G2, Fountain Of Ute: A good stepping stone for these 3yr olds.
| Florida (FL) Saturday, February 20, 2021 — 2:10:00 PM EST | Race ID : 2614476 | |
| Fountain Of Ute | |
| Grade II / Group 2*CPU – Purse : $375,000 | |
| Restricted to 3 Year Olds | |
| 9 Furlongs | ~1800 Meters | One Mile and and One Eighth | Fast Dirt |
The Fountain Of Ute has long been known to be a premium prep race for those horses seeking to see the bluegrass of Kentucky and make a start in the Bluegrass Derby. Although a G2 level race there have been many horses that went on to run in future Derby-Lock or Triple Crown races. Last year’s winner of the Fountain Of Ute was Fiercely Frosted. He did not run in the Bluegrass Derby, but did return to run in the Florida Derby and The New Yorker after his win in the Fountain Of Ute. The field of horses running in this year’s Fountain Of Ute look to be more heavy hitters of which we could very well expect to see much more of in the future. The field here looks pretty tight and we only have one Graded winner in this field of fourteen and thus a good chance that a horse could come out of the race with their first Graded win and get a trip over to the winners circle to collect their prize. The odds makers have set their morning line odds for this race and the post positions have been drawn. So let us now take a preview of the field of fourteen horses that will run in this year’s G2, Fountain Of Ute in Florida.
| 1 | BETCHA I’M MINI | NY | 3M | babies7 | D Carlson | 7 | 2 | 57% | $99,456 | 20.00 | 8/1 |
This Bay Colt was sired by Solomini and he has shown great promise for his owner hitting the boards twice in his last three Graded starts. He was third in the G3, Cornstalk in Kentucky and then followed that up with a fourth place finish in the G1, Movieland Futurity in California. He then made his way to Louisiana for his most recent start on 01/09/2021 in the G3, The Legoland. He was back in twelfth and over nine lengths off the lead when he fired after the third call to make a big closing effort to catch the wire in third. The owner has put in the call to find jockey, D Carlson from Pennsylvania to come in and take the mount with his horse. This is a trusted jockey for this horse and hopefully they can pair up well together here on Saturday when they head out at post time representing the Universal Racing Club residency.
| 2 | MISYOUBROTHERRICK | KY | 3M | benrese | R Bokie | 6 | 2 | 100% | $645,110 | 132.00 | 11/1 |
This Bay Colt is a scratch bred (CURLIN x DANZIG x SEATTLE SLEW) who in six races has never missed the boards. He has been running very well and is coming in after a good period of rest from his most recent trip to the track. Back in September he came in second in the G1, End Of The Line Futurity and then returned to the track for his most recent race on 11/07/2020 in Kentucky when he ran 8.5 furlongs in the G1, Breeders’ Bowl Juvenile of which he closed big again to get up for second in that race. This horse has never run at any other track except for in Kentucky. He will be traveling here to Florida to run on the surface here on Saturday and we will have to watch and see if this horse takes to this change without difficulty. The owner has called in jockey, R Bokie from Virginia to come in and take to the irons. This horse has just missed catching the wire first in his last two G1 trips. Horse and jockey look to see if that will change here in Florida as they look for a win when they head to their post to the cheers of an excited crowd.
| 3 | GEIGER HAMMERS | KY | 3M | foxon7 | J Benisz | 7 | 2 | 86% | $114,470 | 14.00 | 9/1 |
This Bay Colt was sired by Flatter and in seven races has hit the boards in six of those trips. It took him four races to break his Maiden and he accomplished that in Arkansas. He ran in a couple of Allowance races and picked up a win and then head over to Indiana for his most recent trip to the track where he ran on 01/24/2021 in a Listed Stakes, Lass Appeal Dirt Route at the distance of 9.5 furlongs. He made a good closing effort in that race and came in second and showed that the distance was of no issue. The distance looks good for this horse when he runs here in Florida on Saturday, but his lack of Graded experience does draw a concern as he jumps up in Class. He will get the services of jockey, J Benisz from New Jersey to help guide him around the distance of 9 furlongs when they break from their gate representing the Pastures Of Green residency.
| 4 | ANCIENT SHADES | FL | 3M | badlamb3 | E Sharp | 9 | 4 | 89% | $215,230 | 23.00 | 8/1 |
This Bay Colt was sired by Neolithic and in nine career starts he has missed the boards one time and picked up four wins along the way. His only miss on the boards came when he ran in the G3, The Charcoal Breeder’s Cup this past October in Ontario. He came back out to run next in Idaho in the Beckys Lords Dirt Juvenile at 7.5 furlongs and crossed the wire in second. His most recent trip to the track came on 01/02/2021 when he ran in Illinois at a distance of 8 furlongs in a Listed Stakes, Boomtown Boy Dirt Mile. He was on point in this race and stayed close to the front just off the lead. After the third call he picked up the pace in the stretch and got up for a nice win by one and a half. He will be getting the services of jockey, E Sharp from Ohio who was also in the saddle for this horse’s last trip to the track. This familiar pairing will be headed out for the gate on Saturday to the roar of an excited crowd.
| 5 | FRYZA | KY | 3G | scoobzilla1 | K Proehl | 6 | 3 | 83% | $81,431 | 8.00 | 12/1 |
This Light Grey Gelding was sired by Arrogate and he has never attempted to run at the Graded level. He will be making a big jump in Class for this race but is coming off two straight Allowance level wins. In December he ran in Kentucky and picked up a $48000 NW2L win on after a good closing effort. He then returned to the track in Delaware on 01/21/2021 for his most recent race going 9 furlongs in a $19500 NW3L Allowance of which again he closed late to pick up the win. The owner has placed the call to jockey, K Proehl who is coming in from Oregon to take the ride up top. This pair will be headed out of the paddock on Saturday representing the GR Simsters residency.
| 6 | KILLIA | KY | 3M | waterloo | W Cahill | 6 | 3 | 83% | $107,530 | 8.00 | 11/1 |
This Light Grey Colt was sired by American Pharoah who has picked up five trips to the boards in his six career starts. Back in November he went out to run in an Owner Restricted Listed Stakes, URC Breeders Championships-Juvenile. This outing would be his only Stakes start and his only miss in hitting the boards when he crossed the wire in fifth. He then came back out for his most recent run on 01/03/2021 in Pennsylvania where he ran 9 furlongs in a $43800 NW3L Allowance where by the third call he had taken control of the race and held on to win by one and a half. This horse will be making a jump up in Class for this race and will have jockey, W Cahill from Oklahoma in the saddle for this trip. This pair looks to step things up here in Florida when they head out at post time representing the Universal Racing Club residency.
| 7 | EXCAVATING SLEW | KY | 3M | asrstar13 | B Scott | 6 | 2 | 67% | $103,451 | 8.50 | 9/1 |
This Bay Colt is a scratch bred (WAR FRONT x SEATTLE SLEW x FORTY NINER) that in his last couple of races has shown improvements. In December this horse ran on the turf going 8 furlongs in Kentucky in a $48700 NW2L Allowance of which he closed nicely after the third call to make a nice stretch run to get up for the win. He then came back to the dirt in his most recent trip to the track on 01/16/2021 in Minnesota where he ran 9.5 furlongs in a Listed Stakes, Franco Invasion Dirt Route where he made a closing effort in the stretch run to come in second when he crossed the wire. The owner has placed the call to jockey, B Scott from Massachusetts to come in and take the ride up top with his horse for this race. This pairing will be headed out at post time to their gate representing the All-Stars Racing residency.
| 8 | GOOD JOKE | KY | 3M | holdasec | C Shoemaker | 6 | 3 | 67% | $107,420 | 13.00 | 12/1 |
Next out will be this Bay Colt sired by Quality Road. He ran seventh in the G1, End Of The Line Futurity back in September and was showed up fifth in a Listed Stakes in Indiana, Hold The Pickles Dirt Juvenile and then came out for his most recent trip to the track in Vermont on 12/26/2020 where he ran 8.5 furlongs in the G3, Merry Christmas. This horse showed he had the heart to run at the Graded level in this race when he made a nice closing effort after the third call to come down the stretch picking off horses to place third at the wire and was just one back. Perhaps the added half furlong will be appreciated by this horse when he runs on Saturday with jockey, C Shoemaker from Texas in the saddle to help guide him in this race. This pairing will head out at post time representing the Pastures Of Green residency.
| 9 | BURNING GALLOP | TUR | 3M | tatty8 | M Wallace | 7 | 4 | 86% | $103,055 | 13.00 | 10/1 |
This Bay Colt is sired by Victory Gallop who has in seven career starts hit the boards in six of his races and picked up four wins along the way. His only miss on the boards came in his only Stakes attempt back in December when he ran 8.5 furlongs in Dubai in the Silverwore Dirt Juvenile. He ran fairly flat that day and showed no extra in his stretch run. He came back out for his most recent trip on 01/24/2021 in Dubai and ran 9 furlongs in a $48700 NW4L Allowance. He was on point in this race and showed some improvement when he got up for a big win by five lengths. The owner has put in the call to Colorado to find jockey, M Wallace ready and willing to take the ride up top with this horse. They will saddle up and head to their gate draw here in Florida representing the EAAA Racing residency.
| 10 | IRON BRIGADE | KY | 3M | alibilane8 | M Hobley | 4 | 2 | 100% | $94,220 | 10.00 | 20/1 |
Next out will be this Roan Colt sired by Tiznow that will be going off as the longest choice in the field in the morning line. He has only four career starts to his credit, but has hit the boards in all four of those starts and has won his last two races. He ran in September in Kentucky going 8.5 furlongs in a $75000 Allowance where he got up for the win. He then made way back to the track for his most recent outing which came in California on 01/08/2021 where he traveled 9 furlongs in a $48700 NW2L Allowance where he got up for another nice win by three lengths. This horse will be taking a big jump in Class to race in his first Graded attempt here in Florida. He will need to prove he can run at this level and prove the odds makers wrong. He will have jockey, M Hobley from Colorado in the saddle to help guide him in this trip when they head out to the dirt representing the Universal Racing Club residency.
| 11 | MASKED SAINT | KY | 3M | massatoga | N Lawton | 7 | 3 | 86% | $168,734 | 22.00 | 5/1 |
This Brown Colt is a scratch bred (STREET SENSE x SAINT BALLADO x A.P. INDY) and he has caught the eye of the odds makers here in Florida for this race as they make him the favorite in their morning line. This colt has seven career starts with six trips to the boards. His only miss was in his first career start in a Maiden race so we will toss that race out as not being significant. In November he was second in a residency Listed Stakes, URC Breeders Championship-Juvenile. His next trip to the track was then in a $48700 NW2L Allowance in Kentucky back in December of which he picked up the win by almost four. The owner then turned his sights on Minnesota where he took his horse for his most recent race on 01/16/2021 to run in a Listed Stakes, Franco Invasion Dirt Route where again this horse got up for a nice win by three and a half lengths at the wire in this 9.5 furlong race. Distance should not be an issue for this horse, but will taking a bump up in Class to run in his first Graded race cause any problems for this favorite? He will get the service of jockey, N Lawton from New York who will take to the saddle when they head out in the post parade representing the Universal Racing Club residency.
| 12 | VICTORIA COURT | KY | 3M | alibilane63 | F Allen | 7 | 5 | 100% | $98,500 | 18.00 | 18/1 |
This Bay Colt is a scratch bred (CONNECT x GROOM DANCER x CITY PLACE) that is seven for seven in his career starts of hitting the boards which includes five trips to the winners circle. This young colt won in Kentucky back in October in a Listed Stakes, Autumn Juvenile Stakes at a distance of 8.5 furlongs. He then came back out in November to run in a residency Listed Stakes, URC Breeders Championships-Juvenile of which he placed third. He just had a nice workout on 01/05/2021 where he ran against a field of lesser and handily got up for the win by over four lengths. He will be moving up in Class for his first time run at the Graded level and will need to prove he has the power to compete. He will get his chance to prove that when he gets jockey, F Allen from California in the saddle on Saturday to help guide this horse to a clean trip representing the Universal Racing Club residency.
| 13 | HURRICANE LEGEND | KY | 3M | desertdog18 | B F Abman | 6 | 4 | 83% | $1,082,220 | 165.00 | 8/1 |
This horse is a Light Grey Colt that is a scratch bred (HARD SPUN x UNBRIDLED’S SONG x A.P. INDY) and is coming into this race as the top money winner. Surprisingly he is not the favorite in the morning line of which I kind of question. He has run in some big races and hit the boards three times in his four Graded outings. He was third in the G2, Closest Friend Stakes and then came back out to win the G3, Cryogenics Juvenile. After that race he showed up to run in New York in the G1, Sparkling Wine Stakes which his came in fourth. Then came his shining moment when on 11/07/2020 he ran in Kentucky in the G1, Breeders’ Bowl Juvenile where his jockey timed the stretch run with cutting edge precision to get this horse up for the win by a half. This start here in Florida will be this horse’s first trip to the track for the 2021 season. He could be a big threat in this race with jockey, B F Abman from Kentucky in the saddle with him as they break from their gate representing the All-Stars Racing residency.
| 14 | DANSILAW | KY | 3M | nycowboyfarm | V Jef | 8 | 2 | 62% | $112,254 | 20.50 | 13/1 |
Breaking from the far outside gate will be this Brown Colt sired by Fed Biz. This colt has eight career starts and he picked up a Listed Stakes win in Illinois back in October in the Catch Sparky Dirt Juvenile. His next trip out he looked toward Kentucky to run in the G2, Club Stakes of which he had a disappointing finish as he crossed the wire in sixth. His most recent trip out came on 01/10/2021 in Indiana where he ran in a Listed Stakes, Squal Me Halo Dirt Memorial of which he showed up at the wire in third. In that race he broke from the thirteenth gate and has shown he can travel well from these outside gate draws, but now must prove he can jump back up in Class for a good run. He will get jockey, V Jef who is coming in from Idaho to take to the saddle in this race. This pair will be headed out at post time to represent the Empire State Racing residency.
Good luck to all owners and horses!
Skippy’s Watch List
2-Misyoubrotherrick: Coming off two seconds in G1 races. Will this be his day?
11-Masked Saint: Has a nice record and is coming in off two wins. Can he make it three in a row?
13-Hurricane Legend: Won the G1, Breeders’ Bowl Juvenile his last time out. He might be dangerous here.
Tarton’s Long Shot
8-Good Joke: He showed up in third in the G3, Merry Christmas with a much improved effort. Can this 12/1 choice bring that forward here in Florida on Saturday? After that last nice trip to the track I am going to give him an opportunity as I head to the windows and put him on some of my exotic tickets. He could be a surprise waiting to happen.
Thanks for the article!