes. That was his first foray into stakes company. He’s had two even works since that race.
Class: ««« Distance:««« Surface: «««

BEETHOVEN (Sky Mesa – Moonlight Sonata, by Carson City) [$300,000K KEESEP] Sire’s progeny have won up to 1 1/16 miles and placed at 1 1/8 miles. Dam won the Grade 3 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes and her half brother Bevo won the Grade 1 Futurity and Grade 2 Saratoga Special. Beethoven won the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club in his last start as a two year old. He was three wide the whole way in the 1 1/8 mile Holy Bull but still managed to finish fourth. A cut back in distance should suit him.
Class: ««««« Distance:««« Surface: «««

BREAK WATER EDISON (Lemon Drop Kid-August Storm, by Storm Creek) [$525K OBSMAR] Dam won the Hollywood Wildcat stakes going 1 1/6 on turf. Break Water Edison raced against the best 2-year-olds on the East Coast and won the Grade 3 Nashua in his last start as a 2-year-old in November. He tired to sixth in the Hutcheson after racing four wide the entire way. He gets blinkers and shows good works.
Class: ««««« Distance:««« Surface: «««

CAPT. CANDYMAN CAN (Candy Ride – Stormy Way, by Storm Creek) [$25K KEESEP] Dam won the Explosive Red stakes and earned almost $280,000 in her career. Capt. Candyman Can has finished out of the money only once in his career. He won the Hutcheson Stakes with a strong four-wide move in his last start and shows a series of live works.
Class: ««««« Distance:««« Surface: «««

TAQARUB (Aldebaran – Honor Bestowed, by Honor Grades) [$300K FTSAUG ’07] Multiple Grade 1 winning sire now stands in Japan. Taqarub has an excellent female family. His dam is a half sister to Champion turf mare Soaring Softly and multiple Grade 1 winning turf star Plenty of Grace, who is the dam of multiple Graded Stakes winning sprinter/miler, Diabolical. His second dam is a Grade 3 turf winner and his third, fourth and fifth dams are Blue Hens. Taqarub enters this race undefeated and basically untested. He was an easy winner of the Jimmie Winkfield Stakes at Aqueduct and has three fast workouts. This is his first try beyond six furlongs.
Class: «««« Distance:««« Surface: «««

QUALITY ROAD (Elusive Quality – Kobla, by Strawberry Road)[None] Sire produced Smarty Jones and Breeder’s Cup Classic winner, Raven’s Pass. Damsire was a durable international turf star known for his stamina. Quality Road’s female family is full of graded stakes winners. His dam Kobla is a full sister to 1997 Champion Three Year Old Filly Anjna. Second dam Winglet is a Grade 2 winner over turf, third dam Highest Trump was Champion Two Year Old in Ireland. Quality Road is the most inexperienced horse in the field with only two starts. He was second to Theregoesjojo in a January allowance race at seven furlongs and has worked strongly for this race. The added distance can only help and he gets first time Lasix.
Class: ««« Distance:««« Surface: «««

THIS ONES FOR PHIL (Untuttable – Heaven’s Gate, by Septieme Ciel) [None] Sire is a son of Unbridled and is has a RF (Rasmussen Factor) to Gold Digger through Mr. Prospector and Gold Mine. He is also inbred to Aspidistra on his sire’s side. He finished in the money in three of five starts and stands in Florida. This Ones for Phil is a half brother to Tap Dancer, a minor Stakes winner. Dam is an unraced half sister to Grade 2 winners Finality and Stolen Beauty, the granddam of Giant Moon, who was on the Derby Trail briefly last year. This Ones for Phil showed major improvement in his first race off a layoff coming out of a new barn by shocking the Sunshine Millions Sprint field by over two lengths. He earned an amazingly high-speed figure and has three sharp works.
Class: «««« Distance:««« Surface: «««

WHO DO I LIKE?
This running of the Fountain of Youth sets up like a drag race ripe for suicidal fractions. Notonthesamepage, Quality Road and Taqarub figure to vie for the lead with This Ones for Phil, Theregoesjojo and Capt. Candyman Can sitting right behind them. I think Break Water Edison will be overlooked. His trainer mentioned the inside post hurt him last time, and the two other times he broke from the inside post resulted in off the board finishes.

NOTONTHESAMEPAGE
CAPT. CANDYMAN CAN
QUALITY ROAD
BREAK WATER EDISON – Longshot

Sham Stakes (Grade 3)
Race 9 | 1 1/8 Miles (All Weather Track) | Open | 3-Year-Olds Stakes | Purse: $200,000

Sham was the winner of the 1973 Santa Anita Derby and in any other year would have been hailed as a great horse in his own right. It’s only fitting that he has a race named in his honor. In 2003, Empire Maker was second and two years later, Giacomo was third on their way to making history on the Triple Crown trail. Last year’s winner Colonel John took the Travers and this year his baby brother takes a stab at it. Winning a Stakes race in consecutive years with full brothers doesn’t happen very often and would be a great story to add to this year’s Derby stories.

HI FLYIN INDY (A.P. Indy – Go For It Lady, by Mr. Prospector) [$725k KEESEPT '07] The A.P. Indy/Mr. Prospector bloodline cross or “nick” has produced 48 Graded Stakes winners. Hi Flyin Indy has a pedigree similar to Bernardini and Congrats, winner of the 1 1/6 mile Grade 2 San Pasquel. He is a half brother to the multiple Stakes winning sprinter Spring Meadow and his second and third dams are Stakes winners. Fourth dam, Swoons Tune produced a Kentucky Oaks winner, and her daughters have produced Nobiz Like Shobiz, this year’s Derby hopeful, Hello Broadway and multiple Stakes winning miler, Becrux. Hi Flyin Indy broke his maiden in his third and finished seventh, beaten only 3¾ lengths while making up ground in the stretch two weeks later.
Class: ««« Distance:««« Surface: «««

SMART BID (Smart Strike – Recording, by Danzig) [None] Leading sire throws winners left and right on all surfaces. Smart Bid is a half brother to turf stakes winner Deal Making. Dam won the Grade 3 Sands Point and is a half sister to stakes winner Smart Growth and Just a Bird, the dam of stakes placed Just Hoping. Smart Bid scratched from the Count Fleet and shipped to Santa Anita where he won an optional claiming race at a mile on turf in January. His pedigree indicates he could have a very good career on turf, but his connections are taking a shot on the main track and he shows two decent works over Pro-Ride surface
Class: ««« Distance:««« Surface: «««

TIZ TRUE (Tiznow – Amelia, by Dixieland Band)[$50K KEESEP’07] Tiz True has similar breeding to Tizdejavu, winner of the 1 3/6 mile American Derby and 1 1/8 mile Jefferson Cup Grade 2 turf races, as both horses have the same sire and damsire. His dam Amelia is a Stakes winning half sister to Group 3 winner Bertolini and Stakes winner Alchemilla. His second dam Aquilegia is a Grade 2 winner and his third dam is the Blue Hen, Courtly Dee. After wining his debut in November, Tiz True has finished out of the money in two subsequent starts, although he made up ground in his last start to finish fifth, beaten only three lengths.
Class: ««« Distance:««« Surface: «««

LIFELINE (Pulpit – Field of Vision, by Deputy Minister) [None] Lifeline has similar breeding to Peter Pan Stakes winner Oratory. His dam, Field of Vision, is a daughter of Meadow Star, the 1990 Champion Two Year Old filly. It took him seven tries to break his maiden and he was beaten by Hi Fly Indy, The Pamplemousse and Mr. Hot Stuff in the process.
Class: ««« Distance:««« Surface: «««

THE PAMPLEMOUSSE (Kafwain – Comfort Zone, by Rubiano) [$150K OBSMAR ’08] Sire has 22 percent lifetime winners with 2 percent stakes winners. All of dam’s offspring have won, and she is a half sister to five stakes winners including the dam of Grade 1 winner Stormello. The second and the third dams are Stakes winners. The Pamplemousse has shown steady improvement in all of his races and won the Grade 3 San Rafael last time out. He shows a live workout pattern and will probably be the favorite.
Class: «««« Distance:««« Surface: ««««

BALFOUR PARK (Mutakddim – And Guess What, by Kris S.) [None] Sire’s offspring are at their best up to eight-and-a-half furlongs; however Kris S. imparts stamina to the pedigree. Balfour Park is a half brother to Crafty Ang, who placed in the Bay Meadows Juvenile. Dam is a half sister to two stakes winners. Balfour Park broke his maiden in his third try a month ago. He adds blinkers and shows two slow works.
Class: ««« Distance:««« Surface: ««««

MR. HOT STUFF (Tiznow – Sweet Damsel, by Turkoman) [$200K KEESEP ’07] This full brother to Colonel John took five starts to break his maiden, but the light finally came on in his last start when they took the blinkers off. He takes a big jump into graded company but he has good works and his trainer is 23 percent with the maiden-to-stakes win angle.
Class: ««« Distance:««« Surface: ««««

BOURBON BAY (Sligo Bay – Coral Necklace, by Conquistador Cielo) [$2K KEESEP ’07] Bourbon Bay is a half brother to Booyah, winner of the 12F Ralph M. Hinds Invitational and Ginger Brew, a stakes winner who was second against the boys in the prestigious 10-furlong Queens Plate Stakes. Belmont Stakes runner-up Vision and Verse was produced from this female family. Bourbon Bay dead-heated for third in the Grade 3 Generous Stakes going 1 mile on turf in his last start in November and shows a series of works over the Pro-Ride and turf. Of the two, his turf works are faster and his sire isn’t that great with synthetic runners.
Class: ««« Distance:««« Surface: ««

VENTANA (Toccet – Full Figure, by Polish Numbers) [$410K BESMAR ’08] Dam sire was bred and owned by the Phipps family and Full Figure is a half sister to three stakes winners. Ventana dead heated for fourth in the seven furlong Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes two weeks ago while making up ground in the stretch and adds blinkers today.
Class: ««« Distance:««« Surface: ««

MARK S THE COOLER (Johar – Felucca, by Diesis) [$52K BESMAR ’08] Sire was a multiple graded stakes winner on turf, best known for his dead heat win in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Dam sire was a Grade 1 winner in England and his offspring include Grade 1 Man O’War Stakes winner, Magistretti, and Del Mar Oaks winner, Magical Fantasy. This is dam’s second foal and second winner. Mark S The Cooler has a RF (Rasmussen Factor) to Mixed Marriage and has a pure turf pedigree top and bottom. He finally broke his maiden on the lawn after four starts over the main track, but his connections insist on running him against superior completion over a surface he’s average on, at best. He finished fifth in the Robert B. Lewis in his last start.
Class: ««« Distance:««« Surface: ««

UNBRIDLED ROMAN (Roman Dancer – Unravel, by Unbridled) Sire is a Grade 3 winning sprinter by Polish Numbers. Dam is a half sister to stakes winner, Vestry Lady and second dam is a half sister to sire Mr. Greeley and Majestic Legend, the granddam of Street Sense. Unbridled Roman was second by a head in his last race, an open company optional claimer, and he beat Tiz True and High Flyin Indy.
Class: ««« Distance:««« Surface: «««

TAKE THE POINTS (Even the Score – Ginger Ginger, by Fred Astaire) Sire’s offspring are winning over all surfaces, but seem to be at their best on dirt. Dam sire was third in the Breeder’s Cup Mile and this female family is modest with a few stakes winners. Take the Points has strong classic/professional influences of a stayer and has shown improvement in every race. He brings in a two race win streak and has a good works pattern over dirt, but this is his first try over a synthetic surface.
Class: ««« Distance:««« Surface: «««

WHO DO I LIKE?
The Pamplemousse appears to be the controlling speed with Take the Points and Smart Bid as pressers. He could slow things down and take them gate to wire, but he doesn’t have an optimal pedigree for distance. Mr. Hot Stuff was impressive finally breaking his maiden and will most likely be the co-favorite off of that race. Take the Points was also impressive in his last race, but is an unknown over the synthetic surface. Bob Baffert wheels Ventana back after two weeks and it’s dangerous to overlook his horses. Smart Bid has never been out of the money and gets Rafael Bejarano who is in the money 58 percent in main track routes. Unbridled Roman could also be overlooked as could Ventana.

MR. HOT STUFF
THE PAMPLEMOUSSE
VENTANA
UNBRIDLED ROMAN – LONGSHOT