Photo:

Gulfstream Park / Lauren King

Godolphin’s Sovereignty, who surged from last to first to capture Saturday’s Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park, met his connections’ expectations and then some while emerging as an exciting Triple Crown prospect in the first start of his 3-year-old season.

“We were sort of hoping that was the way the race would pan out,” Godolphin USA’s director of bloodstock Michael Banahan said Sunday. “We didn’t really know if he’d have enough ground to actually catch the horses on the lead with his running style, especially with the way the track seems to play for speed at Gulfstream. We were really just looking for a good run. To actually have as good a run as we had and win the race was fantastic.”

Sovereignty, who was unraced since breaking his maiden in the Oct. 27 Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs, picked up 50 qualifying points for the May 3 Kentucky Derby with his neck decision over previously undefeated River Thames. The 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth served as a final prep for the 1 1/8-mile, $1 million Florida Derby (G1), which will offer 100 Derby points to the winner March 29 at Gulfstream.

The Florida Derby “will certainly be in the mix. It will probably suit him a little bit better with the configuration of the track for the longer-distance race, as well,” Banahan said. “It will certainly come into play, for sure. It’s a while away, but it will come up quickly.”

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Sovereignty, who is in a three-way tie for the top spot in the road to the Kentucky Derby standings with 60 points, already locked up a berth in the Run for the Roses with his impressive Fountain of Youth effort.

“We’re hopeful he can stay healthy and well and we can roll on to the next race down the road,” said Banahan, who said the son of Into Mischief “looked to be in great shape” after his eye-opening performance.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher reported Sunday that WinStar Farm and CHC’s River Thames exited the Fountain of Youth in good order.

The son of Maclean’s Music, the 2-1 second betting choice ridden by Hall of Famer John Velazquez, chased pacesetter Neoequos before taking command in mid-stretch, only to be caught late by Sovereignty.

“We’re happy with the trip he got. I thought Johnny made a good decision when he took him outside of (Neoequos),” Pletcher said Sunday. “The only thing is we felt like late in the race, he kind of lost focus a little bit. He pricked his ears. I don’t know if he was looking at the big screen or footprints on the track or exactly what made him lose focus for a minute, but he ran a really good race.”

River Thames was making his stakes debut in the Fountain of Youth after making a winning debut Jan. 11 and coming back to easily win an optional-claiming allowance Feb. 1 at Gulfstream.

“When you put things into perspective, seven weeks ago he was an un-started maiden,” Pletcher said. “He’s come a long way in a short time.”

Pletcher said he and WinStar’s Elliot Walden “will play it by ear” concerning River Thames’ next start.

Burnham Square was never a factor as the 9-5 favorite in the Fountain of Youth, in which he raced evenly to finish fourth, a neck behind Neoequos. Trainer Ian Wilkes reported by text that the son of Liam’s Map was “good” Sunday.

Burnham Square was seeking his third straight victory of the championship meet, during which he broke his maiden by nine lengths Dec. 28 and captured the Feb. 1 Holy Bull (G3) by 1 3/4 lengths.

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said Sunday he was pleased with Neoequos’ third-place finish in his first start around two turns in the Fountain of Youth.

“It was a good run. Distance was a question mark going in, and it probably is a question mark, but he did get a really good Beyer. He got a 94 Beyer. Originally, I was going to cut him back, but I might give him one more try. It’s the Florida Derby. It’s home. Why not? I might give him one more try, but I want to see how he does the next couple weeks.”

Joseph also was pleased with how The Queens M G exited her 2 3/4-length triumph in Saturday’s Davona Dale (G2) at Gulfstream.

“She bounced out well and all being well she’s going to go to the Gulfstream Oaks,” said Joseph, whose trainee earned 50 qualifying points for the May 2 Kentucky Oaks (G1).

If The Queens M G runs in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) on the Florida Derby undercard, the daughter of Thousand Words would make her first start around two turns.

“Two turns for her I don’t think is a problem. Although she’s won those 4 1/2-furlong races and sprints early on, she’s always a filly who, when she works, is very steady. I think that will work to her favor,” Joseph said. “I don’t think distance is a problem for her.”