Saturday’s Road to the Kentucky Derby schedule features a trifecta of Championship Series stakes as key races for bigger Derby preps at the same tracks in the next five weeks. This trio of races award 50 points to the winner and enough points to gain a spot in the starting gate for the Run for the Roses May 3 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY.

Saturday, March 1 (all times Eastern)

• $415,000 Grade 2 Fountain of Youth (1 1/16 miles) – Race 13 at Gulfstream Park, 5:44 p.m.
• $300,000 Grade 3 Gotham (1-mile) – Race 8 at Aqueduct, 4:18 pm
• $300,000 Grade 2 San Felipe (1 1/16 miles) – Race 8 at Santa Anita, 6:43 p.m.

The track announcer for Saturday’s biggest day of racing at Gulfstream Park is fan favorite Pete Aiello, who I featured in Forbes in 2020.

Many horse racing insiders and analysts believe the San Felipe favorite Barnes (1/1) will become the favorite to win the Kentucky Derby. Barnes is 2-for-2 including a 5-length win in the San Vicente (G2) at Santa Anita in early January. Barnes was purchased as a yearling for $3.2 million as a son of Into Mischief with bloodlines through Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Into Mischief has sired the last three San Felipe winners trained by Bob Baffert (2024, 2021, 2020) with 2020 winner Authentic going on to also win the September running of the Kentucky Derby following COVID.

San Felipe Contenders

“He’s one of my favorite sires,” trainer Bob Baffert said of Into Mischief. “He’s solid. He throws a good horse. Plus once he got rolling, everybody started breeding these really good mares to him.”

Two New York Breds who are both undefeated try open company for the first time in the Gotham including. Race favorites Sand Devil (9/5) for trainer Linda Rice and Sacrosanct (3/1) for trainer Brad Cox, who also saddles Flood Zone (12/1) offering value and stamina-rich breeding trying a route for the first time in his third career start.

Also this weekend are three Kentucky Oaks prep races for 3-year-old fillies that award 50 points to the winners.

• Sat. $200,000 Busher Stakes (1-mile) – Race 7 at Aqueduct, 3:47 p.m.
• Sat. $200,000 G2 Davona Dale (1 mile) – Race 8 at Gulfstream, 3:04 p.m.
• Sun. $100,000 G3 Santa Ysabel (1 1 1/6 miles) – Race 6 at Santa Anita, 5:30 p.m.

Bet Horse Racing On Your Phone

Bettors looking to cash in on Saturday’s big races and the unrivaled day of racing the first Saturday of March can watch and wager on the biggest races through FanDuel Racing. FanDuelTV will be live on-site covering select stakes Saturday with exclusive coverage of the Road to the Kentucky Derby races providing expert analysis and behind-the-scenes coverage by FanDuelTV’s staff.

Fountain of Youth Day at Gulfstream also features huge Million Dollar Early and Late Pick 5 pools.

Saturday’s Coast-To-Coast Pick 5 will feature an All-Graded Stakes sequence featuring:

• Gulfstream Race 12: G3 Honey Fox (Turf)
• Gulfstream Race 13: G2 Fountain of Youth
• Gulfstream Race 14: G2 Mac Diarmida (Turf)
• Santa Anita Race 9: G1 Kilroe Mile (Turf)
• Santa Anita Race 10: G1 Big ‘Cap

Also check out FanDuel Racing for handicapping tools and resources including Kentucky Derby betting information and updates. More than a dozen stakes races from around the country will be available to live stream through FanDuel racing.

Fountain Of Youth Field And Odds

Opening parimutuel odds are subject to change and adjust as more bets come in on the races.

How To Bet On Horse Racing

Trainer Todd Pletcher has the most wins (4) in the Fountain of Youth, and he saddles to horse in this year’s race including xx with 5-time FOY-winning jockey John Velazquez. He also trains Pletcher sends out at least one horse in 9-of-14 races Saturday at Gulfstream after winning 4-races on 2024 Fountain of Youth Day.

Fountain Of Youth Picks

Fountain of Youth Stakes picks and analysis from the FanDuel Research team along with expert insight and behind-the-scenes coverage by FanDuelTV’s staff of the Fountain of Youth and other key stakes races around the country are available on FanDuel Racing.

I also turned to the experts at Guaranteed Tip Sheet for the Fountain of Youth with picks and analysis provided from their wagering guides. Horses listed below are the top win contenders in order with opening parimutuel odds subject to change.

Race 13: Fountain of Youth

• #6 River Thames (2/1) – He’s unbeaten in two easy wins and showed much better early pace last out. Tries two turns for the first time.
• #3 Burnham Square (5/2) – Upped his speed figure in every race and hit triple digits last out winning the Holy Bull with ease.
• #7 Neoequos (10/1) – Will go past 7 furlongs for the first time and has already hit triple digits on the speed gun.
• #1 Gate to Wire (6/1) – Will not live up to his name as a closer but should make a big mid move and try to carry the momentum to the wire.

Also, #2 Sovereignty (3/1) for trainer Bill Mott is another Into Mischief colt coming off a layoff having faced progressively tougher competition while holding an advantage of having already raced 2-turns. A swift and pressured pace works in his favor, although the Gulfstream main track is not as kind to closers.

Race 8: Davona Dale

• #1 The Queens MG (5/2) – She ran better fractions last out and could be better in the second start after a layoff.
• #2 Frida (10/1) – Has a bullet work between races and should be better in her third start after a layoff.
• #4 La Cara (8/5) – Slight race favorite is unbeaten in a pair at the distance and could improve in her second start after a layoff.
• #6 Ballarina Doro – She will be closing at the end and showed elite level late pace in her last race.

Guarnateed Tip Sheet also prefers the two favorites as top win contenders in the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct. Horse #5 Sand Devil is undefeated in a trio of races with the biggest win in his lone at today’s distance. No. 4 Sacrosanct won 4-of-4 as a pilot or copilot and should be upfront again today.

Track Changes At Gulfstream Including For The Fountain Of Youth

Gulfstream Park management announced this week that effective immediately there will be an additional run up of 85 feet added to the start of all 1 1/16-mile races and 53 feet for all future races run at 1 1/8 miles over the main track.

The change will have its first significant impact with Saturday’s running of the mile and one-sixteenth, Grade 2 Fountain of Youth.

National Horseplayers Championship

The NTRA National Horseplayers Championship is approaching March 14-16 at Horseshoe Hotel & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. Many horse players will be firing in qualifying tournaments hoping to win a spot in the NHC, presented by Caesars Entertainment and Racetrack Television Network.

Each year, thousands of bettors put their skills, strategy, and bankroll to the test in qualifiers across the country, competing for a coveted spot at the National Horseplayers Championship in Las Vegas. The NHC is the pinnacle of horse gambling, bringing together over 600 elite horseplayers battling for the $800,000 grand prize and the prestigious title of “Horseplayer of the Year.” This year’s event also runs just ahead of opening weekend of March Madness, which will also allow college basketball enthusiasts in Vegas to check out the biggest and best sportsbooks in Las Vegas and all the March Madness parties March 20-23.

“The NHC is to Thoroughbred racing what the U.S. Open is to golf. Anyone can qualify and compete in the NHC for a life-changing score, an Eclipse Award and the title of Horseplayer of the Year. It’s the most competitive stage for horseplayers, where the best minds in the game test their skills under intense pressure,” said Tom Rooney, President and Chief Executive Officer of the NTRA. “Duality has captured the drama and excitement that makes this tournament so special.”

So does the excitement on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and the Championship Series races.

You can bet on it.

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