Lane Frost Freezes The Fountain Of Youth Stakes

By Nynl Stables on March 4, 2018

The Fountain Of Youth Stakes (KYD) (Grade 2)- $400.000 Purse
GP- For Three Year Olds
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
March 3, 2018

Despite going off at high odds in the morning line (20/1), we were glad to see that people might be reading our articles as Lane Frost, who we picked to win the race from the beginning, would be bet down to 6/1. Still didn’t make him the favorite, but would be a more worthy set of numbers. Sanny Village saw his potential all along, got a 2nd place run in the Davis Stakes, before getting this result here, and clearly Lane Frost is emerging as one to watch for the KYD contender, not just a KYD entrant. It is his second win in the Fountain Of Youth, having also won the race in 2016 with Edwin Drood. I wouldn’t expect Lane Frost to pass on the TC races like he did, though. I Ortis Jr wins the race for the first time. Congratlations to them! The time of the win was 1:41.62, middle of the road in the stakes history. Here’s a look at it.

(1/4 Mile- :23.41)- From his outside post, Performance Artist breaks the quickest out of the gate and would lead the field around the opening turn for Estero Farms, but never letting him get too far away would be Mistress Seeker, from Aer Stables, who really needed a good run today. Badge was also within half a length around the opening turn, and would get the rail at this time for D J C Racing Stables. Behind these three would be our eventual race winner, who took at third lane in the backstretch, which is often desirable in this game. I Ortiz Jr had the Sanny Village entry just two lengths from the lead. Nearby on the rail would be Walkin Broomstick (Smokey Stover), with Broken Tap (Barcelona Farms) between them, but a half a length back. Further outside would be Lafsim, the Alydar Stables longshot. Going towards the back, a threesome raced side by side five lengths out which consisted of Lucky Phooey (LionKing Stables) on the rail, post time favorite Blindfold (Mb Stables) in the middle , and Denomination (Fractious) to the outside. Further back, it was Tallmadge (Oquinn Farm) and Bandito (TwinTowersRacing).

(½ Mile- :46.85)- The second quarter of the races proves to be an uneventful portion, but Lane Frost does start to eat into his gap to the leaders a little bit. Performance Artist tries to leave Mistress Seeker and Badge behind them as the backstretch trip carries on. Walkin Broomstick and Broken Tap looked to make a run going into the turn, and Lane Frost would oblige by moving over a lane, as he was clear of Lafsim. Behind them, not much going on. None of the trailers were looking to make a run quite yet.

(Top Of Stretch- 1.5F To Go)- Rounding the turn and hitting the top of the stretch, Performance Artist was still looking to be in good shape, and had us wondering if he could buck the outside post jinx. Lane Frost was coming, gradually eating into his lead and loomed a top challenger. Some traffic woes existed for others, and Broken Tap did not seem as though he was able to start his run when he wanted too do the retreating Mistress Seeker, and Walkin Broomstick became completely boxed in when Badge began to drop back. Lucky Phooey looked like he’d have some run, but Walkin Broomsticks traffic problems compounded into an additional problem for him. Denomination and Blindford look to the outside as Bandito made a wide run. Along the rail, Tallmadge would hope for things to clear out so he could pounce on a lane to the inside if it opened up.

(Finish- 1:41.62)- In the stretch, Lane Frost showed impressive desire, because Performance Artist did not go away quietly and Broken Tap was coming on hard. Lane Frost would not be denied, however, and pick up the big win. Performance Artist was game to the wire for a hard earned second, and another horse I want you to remember here is Broken Tap, who was coming on strong in the stretch. Had he been able to start his run at the same time as Lane Frost, they’d have had an impressive duel here. Running fourth was Tallmadge, who was able to have that lane open up for him. Lucky Phooey was a strong fifth, and has a better run here if not for the traffic issues he had. I’m sure his sire is proud. Bandito seemed to do all he could when in the outside lane for sixth, and Walkin Broomstick also had considerable traffic issues in his seventh place run, but the trainer was not having any of that, and gave him the snip after the race. Interesting. Rounding out the finishing order if Blindford, disappointing those who made him the overwhelming favorite, then Lafsim, Badge, Denomination, and Mistress Seeker.

About The Winner: Lane Frost, trained by Sanny Village and ridden to victory by I Ortiz Jr., is a three year old colt by Thats Entertainment, and out of Rhinestone Cowgirl. He was bred in New York by Luz International as a yearling and acquired by Sanny Village in private sales in January of this year for $210.000. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his fourth in seven starts, his second stake win, and first graded stake win. His career earnings are now $401.440.

Horse Name

Owner Name

Jockey

Odds

Fin

Time

SRF

Lane Frost

Sanny Village

Ortiz I Jr

6.75

1^3/4