Fountain of Youth Update: Algorithms has Scratched

Algorithms, winner of the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) and the morning line favorite for the Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) later this afternoon, has been scratched from the race after popping a splint in his right front leg.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, the son of Bernardini is among the favorites for the $2,000,000 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), to be held on the first Saturday in May. How this injury affects his status for making the Derby itself remains in question.

TRIPLE CROWN COUNTDOWN -- February 26th, 2012

During the course of this year's Triple Crown trail, we have seen a number of promising horses stamp themselves as serious contenders for the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), including Alpha, I'll Have Another, Out of Bounds, El Padrino, and Castaway. But those prep races, as exciting and interesting as they were, won't hold a candle to the excitement that will be generated when Derby favorite Union Rags takes on Algorithms and Discreet Dancer and the $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) in what should prove to be the biggest and most influential prep race so far.

KEELERMAN'S KENTUCKY DERBY TOP TWENTY - February 25th, 2012

1. Creative Cause (Giant's Causeway - Dream of Summer, by Siberian Summer) Trained by Mike Harrington
I thought that his third-place finish in the San Vicente Stakes (gr. II) was actually a very good effort, and exactly what it needed to be. In a race really too short for him, Creative Cause settled off the pace, put in a good stretch run to be beaten just a length, and closed his final eighth of a mile in about :11 4/5. This should sharpen him up considerably for his next race, which could come in either the San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) or the Rebel Stakes (gr. II).

2. Union Rags (Dixie Union - Tempo, by Gone West) Trained by Michael Matz
He's drawn gate seven in the Fountain of Youth (gr. II), where we should get an excellent idea of just how good he is. To be perfectly honest, as good a colt as I think Union Rags is, I expect him to lose the Fountain of Youth. He's not going to be fully cranked for the race, and he's facing a pair of promising runners from the barn of Todd Pletcher. So if he does overcome these obstacles and wins anyway, I'll be moving him to the top of my list and declaring him one of the most promising Kentucky Derby contenders in recent years.

Fountain of Youth Stakes Entries and Post Positions

Here are the entries and post positions for the $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II), to be run on Sunday at Gulfstream Park. The 1 1/16th miles event is a major prep race for the $2,000,000 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and has drawn a highly promising field of eight, led by the early Derby favorite Union Rags.

1. Neck 'n Neck
2. Algorithms
3. Fort Loudon
4. Casual Trick
5. Discreet Dancer
6. News Pending
7. Union Rags
8. Csaba

KEELERMAN'S KENTUCKY DERBY TOP TWENTY - February 18th, 2012

1. Creative Cause (Giant's Causeway - Dream of Summer, by Siberian Summer) Trained by Mike Harrington
He drew post position two in tomorrow's Sam Vicente Stakes (gr. II), and is the 3-5 morning line favorite. I don't care if he wins or loses, as long as he's staying on strongly in the homestretch. I just want to see him get something out of this race.

2. Union Rags (Dixie Union - Tempo, by Gone West) Trained by Michael Matz
His training has picked up and he's really starting to get ready for the Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II). At least he won't have to take on Hansen, who beat him in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I); Hansen is instead pointing toward the Gotham Stakes (gr. III).

KEELERMAN'S KENTUCKY DERBY TOP TWENTY - February 10th, 2012

1. Creative Cause (Giant's Causeway - Dream of Summer, by Siberian Summer) Trained by Mike Harrington He's right on schedule to make his 2012 debut in the seven-furlong San Vicente Stakes (gr. II) on February 19th, which should tell us a lot about him. With his pedigree, I don't expect him to run his rivals off their feet, but we must remember that he did finish a very close third (placed second via disqualification) in the Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) as a juvenile.

TRIPLE CROWN COUNTDOWN -- February 1st, 2012

Here are my recaps of last week's major three-year-old racing action, including the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) where Algorithms and Hansen thrilled horse racing fans across the country. Remember, you can click the names of the stakes races to read a more detailed recap of the running. Enjoy!

ALGORITHMS WINS THE HOLY BULL!

Algorithms charged past Hansen in early stretch and pulled away powerfully to win the $400,000 Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park by a dominating five lengths.

Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Javier Castellano -- who also paired up to win the $200,000 Forward Gal Stakes (gr. II) with Broadway's Alibi earlier on the card -- Algorithms got off to a good beginning and settled into second early on as race favorite and 2011 Eclipse champion two-year-old male Hansen set the pace. Making his first start since winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) back in November, Hansen stumbled at the start but recovered quickly to pull away from the field early on to establish a three, even four length lead while running fractions of :23.64 and :45.67. Silver Max was sitting in third along the rail, followed by Fort Loudon, Consortium, and My Adonis, the latter trailing the field by a sizable margin early on.

TRIPLE CROWN COUNTDOWN -- January 29th, 2012

I don't think anyone will argue with me when I state that the biggest, most exciting Triple Crown prep race so far this year is being run this afternoon at Gulfstream Park.

Oh, some of the other prep races have had their credentials. The Sham Stakes (gr. III) yielded an exciting finish, and the victorious Out of Bounds looks like a serious Triple Crown contender. The LeComte Stakes (gr. III) could turn out a number of fine three-year-olds. The Count Fleet Stakes and Smarty Jones Stakes each had their share of promising runners as well.

But none of those races can match the caliber of horses that this afternoon's Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) has drawn, because the Holy Bull drew Hansen, the 2011 Eclipse champion two-year-old male.

KEELERMAN'S KENTUCKY DERBY TOP TWENTY - January 12th, 2012

1. Creative Cause (Giant's Causeway - Dream of Summer, by Siberian Summer) Trained by Mike Harrington
Inherits the top spot following the highly disappointing performance by In the Beat -- last week's number one -- in a Gulfstream allowance race. He's breezed twice since the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, most recently going a half-mile in :48 flat at Hollywood Park on January 6th. The Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II) in February may come up a bit quick, but the San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) in March could be a good goal.