Soldat took full advantage of his rail draw and never
relinquished the lead in Saturday’s Fountain of Youth (G2) Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Soldat set sail for the front under Alan Garcia and took the
field through controlled fractions of :24.34, :47.99, and 1:12.43. Longshot El
Grayling applied token pace pressure but faded badly and was eased. To Honor And
Serve tracked the leader wide and made a run around the far turn.
To Honor And Serve could not match strides with Soldat and
Gourmet Dinner took up the chase. Soldat had plenty left for the drive and
kicked clear to win by two lengths.
Gourmet Dinner, ridden for the first time by Ramon
Dominguez, finished almost five lengths clear of a tiring To Honor And Serve,
who was making his first start since November for Bill Mott.
Recent graduate Bowman’s Causeway was 4th in a
strung out field with Shackleford, Racing Aptitude, Casper’s Touch, and El Grayling completing
the order of finish.
Soldat stopped the clock in 1:50.23 and paid $4.80 as the
favorite. Kiaran McLaughlin trains the winner.
