Solitude Dude left no doubt in the Swale, Coglianese Photo
Gulfstream Park Press
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Chris Fountoukis’ Solitude Dude more than lived up to the expectations of the bettors with his dominating victory Saturday’s $175,000 Swale Stakes at Gulfstream Park while greatly enhancing his chances of becoming a participant on the Road to the Kentucky Derby (G1).
The Swale, named in tribute to the 1984 Florida Derby (G1), Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) winner, was one of five stakes for 3-year-olds featured on Saturday’s 12-race program headlined by the $275,000 Holy Bull (G3), a key prep for the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) March 28 at Gulfstream.
Sent to post as the 1-5 favorite in a field of six after winning the first two races of his career by a combined 17 ½ lengths, Solitude Dude broke alertly and took immediate control of the one-turn, seven-furlong stakes. The son of Yaupon set fractions of 23.30 and 46.52 seconds for the first half-mile while racing a few paths off the inside rail and relaxing under leading rider Irad Ortiz Jr. Class President, the 9-2 second betting choice ridden by Hall of Famer John Velazquez, made a sweeping move on the turn into the homestretch to momentarily loom as a threat, but Solitude Dude instantly responded when asked by Ortiz and drew off to score by 3 ¾ lengths.
“The horse is a good horse. I think the horse is a high quality horse. I think he has Grade 1 ability,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “Will he win a Grade 1 around two turns? I don’t know about that. Time will tell if we’ll even try it, but he has Grade 1 ability at a mile or less.”
Should Joseph decide Solitude Dude deserves a chance to prove himself around two turns in his next start, the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) Feb. 28 at Gulfstream is a likely target.
“The Fountain of Youth is the most realistic. Before this race it was: go in this race and decide whether to run in the Fountain of Youth,” Joseph said. “That was the plan. It depended on how he ran. If we do try two turns, it would be the Fountain of Youth I think.”
The only reservation Joseph may have about trying two turns is the undefeated colt’s breeding.
“If he is going to handle distance, the one thing he has is that he’s relaxed. That would get him to go further,” Joseph said. “The sire, Yaupon, it does knock distance limitations into you.”
Solitude Dude ran seven furlongs in 1:23.46.
“It was a beautiful trip. He did everything, honestly. He made it look easy. He broke so sharp and I just let him be him and he came back to me so easy. I was just waiting for the time to go,” said Ortiz, who rode Solitude Dude for the first time Saturday. “He looks like a really nice one. I saw his first two races, and he did the same thing that he did today. He broke on top and he took care of the rest.”
Solitude Dude, a $300,000 purchase at the 2025 OBS June sale, debuted at Gulfstream Nov. 1 with a 9 ½-length victory going 6 ½ furlongs. He came right back to win the six-furlong Inaugural by eight lengths Dec. 6 at Tampa Bay Downs. His owner was especially happy to witness his Swale victory in person after missing the Inaugural.
“I was driving with my truck and the battery dropped dead on me. I spent 6 hours on tow trucks and all kinds of stuff,” Fountoukis said. “I saw the race on my phone.”
Class President, who was coming off a 3 ¼-lengths debut victory Dec. 27 at Gulfstream for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, finished second, 1 ¾ lengths in front of Joseph-trained Hammond.
