Ky. Derby prep: Forte leads 11 probables for Fountain of Youth

Eclipse Award winner Forte leads a group of 11 probable runners in the Grade 2, $400,000 Fountain of Youth on March 4 at Gulfstream Park. The Todd Pletcher trainee will make his first start since winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile on Nov. 4. Forte, 8-1 at both Circa and Caesars, is the current favorite based on best prices in Las Vegas future books for the Kentucky Derby.

The horses expected to run in the Fountain of Youth, according to Gulfstream Park stakes coordinator Eric Friedman, include Champagne (G1) winner Blazing Sevens, Holy Bull (G3) winner Rocket Can and Swale (G3) winner General Jim. The list of probable entrants was first reported in a tweet by Marty McGee of Daily Racing Form.

In addition to winner Rocket Can, four others from the Holy Bull on Feb. 4 are expected to resurface in the Fountain of Youth. Those include Shadow Dragon, who closed late to finish second at 34-1, fourth-place Legacy Isle, fifth-place Il Miracolo and seventh-place Cyclone Mischief. Cyclone Mischief, trained by Dale Romans, had been sent off the 6-5 favorite in the Holy Bull off of an impressive Jan. 8 allowance victory at Gulfstream.

Three other horses are expected to contest the Fountain of Youth. Dangerous Ride is a Florida-bred stakes winner who most recently won a seven-furlong allowance at Gulfstream. Great Navigator, who last ran second behind Mo Strike in the Sanford (G3) on July 16, is expected to make his 3-year-old debut. Mage, a debut maiden winner Jan. 28 at Gulfstream, is the only horse expected to make his stakes debut in the Fountain of Youth.