Signalman, Hidden Scroll lead Fountain of Youth 2019 nominations

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile show finisher Signalman, unraced since winning the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) in his 2-year-old finale, along with the eye-catching debut runner Hidden Scroll, are among 43 sophomores nominated to the Grade 2, $400,000 Fountain of Youth set for Saturday, March 2 at Gulfstream Park.

The 73rd running of the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth – the next step on Florida's road to the 2019 Kentucky Derby – headlines a spectacular card featuring nine stakes, all graded, worth $1.62 million in purses.

Signalman ran second to Knicks Go in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) in his stakes debut last fall, finished third behind 2-year-old champion Game Winner in the Juvenile, and took the Kentucky Jockey Club by a neck Nov. 24 – all at 1 1/16 miles – for trainer Ken McPeek. Stablemate Harvey Wallbanger, 29-1 upset winner of the Fasig-Tipton Holy Bull (G2) Feb. 2, is nominated but expected to train up to the Florida Derby.

Hidden Scroll registered the 3-year-old crop's top Beyer Speed Figure so far of 104 on the Jan. 26 Pegasus World Cup (G1) undercard, skipping to a 14-length win in the slop. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott trains the Juddmonte Farms homebred.

Also prominent among Fountain of Youth nominees possible to run are Remsen Stakes (G2) winner Maximus Mischief, who suffered his first loss last time in the Holy Bull (G2); Bourbon War, who bounced back from a fourth in the Remsen to win a 1 1/16-mile allowance Jan. 18 at Gulfstream; Grade 1-placed Code of Honor; and Global Campaign, impressive in going 2-for-2 this winter at Gulfstream.

Eclipse Award champion 2-year-old filly Jaywalk is expected to make her sophomore debut in the $200,000 Davona Dale (G2), a one-mile event that attracted 19 nominations. Trained by Kentucky Derby (G1) winner John Servis for Cash is King and D.J. Stable, the daughter of Cross Traffic won four straight to end her title season capped by the Frizette (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).

Feedback, Champagne Anyone and Jeltrin, first, third and fourth, respectively, in the Davona Dale prep, the seven-furlong Forward Gal (G3) Feb. 2 at Gulfstream; 2018 Tempted (G3) winner Oxy Lady; Cookie Dough, who swept the final two legs of the Florida Stallion Stakes series last fall; Grade 2-placed High Regard; and Orra Moor, who romped by 7 ¾ lengths Feb. 10 at Gulfstream are also nominated.

A total of 21 older horses were nominated to the $200,000 Mac Diarmida at 1 3/8 miles on the grass, led by multiple graded-stakes winning millionaires Bigger Picture and Channel Maker; 2017 Bowling Green (G2) winner Hunter O’Riley; 2018 Bernard Baruch (G2) winner Qurbaan; and Zulu Alpha, half-length winner of the 1 ½-mle W. L. McKnight (G3) Jan. 26 at Gulfstream.

Defending champion Holy Helena heads 18 older females nominated to the $150,000 The Very One (G3), a list that includes graded-stakes winners A.A. Azula’s Arch, Eskimo Kisses, Puerto Rican import Pure Lemon, Si Que Es Buena and Tricky Escape.

Sophomores will go 1 1/16 miles on turf in the $150,000 Palm Beach (G3) and $150,000 Herecomesthebride (G3), the latter for fillies. Gulfstream turf stakes winners A Thread of Blue, Casa Creed, Henley’s Joy and Louder Than Bombs top 23 nominees to the Palm Beach, while A Bit Special, who ran her win streak to three in the one-mile Sweetest Chant (G3) Feb. 3 at Gulfstream, heads 25 nominees to the Herecomesthebride.

Multiple Grade 1 winner Heart to Heart and 10-year-old Hogy, a 19-time winner of more than $1.3 million in purses, are prominent among 17 nominees to the $150,000 Canadian Turf (G3), one of two one-mile turf stakes for older horses along with the $150,000 Honey Fox (G3) for females, which attracted 22 nominations led by Valedictorian and Peach of a Gal, first and third, respectively, in the Suwannee River (G3) Feb. 9 at Gulfstream.

Rounding out the stakes action is the $100,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint (G3), whose 13 nominees include 2018 Fountain of Youth winner Promises Fulfilled, who went on to win three graded sprint stakes led by the H. Allen Jerkens (G1) at Saratoga.