Kentucky Derby 2019 Daily: Fountain of Youth field in flux

Welcome to Horse Racing Nation’s Kentucky Derby Daily, which will each day leading up to the May 4 race at Churchill Downs detail all the news and notes related to contenders in one convenient space.

Two weeks after War of Will locked himself into the 2019 Kentucky Derby on points, the winner of Saturday’s Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) will receive the same award — that in addition to much of a $400,000 purse.

Just who will enter the starting gate remains a question mark three days before entries are taken at Gulfstream Park.

First, what we know...

• Maximus Mischief is out after a workout Sunday morning not up to par for trainer Butch Reid, who said the Remsen Stakes (G2) winner, defeated last time in the Holy Bull (G2), “just kind of went through the motions.”

• Trainer Kenny McPeek will have one entry, the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes winner Signalman (G2) for his 3-year-old debut. McPeek intends for Holy Bull winner Harvey Wallbanger to train up to the March 30 Florida Derby (G1).

• Trainer Dale Romans also expects to enter one of two horses currently under consideration. Everfast ran second in the Holy Bull at triple-digit odds. Admire missed the board last time in Aqueduct’s Withers (G3).

• Mihos, winner of the Mucho Macho Man Stakes back in January, will not enter the Fountain of Youth, said Don Little Jr., president of owner Centennial Farms. The Florida Derby and April 6 Wood Memorial (G2) are “on the radar.”

• Other leading probables include Hidden Scroll, the flashy debut winner; unbeaten Nashua (G3) winner Vekoma; recent Gulfstream allowance winner Bourbon War; and Code of Honor, Grade 1-placed at 2 and looking to improve in his second start of the year.

Now, what we don’t know…

• Global Campaign, the sibling of Bolt d’Oro who’s 2-for-2 will rising the ranks at Gulfstream, appears poised to at least enter the Fountain of Youth but will have other options, mainly the March 9 Tampa Bay Derby (G3), if the draw or track conditions aren’t ideal.

• Avie’s Flatter appears to be another with options that include the Fountain of Youth and Tampa Bay Derby. Trained by Josie Carroll, the son of Flatter won 3 of his 4 Woodbine starts at age 2 and has trained consistently through the winter at Palm Meadows Training Center.

• Stretching out from the Feb. 2 Swale Stakes (G3) is a natural progression for horses this time of year. Will any take the opportunity? Zenden, runner-up to a talented looking sprinter Call Paul, was nominated to the Triple Crown.

• Other locals could fill out the field, including Frosted Grace, fifth in the Swale; Epic Dreamer, the Holy Bull pace-setter who’s back on the work tab; and Union’s Destiny, stablemate of the better known 3-year-old Trophy Chaser who’s ran third last time in the Dec. 8 Smooth Air Stakes.

Derby links

• Gary Young, the private clocker who back in 2015 knew a Triple Crown winner when he saw one in American Pharoah, offers his thoughts on the Santa Anita Park-based Derby hopefuls.

• Impressive allowance winner Dream Maker remained on track for the Tampa Bay Derby this weekend with a breeze proving, per connections, that “he hasn’t regressed from his race at all.”

• It’s worth sharing that Bulletin — the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner — will remain on the grass, not try the Derby trail. Trainer Todd Pletcher shared plans.

In case you missed it…

Saturday’s Derby Daily report went more in depth on the Romans-trained Fountain of Youth contenders Admire and Everfast.