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On Saturday two important races on the Triple Crown Trail were contested. The main event was the $250,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes, a Grade 2 event over 1 1/16 miles on the main track. On the undercard was the $150,000 Hutcheson, a Grade 2 seven-furlong sprint plus an allowance race with a major Derby prospect making his first start of the year.
Read the Footnotes just gets up over Second of June in the Fountain of Youth. |
UPDATE: Following his second-place finish in the Fountain of Youth Stakes on Saturday, Second of June was found to have suffered a condylar fracture of the cannon bone, and was to have surgery at Gulfstream Park's clinic on Sunday. Trainer Bill Cesare said, "The fracture's not displaced, and it's not real wide, but it's there. It shouldn't affect him, other than time. He'll be off for three or four months. He probably won't be ready to run until November or December."
Winning jockey Jerry Bailey said, "I needed every bit he had in him. Neither horse wanted to lose." Winning trainer Richard Violette said, "We were grinding it out and I thought the layoff would get to us, but it didn't. He's a very fast horse, he's five for six, and he's the real deal. It was the first time Jerry had to get into him, so I wasn't sure what to expect. He did a lot of things very good today. He settled, attacked when Jerry was ready and won a long battle." Read the Footnotes is expected to start next in the Florida Derby on March 13 also at Gulfstream.
Limehouse winner of the Hutcheson Stakes. |
Winning trainer Todd Pletcher said, "This horse is super game. I was a little concerned when the 1-horse [Silver Rapt] scratched, because you never want to be on the rail going seven [furlongs], but I told John not to be concerned because this horse has done everything. He showed a lot of courage down the lane."
Birdstone winning his 2004 debut with ease. |
Winning jockey Jerry Bailey said, "It went good - very good. It figured to be a nice slow pace in there, but he relaxed very well for me, which was what I wanted him to do. He finished very well without me having to really get down on him. I mean, you always want to win, but the first Saturday in May is what's really important." Winning trainer Nick Zito said, "That was great, just what I was looking for. He was hung out wide, but he came home fast and that's what you want. There's always doubt when a horse hasn't raced in a while, but Jerry (Bailey) gave me a lot of confidence. You couldn't ask for a better deal." When asked what was next for Birdstone: "There are so many options. We'll see how he'll do over the next month. We know he won't race for a month." Results Chart
Risen Star results from Sunday.
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