Fountain of Youth Stakes 2023 Field, Odds and Picks for Saturday 3/4/23

The Road to the Kentucky Derby continues with a Championship Series race Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes is one of the biggest stakes races during a Gulfstream Championship Meet that also includes Saturday's Grade 2 Davona Dale Stakes -- a Kentucky Oaks prep race for fillies.

The Grade 2 Fountain of Youth is Saturday, March 4 and the top 5 finishers earn Kentucky Derby points (50-20-15-10-5). At the completion of all the Kentucky Derby points races, the top 20 points leaders on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard earn a spot at the starting gate for the May 6 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

The Fountain of Youth is also a prep race for the $1 million Florida Derby on April 1, which awards 100-40-30-20-10 points to the top 5 finishers. A number of horses are worth watching and wagering on as these 3-year-olds continue to grow and develop in hopes of a chance to run in the 1 1/4 mile Kentucky Derby.

Winning Kentucky Derby Prep Race Picks

Kentucky Derby prep winning picks in February on multiple races, including:
- Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs (Litigate: 3/1)
- Withers Stakes at Aqueduct (Hit Show: 7/5)
- Robert B. Lewis at Santa Anita (Newgate: 6/5)
- Holy Bull at Gulfstream (Rocket Can: 5/2)

FanDuel Racing has you covered for the biggest racing days and events, and you can watch and wager on FanDuelTV.

The 1 1/16 mile Fountain of Youth Stakes is Race 14 on Saturday, March 4, and has a post time of 5:43 p.m. ET. A total of nine stakes races are on the big Saturday card at Gulfstream, including the Kentucky Oaks prep race Davona Dale for 3-year-old fillies in Race 13. Top track announcer Pete Aiello makes the racing calls at Gulfstream Park.

Fountain of Youth Field and Odds

Fountain of Youth Pick

The $1 million Fountain of Youth (G2) drew a competitive field of 10 runners led by favorites Forte (7/5) and Blazing Sevens (7/2). Both make their 2023 debuts as 3-year-olds. Blazing Sevens has some sharp recent works for trainer Chad Brown and won a Grade 1 race in October, but he's lost twice to Forte, who won the 1 1/16 mile Breeders' Cup Juvenile in his last race in November.

Forte has three Grade 1 wins that also include the Hopeful Stakes last September. The top jockey/trainer tandem of Irad Ortiz, Jr. and Todd Pletcher adds to the best horse's chances as Forte looks to continue his growth and added strength to start his 3-year-old season.

General Jim (6/1) is a son of super sire Into Mischief and won a Grade 3 race at Gulfstream last month going 7 furlongs but hasn't come close to the triple-digit speed figures posted by Forte in his last two races. Bill Mott-trained Rocket Can (8/1) is also sired by Into Mischief and won the Holy Bull in his stakes debut last month at Gulfstream. Mage (8/1) did not race as a 2-year-old and makes his stakes debut after a solid front-running maiden win in January.

Shadow Dragon (12/1) is a most intriguing horse with jockey Jose Ortiz riding for trainer Bill Mott. Shadow Dragon was dismissed at 34/1 odds in the Holy Bull but moved up sharply on the far turn and challenged winner Rocket Can in a close finish.

Forte offers no value but is the best based on past performance. But as 3-year-olds mature, grow and get stronger, there are opportunities and upsets to be had when betting on horse racing. Shadow Dragon can hit the board or pull off the upset with a faster pace as projected.

Pick: Forte to Win and Shadow Dragon (WPS) and exotics.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.