instructionThe horse, who captured the eye of the racing world along with his commanding 3-year-old debut within the Mucho Macho Man on Jan. 3, will make his long-awaited return to Gulfstream Park on Saturday within the G2 ($425,000 purse). Fountain of Youth Stakes.
The Into Mischief-sire, who prevented the Jan. 31 Holy Bull (G3), was the 2-1 morning favourite amongst a proficient 11 horses assembled for Saturday’s eightieth working of the 1 1/16-mile costume rehearsal for the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) March 28 at Gulfstream.
Fountain of Youth: Odds, evaluation for Kentucky Derby preparations
““I did not need to run this horse on the Holy Bull in 4 weeks and I assumed this race could be significant as a stepping stone to the Derby,” stated coach Brad Cox.
Comanment gained in fashion as Mucho Macho Man’s No. 1-2 favourite, and after being evaluated within the midfield, he pulled away from his rivals and gained the One Flip Mile Stakes by 6 3/4 lengths. Bought on the Keeneland September Sale for $500,000, he suffered a disastrous debut at Keeneland on October 4th, going from eleventh to fourth after six furlongs, however bounced again and gained the seven-furlong maiden particular at Churchill Downs on November 1st by a five-and-a-quarter size to shut out his junior season.
Commandment has had 5 strong coaching periods at Cox’s winter base at Payson Park in preparation for his first begin across the second nook at Fountain of Youth.
“He had a terrific efficiency on Mucho Macho Man. I like the best way he trains,” Cox stated. “His manufacturing galloping out offers us confidence that he can deal with two turns.”
Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode Commando’s Mucho Macho Man Victory, will return in Saturday’s headliner on a 14-race card with 9 races and eight within the heavyweights.
Napoleon Solo would convey an unblemished document to the Fountain of Youth. The son of Liams Mapp will make his debut in 2026 after resounding wins in each begins as a boy. He made his debut with a landslide victory of 5 1/4 lengths within the six-furlong maiden particular at Saratoga Race Course on August 8, and gained the One Flip Mile Champagne (G1) by 6 1/2 lengths on October 4.
“He was very recent for Champagne, he was in good condition and had a wide ranging efficiency, however perhaps he was a bit too quick for his personal good that day,” coach Chad Summers stated. “From there, we determined to place him to sleep and stay up for his 3-year-old season.”
Napoleon Soro, rated No. 2 on the morning line with a 7-2 document, produced a powerful collection with six breezes for Fountain of Youth.
Kendrick Carmouche, who was on board for Napoleon Solo’s debut win, will get a name Saturday.
Coach Safi Joseph Jr. is represented by three contributors within the Fountain of Youth area. Solitude Dude, Bravalo, and Bull by the Horns.
Solitude Dude has completed solo in all three of his profession begins round flip 1, however is scheduled to make his flip 2 debut at Fountain of Youth, the place he’s rated 4th with a document of 5 wins and 1 loss. The Yaupon colt made his six-furlong debut at Gulfstream on Nov. 1 and confirmed good cruising velocity on the run, successful his stakes debut within the six-furlong Inaugural at Tampa Bay Downs on Dec. 6 by eight lengths and the seven-furlong Swale by 3 3/4 lengths.
“I believe he is the quickest horse on this race by all of the numbers, each talent-wise and ability-wise, however he is bought to go on the market and show it across the second nook,” Joseph stated. “His final job gave me confidence that he may do two turns in a mile and 16 seconds.”
Bravalo, who beat his fellow New York product in two begins final yr, made his first begin across the second nook in his 3-year-old debut and completed a strong second behind Nearly within the Holy Bull in his first open firm race. Rated 10-1 on the morning line, the son of Upstart was cross-entered into Sunday’s Insurgent (G2) at Oaklawn, however has been confirmed to run within the Fountain of Youth.
“We expect he is a proficient stallion. He gained the 2 races in New York, so we determined to relaxation him and produce him again to Holy Bull. He was second finest on the day. He ran effectively. Slightly bit sharp early on. We felt he was a bit recent. Since that race, he is been again and coaching very well. He is had two actually good winds,” Joseph stated. “He is in a really massive race. From all of the indicators he is displaying, I believe he is one of many high candidates.”
Bull-by-the-Horns gained the one-turn mile maiden particular prize by six and a half lengths at Gulfstream, and broke his first win in simply his second begin by ending third with two turns to spare at Tampa Bay Downs.
“I really feel like he can go late and the gap will assist him,” coach Joseph stated, acknowledging the necessity to numerically enhance the Important High quality offspring’s velocity.
Flavien Prat rides Solitude Dude for the primary time on the Fountain of Youth. Tyler Gaffalione has a return mount on Bravalo. Micah Husband, who rode Bull by the Horns in his first two begins, has been requested to compete within the Fountain of Youth.
Jackson Gap enters the beginning gate at Fountain of Youth with the glory of being the one horse to win the race close to the second nook.
The son of Nyquist, who gained his debut going seven furlongs at Gulfstream Race Course on Dec. 13, took the two-turn problem on the Fairgrounds on Jan. 17, his second profession begin, and led by 5 seconds over the 1 1/16-mile entry-level distance. Flavien Prat backside size.
“This can be a powerful take a look at for everybody. It appears to be like like it should be a really strong race,” Pletcher stated. “This horse has been skilled very effectively. He was a particular horse, successful two of his first two races. He is nonetheless studying. He was a bit inexperienced in each races, however he was nonetheless in a position to win. He is again and he is bought a very good wind.”
Jackson Gap will likely be ridden by Corridor of Fame jockey John Velasquez on Saturday and can escape of the rail submit place.
“Hopefully he can break fastidiously and get an excellent place within the first nook. He appears to be like like he is bought loads of tempo on this race. It’s going to be as much as Johnny the place he desires to lie down,” Pletcher stated. “He isn’t a cussed horse. I believe he’ll cooperate with no matter Johnny decides.”
The $1.3 million buy worth for the Keeneland September sale is valued at 8-1 on the morning line.
The Chief Wallabies are rated third on the morning line with 9 wins and two losses after a formidable debut win at Gulfstream on January tenth. The son of Structure was barely off the tempo within the seven-furlong opening particular weight occasion after which gained comfortably by a size and a half.
The homegrown colt, the primary offspring of an unraced mare, will likely be skilled by Corridor of Famer Invoice Mott, who gave Junior Alvarado his return horse. These two horses teamed as much as win final yr’s Fountain of Youth with Sovereignty, who finally turned Horse of the 12 months.
Rocky’s Balboa will make his stakes debut Saturday after successful his final two races at Gulfstream by two lengths over weaker opponents. Coach Dale Romance, who saddled Promised Fulfilled within the 2018 Fountain of Youth, assigned Luis Saez to trip in Alvarado’s place.
Tokin completed second to Napoleon Solo within the Champagne and had a disappointing end result within the Remsen (G3), however will run within the Fountain of Youth, however his race is just not confirmed.
Holy Bull fifth-place finisher World Aviator and three-start maiden Olga Diaz’s Misplaced Cash rounded out the sphere.
| no. | silk | horse/stallion | analysis | Coach/Jockey | Earlier begin / Subsequent begin | scenario |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | jackson gap Nyquist | 6.06 | Todd A. Pletcher John R. Velasquez | 1st place (106), FG AlwOC (1/17/26-R3) 2026 Fountain of Youth G2 | I entered | |
| ultimate race subsequent race | 1st place (106), FG AlwOC (1/17/26-R3) 2026 Fountain of Youth G2 | |||||
| 2 | rockies balboa garvin | 4.45 | Dale L. Romans Luis Saez | 1st place (113), GP ALW (01/29/2026-R8) 2026 Fountain of Youth G2 | I entered | |
| ultimate race subsequent race | 1st place (113), GP ALW (01/29/2026-R8) 2026 Fountain of Youth G2 | |||||
| 3 | Tokin good magic | 6.67 | danny gargan Joel Rosario | ninth place (84), 2025 Remsen G2 2026 Fountain of Youth G2 | I entered | |
| ultimate race subsequent race | ninth place (84), 2025 Remsen G2 2026 Fountain of Youth G2 | |||||
| 4 | instruction Mischievously | 6.23 | Brad H. Cox Airado Ortiz Jr. | 1st place (114), 2026 Mucho Macho Man LS 2026 Fountain of Youth G2 | I entered | |
| ultimate race subsequent race | 1st place (114), 2026 Mucho Macho Man LS 2026 Fountain of Youth G2 | |||||
| 5 | bravalo upstart | 6.91 | Saffie A. Joseph Jr. Tyler Gaffalione | 2nd place (104), 2026 Holy Bull G3 2026 Fountain of Youth G2 | I entered | |
| ultimate race subsequent race | 2nd place (104), 2026 Holy Bull G3 2026 Fountain of Youth G2 | |||||
| 6 | chief wallaby structure | 6.37 | William I. Mott Junior Alvarado | 1st place (133), GP MSW (1/10/26-R4) 2026 Fountain of Youth G2 | I entered | |
| ultimate race subsequent race | 1st place (133), GP MSW (1/10/26-R4) 2026 Fountain of Youth G2 | |||||
| 7 | napoleon solo Liam map | 7.31 | Chad Summers kendrick carmouche | 2025 Champagne G1 1st 2026 Fountain of Youth G2 | I entered | |
| ultimate race subsequent race | 2025 Champagne G1 1st 2026 Fountain of Youth G2 | |||||
| 8 | bull by the horns important high quality | 6.09 | Saffie A. Joseph Jr. Micah’s husband | third place (102), Tam Arwok (1/16/26-R2) 2026 Fountain of Youth G2 | I entered | |
| ultimate race subsequent race | third place (102), Tam Arwok (1/16/26-R2) 2026 Fountain of Youth G2 | |||||
| 9 | international aviator international marketing campaign | 0.00 | Rohan G. Crichton joe bravo | 2026 Holy Bull G3 fifth place (93) 2026 Fountain of Youth G2 | I entered | |
| ultimate race subsequent race | 2026 Holy Bull G3 fifth place (93) 2026 Fountain of Youth G2 | |||||
| 10 | Solitude man Yapon | 6.24 | Saffie A. Joseph Jr. Flavien Prat | 1st place (119), 2026 Swale LS 2026 Fountain of Youth G2 | I entered | |
| ultimate race subsequent race | 1st place (119), 2026 Swale LS 2026 Fountain of Youth G2 | |||||
| 11 | misplaced cash road sense | 0.00 | Juan D. Arias Javier J. Castellano | 2nd place (98), GP MSW (1/25/26-R7) 2026 Fountain of Youth G2 | I entered | |
| ultimate race subsequent race | 2nd place (98), GP MSW (1/25/26-R7) 2026 Fountain of Youth G2 | |||||
