Hallandale Beach, FL
The Road to the Kentucky Derby found its way back to South Florida with the $400,00 Fountain of Youth Stakes.
The 2017 edition called to post a full field of ten runners, with the third race favorite Gunnevera leaving little doubt as who was best on Saturday.
The son of Dialed In swallowed up the leaders down the stretch and kicked clear to a convincing 5 3/4 length victory.
Gunnevera made up 13 lengths en route to the win, after being last at first call behind the pace setting Three Rules.
Jockey Javier Castellano said the colt did it "very easy" in the Fountain of Youth and trainer Antonio Sano was all smiles after the race on the Gulfstream Park broadcast.
Practical Joke, first three-year-old start, also made up good ground and finished second after taking over the lead from the pace setters. Leaving Three Rules rounding out the trifecta.
Three Rules showed heart, battling back when confronted, but this race was all for the closers.
Gunnevera returned $10.40 to win and ran the 1 1/16 race in a standard time of 1:44.
Race favorite Irish War Car ended up an also ran Saturday, finishing a distant seventh with no legit excuse according to his connections.
Trainer Sano said the next start for his Kentucky Derby bound colt will be the $1 million Florida Derby in April.