Plus Que Parfait reappears on Fountain of Youth day undercard
Plus Que Parfait, a Group 2 stakes winner who competed in the 2019 Kentucky Derby, is set for his 4-year-old debut at Gulfstream Park.
Brendan Walsh, who trains the son of Point of Entry for Imperial Racing, entered Plus Que Parfait in Race 6 of a stakes-loaded afternoon in Hallandale Beach, Fla., where the Fountain of Youth (G2) is among 10 added-money events.
Plus Que Parfait, however, will return in a softer spot given he hasn't run since finishing third last August in the West Virginia Derby.
Tyler Gaffalione is booked to ride from the outside post in an allowance optional claiming field of eight. Plus Que Parfait qualifies for the 1 1/16-mile race as a non-winner of three career races.
A $135,000 yearling purchase, Plus Que Parfait broke his maiden at third asking in the fall of 2018 at Keeneland. He just missed in Churchill Downs' Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2), then delivered a pair of off-the-board efforts at Louisiana's Fair Grounds before moved by Walsh to Florida.
There, Plus Que Parfait trained up to an eye-opening victory in the UAE Derby (G2) at Meydan for his Dubai-based ownership and conditioner with strong ties to Godolphin. The colt placed eighth in the Kentucky Derby and tried turf in the Belmont Derby Invitational (G1) before making the West Virginia Derby his season finale.
Plus Que Parfait has breezed consistently toward this return, including a gate work two drills back. His most-recent move measured five furlongs in 1:01.40 last Friday at the Palm Meadows Training Center.
Among Plus Que Parfait's competition Saturday are the 2019 Holy Bull (G2) hero Harvey Wallbanger, who hasn't won since, and Scars Are Cool, an allowance-level winner who appeared in last year's Travers Stakes (G1).
Post time is 1:57 p.m. ET.