Gulfstream: Sovereignty Rules in $415,000 Coolmore Fountain of Youth; Barn Notes

By David Joseph —-

Sonny Hughes Photo
Sovereignty Rules in $415,000 Coolmore Fountain of Youth

Mott Trainee Overtakes River Thames in G2 Triple Crown Prep

Favored G3 Holy Bull Winner Burnham Square Fourth

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Godolphin’s Sovereignty made a last-to-first sweep to overtake previously undefeated River Thames nearing the finish of Saturday’s $415,000 Coolmore Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park.

The son of Into Mischief, who closed out his 2-year-old season with a victory in the Oct. 27 Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs, stamped himself as a most promising prospect for the Triple Crown campaign while winning his 2025 debut by a neck.

The 79th running of the 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-olds offered qualifying points for the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale.

Sovereignty ($8.40) settled into stride as Neoequos was rushed out of the starting gate by Irad Ortiz Jr. to challenge River Thames for the lead and take early command entering the backstretch. Neoequos set fractions of 23.12 and 47.07 seconds for the first half mile while the long-striding Sovereignty continued to trail the six-horse field. Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez asked River Thames and the son of Maclean’s Music put in his challenge to the pacesetter on the far turn. Meanwhile, jockey Junior Alvarado also asked Sovereignty for his run, and the strapping colt responded, making a three-wide sweep to loom boldly while passing a struggling 9-5 favorite Burnham Square.

Neoequos maintained a lead at the top of the stretch before River Thames changed leads and took charge in mid-stretch, only to be caught late by the fast-closing Sovereignty.

Video Coolmore Fountain of Youth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Yne_rbIGoE

“It was a great run. He had a good trip. We had a good post inside, saved some ground on the first turn,” Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said. “Fortunately, we didn’t get an outside post and have to be wide on the first turn. He saved some ground, he was able to tip out, and he’s got some acceleration.”

Sovereignty, who broke his maiden in his third career start in the Street Sense, ran 1 1/16-miles in 1:43.12 to provide Alvarado with his second Fountain of Youth win, joining Mohaymen (2016)

“I was just trying to give him a good race,” Alvarado said. “We’ve been running second and third and I wanted to make sure he could finish. At the three-eighths pole I found myself trying to save ground, but I don’t think the inside’s the best place to be, so I thought, ‘let me lose a little ground here and put him on the outside.’ I was already riding him a little bit and when I put him in the clear, it seemed like everything came back to his head and he turned it on. After that it was like, ‘I hope we get there in time,’ and he did. He kept grinding his way there. He’s such a nice horse.”

The $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) March 29 at Gulfstream is a strong possibility for Sovereignty’s next start on the Triple Crown trail.

“We got one under our belt and now we get with the team and see where we go. I guess it’s a good thing that we’ve shown that we can run over the track,” Mott said. “Naturally, [the Florida Derby] is on the list of things to be considered very strongly.”

WinStar Farm LLC and CHC Inc.’s River Thames, the 2-1 second betting choice, was making his stakes debut in the Fountain of Youth following a pair of dominating races to launch his career during Gulfstream’s Championship Meet.

“He kind of got to looking around a little bit late. [Jockey] Johnny [Velazquez] said he was looking at the screen and just got a little bit complacent on the lead. He showed that he’s still maturing.” Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said. “We actually got a perfect trip, stalking the horse that we thought would show speed. We were able to put him away and it looked like he was maybe home, and I think he got a little complacent. The winner ran a very good race.”

River Thames finished 2 ½ lengths clear of Neoequos, who finished a neck ahead of Burnham Square, the impressive Holy Bull (G3) winner last time out who was never a factor in the Fountain of Youth.

“He didn’t break that good, like always. Last time [in the Holy Bull], he made a nice move on the backstretch. But today he wasn’t there. He’s just still learning. It looked like in the turn he was going nowhere. But all of a sudden when I got him back to the outside, he really picked it up again,” said Burnham Square’s jockey Edgard Zayas. “At the end he just got beat by two lengths, I think. He didn’t get beat by much. I thought, ‘wow, if he had given me this from the turn going into the stretch.’ He definitely needs more distance and a longer stretch. Last time it was probably a weaker field. But he’s going to keep improving.”

$415,000 COOLMORE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH (G2) QUOTES

Winning Time: 1:43.12

Winning Margins: neck, 2 ½, neck

Winning Payoff: $8.40

Fractions: :23.12, :47.07, 1:10.68, 1:36.43

Order of finish: Sovereignty, River Thames, Neoequos, Burnham Square, Gate to Wire, Keep It Easy

Scratches: McKellen, Solid Left

Winning trainer Bill Mott (Sovereignty): “It was a great run. He had a good trip. We had a good post inside, saved some ground on the first turn. Fortunately we didn’t get an outside post and have to be wide on the first turn. He saved some ground, he was able to tip out, and he’s got some acceleration.”

“We got one under our belt and now we get with the team and see where we go. I guess it’s a good thing that we’ve shown that we can run over the track. Naturally, [the Florida Derby] is on the list of things to be considered very strongly.”

Winning jockey Junior Alvarado (Sovereignty): “I was just trying to give him a good race. We’ve been running second and third and I wanted to make sure he could finish. At the three-eighths pole I found myself trying to save ground but I don’t think the inside’s the best place to be so I thought, let me lose a little ground here and put him on the outside. I was already a little bit riding him and when I put him in the clear, it seemed like everything came back to his head and he turned it on. After that it was like, ‘I hope we get there in time,’ and he did. He kept grinding his way there. He’s such a nice horse.”

“When I saw him in the paddock I thought he looked like a man among kids. He was very, very, very good. Billy Mott always brings the horses here beautiful. I was just a little bit worried about the break that he had. He was still a baby back then and I knew he was still probably learning. I think today he was a little more [aware] of what’s happening. I just think he outclassed these horses.”

Trainer Todd Pletcher (River Thames, 2nd; Gate to Wire, 5th): “[River Thames] kind of got to looking around a little bit late. [Jockey] Johnny [Velazquez] said he was looking at the screen and just got a little bit complacent on the lead. He showed that he’s still maturing.”

“We actually got a perfect trip, stalking the horse that we thought would show speed. We were able to put him away and it looked like he was maybe home and I think he got a little complacent. The winner ran a very good race.”

“He’s had three races in seven weeks, so we’ll let the dust settle and come up with a plan.”

“[Gate to Wire] got a good trip, the trip we were hoping for. It looked like he started backing up a little bit at the three-eighths pole and then he kind of re-rallied a little bit, and just flattned out a little bit the last part.”

Jockey John Velazquez (River Thames, 2nd): “It was a good trip. I was where I wanted to be. He acted up a little bit today, kind of getting away from the horses, shying away. I had to ride him early on the turn. He passed the other horse and kind of stopped and got nailed.”

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. (Neoequos, 3rd): “I thought he ran well. I thought he was a winner at the three-furlong pole, he just didn’t say. He’s a good horse and he proved it today. We’ll probably cut him back to one turn.”

“[Jockey] Irad [Ortiz Jr.] was aggressive and I was happy with that move. At the three-eighths pole I thought he was a winner. I thought we had [River Thames] put away for sure. Obviously, I could see [Sovereignty] making a move and my horse didn’t stay enough but he ran third. I’m proud of him.”

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. (Neoequos, 3rd): “I knew he was going to be in front. I tried to slow him down as much as I could. I tried to relax him. Don’t fight too much with him. And then he felt that horse outside of him at the five-eighths pole. He jumped on the bridle. But it was time to go, and he kept fighting. He was third today, first time going two turns.”

Jockey Edgard Zayas (Burnham Square, 4th): “He didn’t break that good, like always. Last time [in the Holy Bull], he made a nice move on the backstretch. But today he wasn’t there. He’s just still learning. It looked like in the turn he was going nowhere. But all of a sudden when I got him back to the outside, he really picked it up again. At the end he just got beat by two lengths, I think. He didn’t get beat by much. I thought, wow, if he had given me this from the turn going into the stretch … He definitely needs more distance and a longer stretch. Last time it was probably a weaker field. But he’s going to keep improving.”

GULFSTREAM TODAY

3.1.25

Mandatory Rainbow 6 Payout Sunday Estimated at $4 Million

Mi Bago Extends Win Streak to Three in $215,000 Colonel Liam

Disruptor Impressive Maiden Winner

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Sunday’s mandatory payout of the Rainbow 6 at Gulfstream Park is expected to have an estimated pool of $4 million when it begins with Race 6, one of four turf events comprising the sequence.

Two of the turf events will feature full fields of 3-year-old in a maiden special weight at 1 1/8th mile.

The carryover going into Sunday’s program is $447,538.05.

Ron Nicoletti and Samantha Perry Rainbow 6: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tIAscOtwHU

Race 6: Five furlongs turf, allowance optional claimer, fillies and mares

An evenly matched field of eight go to post and Creed’s Gold looks to repeat his 2 ¼ length victory here Jan. 23 over the Tapeta that came off a seven-month layoff. The 4-year-old filly has a victory over this course and distance as does Etrurian (Joe Orseno-Edgard Zayas) and Tiffany Gold (Victor Barboza-Emisael Jaramillo). Leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. saddles Bustin Bullet, whose second-place finish last out was flattered when Epona’s Hope returned to win the Ladies’ Turf Sprint.

Race 7: One-mile, main track, claiming, 4-year-olds and up

Eleven bottom-level claimers. Trappezoid has 10 wins at this distance, nine at Gulfstream, and comes off a fourth-place finish here in the slop. Bringer of Rain goes out first time after being claimed for $6,250 by Jose Gallegos (14 percent off the claim). Victor Barboza saddles Grand Tower, a winner last out in non-winners of three back in December. Pirate Radio, sixth last time out for a 12,500 tag, won at this distance Jan. 15.

Race 8: 1 1/8-mile, turf, maiden special weight, 3-year-old fillies

A dozen go to post and there’s lots of ways to go. Tellus Mater ran a big third in his debut Jan. 5 here at a mile for trainer Graham Motion. Hideaway, a $275,000 daughter of Curlin, draws the rail for her debut for Todd Pletcher. Bill Mott, Christophe Clement and Brendan Walsh all send out two contenders. Derry Girl gets blinkers on for trainer Dale Romans.

Race 9: 6 furlongs, main track, allowance optional claimer, 4-year-olds and up

Dilger and Uncaptured Warrior are two of the seven entered. Dilger is graded stakes placed and was second against similar company when returning Jan. 29 from a four-month layoff. Uncaptured Warrior is four of six at the distance. Con Compania makes his U.S. debut for trainer Angel Quiroz after winning eight of 20 starts in Chile and going five for eight at this distance. Martin Drexler saddles Have a Souper Day who will hope for a quick pace.

Race 10: 1 ½ miles, turf, allowance optional claimer, 4-year-olds and up

Another full field on the turf. Corruption, a son of Medaglia d’Oro, stretches out having won both of his starts here this winter at a mile for Mark Casse, who also saddles Kid Cairo. Vesting goes out for trainer Chad Brown having finished second in his 4-year-old debut here Jan. 5 by a neck behind Brees. L’Antharis needs a good trip having had some bad luck the last two times. Leading rider Irad Ortiz Jr. winds up on Classic Creation, fourth behind Vesting and Kid Cairo Feb. 1 in his first race since October. John Terranova trains.

Race 11: 1 1/8-mile, turf, maiden special weight, 3-year-olds

The finale has a dozen with four first-time starters from the barns of Cox, Mott, Clement and Walsh. Ortiz rides Bulldoze for Pletcher, fourth in his debut at a mile on the turf Jan. 25. Fateful Lightning fetched $600,000 at auction for Cox and jockey Luis Saez. Cash the Money, second on the Tampa turf last time out, is a first-time gelding.

On mandatory-payout days, the entire Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is paid out to the bettor or bettors with the most winners in the wager’s six-race sequence. The carryover jackpot is usually only paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day’s pool usually goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

Mi Bago Extends Win Streak to Three in $215,000 Colonel Liam

Gary Barber’s Mi Bago, already a two-time stakes winner at the Championship Meet, made it three in a row Saturday with a popular front-running triumph in the $215,000 Colonel Liam for 3-year-olds at Gulfstream Park.

Mi Bago ($6.20), a bay son of Vekoma favored at 2-1 against nine rivals, completed one mile in a stakes-record 1:32.51 over a firm turf course to register his fifth win from seven career starts, four of those stakes wins.

It was the second win of the day for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. Casse also won the Herecomesthebride (G3) with 4-5 favorite Vixen, ridden by John Velazquez.

Mi Bago broke alertly from Post 8 and settled in a familiar spot on the lead, going a quarter-mile in 22:55 seconds and a half in 45.53 tracked to his outside by Wakan. Mi Bago coasted through six furlongs in 1:08.84 and opened up once straightened for home to win by 4 ¾ lengths under wraps. Enterdadragon emerged from a tight pack edge George Briggs by a nose for second, with another neck back to Forged Steel in fourth.

Bred in New York, Mi Bago has won all three of his winter Gulfstream starts in gate-to-wire fashion, taking the 7 ½-furlong Pulpit by five lengths to end 2024 and the one-mile, 70-yard Dania Beach Jan. 1 by three-quarters of a length, rained off the turf to the all-weather Tapeta.

Disruptor Impressive Maiden Winner

Disruptor, a $1.15 million yearling, was an impressive maiden winner in his second start, cruising away from seven others while winning by 9 ¼ lengths while covering seven furlongs in 1:22.94.

Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Disruptor is a son of Gun Runner who finished second in his debut here Jan. 25. The colt’s ownership includes Repole Stable and Spendthrift Farms. Disruptor was bred by Runnymede Farm and Peter Callahan LLC.

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