Horse Racing Bets: 2024 Fountain Of Youth At Gulfstream On Road To The Kentucky Derby
Can Speak Easy stretch easily? That’s the major variable surrounding the search for other contenders besides Dornoch and Locked in Fountain of Youth odds for the $400,000 stakes race Saturday at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.
Todd Pletcher’s Speak Easy, who looked strong in a seven-furlong debut victory, tries to get 1 1/16 miles in his second outing. That will be a handicapping variable for bettors of this Road to the Kentucky Derby prep race, which awards 50 points and a near-certain place in the Run or the Roses in Louisville on Saturday, May 4.
Bettors can access the action, along with a string of impressive undercard races, via FanDuel TV. Gulfstream paces the nation in purse money Saturday, handing out $2,312,000. New users getting up to a $200 No Sweat Win Bet with the latest FanDuel Racing promo.
2024 Fountain Of Youth Line Odds
The Fountain of Youth has a 6:10 p.m. ET post time. Click on the odds in the table below to bet now, and join TheLines.com free sports betting Discord channel to talk horse racing.
| Post | Horse | Odds | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Speak Easy | 9-2 | Todd Pletcher | Irad Ortiz Jr. |
| 2 | Le Dom Bro | 30-1 | Eniel Cordero | Edwin Gonzalez |
| 3 | Victory Avenue | 4-1 | Gustavo Delgado | John Velazquez |
| 4 | Real Macho | 8-1 | Rohan Crichton | Tyler Gaffalione |
| 5 | Dornoch | 2-1 | Danny Gargan | Luis Saez |
| 6 | Merit | SCRATCHED | ||
| 7 | Frankie’s Empire | 20-1 | Michael Yates | Miguel Vasquez |
| 8 | Locked | 5-2 | Todd Pletcher | Jose Ortiz |
| 9 | Dancing Groom | 30-1 | Antonio Sano | JavierCastellano |
Fountain Of Youth Odds: Past Performances
1. Speak Easy (9-2)
Made sizzling debut, winning a seven-furlong affair at 8-1 in 1:21.96 at Gulfstream Park. Outgunned favored Victory Avenue, who he will see again in this field.
That race has even more relevance because it happened on Pegasus World Cup Day. Remember that undercard last year? A horse won his debut in a similar style race and went on to win the Kentucky Derby.
Following the path of Mage will bring a lot of eyeballs his way in the attempt to stretch out to 1 1-16 miles.
Speak Easy was cross-entered in a Friday allowance race, but connections opted for this test rather than the 1-1-8-mile allowance task for his first two-turn race.
Beyer speed figure of 100 is tops in this field.
2. LeDom Bro (30-1)
Looking for a second straight strong effort after being a badly beaten ninth in the Remsen. Came back to a seven-furlong sharpener at Gulfstream Park, gaining second in the $125,000 Swale Stakes.
Could be a front-end factor. But has already been beaten handily by Dornoch and Frankie’s Empire from this field.
3. Victory Avenue (4-1)
No excuses in the loss to Speak Easy. He broke to the front, but could not survive a wicked half-mile fraction of 44.61. Finished second by 2 1-2 lengths.
Will try again at a longer distance. Will probably be forwardly placed again but have company up front. Despite losing to Speak Easy, nothing wrong with a 97 Beyer that day. It’s second in this field.
Like Victory Avenue, must prove he can stretch. If he can, he’s a threat.
4. Real Macho (8-1)
He broke his maiden in his second try. Won allowance level on the second try. This is his first stakes race, now what?
Comes off a nice allowance victory at a one-turn mile over the track and will enter in the midst of good performance cycle. A threat to hit the board if the race falls apart.
5. Dornoch (2-1)
Exhilarating Remsen run in which he had the lead most of the way, surrendered it to Sierra Leone, and fell nearly two lengths back before recovering to steal at the wire.
In retrospect, that was a strong Remsen field. Sierra Leone came back to capture the Risen Star Stakes in his next race. One of the favorites.
Wants the front and his handlers hope it’s not contentious this time.
Going 1 1/16 miles rather than 1 1/8 is to his advantage.
6. Merit (Scratched)
Merit was entered in a race Friday and will no longer run here.
7. Frankie’s Empire (20-1)
Already a four-time winner and veteran of seven races, primarily sprints. Took the Swale at 14-1, outgunning LeDom Bro among others. The time of 1:24.22 for seven furlongs was average, but his heart was genuine.
One previous distance race was a dull sixth at one mile on a muddy track. Gets his first fast track at a distance. Pioneer of the Nile breeding suggests an ability to get the distance.
8. Locked (5-2)
Terrific finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile yielded a third, just behind second-place Muth.
That should make him a prime player, but not a lock, pun intended. Fierceness, who won that race, came up empty and ran third in the Holy Bull.
His late-running style would be better served to be a bit closer to the pace at speed-favoring Gulfstream.
A layoff of almost three months is a concern. Hasn’t run since early November.
9. Dancing Groom (30-1)
Distant fifth in the Holy Bull, won by Hades. Has also been beaten by Timberlake along the way. Looks like the task is too big.
Pace Scenario For Handicapping Fountain of Youth
Dornoch, Victory Avenue and Speak Easy will probably vie for the lead. Locked will be the best runner late. The intensity of the early pace will be monumental in the result of this race.
How I’m Betting Fountain of Youth Odds
Win bet on No. 5 Dornoch. He prevailed at 1 1/8 miles at a pace that was near-suicidal. Will be in a dogfight if he locks horns with Speak Easy and Victory Avenue. On paper, he is better than those two and then it’s a question of whether he can hold off Locked.
Exacta Box 5-8. Locked and Dornoch. The most proven two. One early threat and one late.
I will work No. 4 Real Macho and No. 7 Frankie’s Empire into some tickets with one or both of them. Saturday decision.
Wild Card Pick
In case the race falls apart with a suicidal pace, a $1 trifecta key 8 with 4,7,5. Cost $6. (Locked over Real Macho, Dornoch and Frankie’s Empire).
Good luck betting this year’s Fountain of Youth odds!
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