Fountain of Youth Hero Breezes 5F for Florida Derby
Smile Happy, Rattle N Roll Team for Bullet Workout
O Captain Preps for Florida Derby with 5F Breeze
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Tami Bobo’s Simplification returned to the Gulfstream Park worktab Saturday morning for the first time since scoring a dominating 3 ½-length victory in the $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2).
The Antonio Sano-trained 3-year-old son of Not This Time breezed five furlongs in 1:01.81 under jockey Jose Ortiz before galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.85.
“It was a very good work. The horse worked in hand. He went very easy,” Sano said. “The gallop was good. The horse came back very good. That’s what’s important for me.”
Simplification rated well off the early pace before making a sweeping move to the lead and drawing away with authority to capture the March 5 Fountain of Youth. In the Feb. 5 Holy Bull (G3), the Florida-bred colt, who had won the Jan. 1 Mucho Macho Man with a strong front-running performance, broke last from the starting gate but recovered well enough following a wide trip to finish second behind loose-on-the-lead White Abarrio.
Trainer Kenny McPeek sent Lucky Seven Stable’s Smile Happy and Rattle N Roll to the Gulfstream track to breeze in company following the break Saturday morning. Rattle N Roll on the inside and Smile Happy on the outside were credited with a joint bullet workout after breezing five furlongs in 58.81.
“They worked super. They both needed a steady one and they both zipped along,” McPeek said. “I was really pleased with both of them.”
McPeek said he hadn’t yet chosen between the Florida Derby and the April 9 Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland for Smile Happy’s next start. Rattle N Roll, who finished fifth in the Fountain of Youth, is being pointed to next Saturday’s Louisiana Derby (G1) at Fair Grounds.
Smile Happy closed to be second behind loose-on-the-lead Epicenter in the Feb. 19 Risen Star (G2) in his 2022 debut after winning both of his races, including the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs, in 2021.
OGMA Investments and Jack Hardin Towell Jr.’s O Captain, who closed from last to finish third in the Fountain of Youth at 87-1, breezed five furlongs at Gulfstream in 1:01.14 Saturday morning. The Gustavo Delgado-trained son of Carpe Diem, who broke his maiden at first asking and finished third in the Limehouse in his two prior starts, is being pointed to the Florida Derby.
Gulfstream Park Press Release
Photo: Lauren King
