The Fountain of Youth Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida in late February. A Grade II event open to three-year-olds willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt, it currently offers a purse of $400,000. It is the final stakes prep to the Florida Derby and is an official prep race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

History The race was named for the mythical Florida spring that granted eternal youth. It was sought by Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon who searched throughout the southeastern United States for it without success.

The race has long been a major prep for the Kentucky Derby, with multiple horses being victorious in both races. Four colts, Tim Tam (1958), Kauai King (1966), Spectacular Bid (1979) and Thunder Gulch (1995), won this race then went on to become "Dual Classic Winners," the first three winning the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, while the last won the Derby and the Belmont Stakes. The 1985 winner, Proud Truth, won that year's Breeders' Cup Classic. More recently, the race has been used as a prep for Derby winner Orb in 2013 and Belmont Stakes winner Union Rags in 2012.

Records Speed record: 1.41.00 @ 1-1/16 miles: Sensitive Prince (1978) 1:48.87 @ 1-1/8 miles: Eskendereya (2010)

Most wins by an owner: 3 - Calumet Farm (1957, 1958, 1961) 3 - Michael Tabor (1995, 2000, 2007)

Most wins by a jockey: 5 - John Velazquez (2007, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2019)

Most wins by a trainer: 4 - Todd A. Pletcher (2007, 2010, 2015, 2023)

Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (Miles)(Furlongs) Time Purse Gr.2026CommandmentIrad Ortiz Jr.Brad H. CoxWathnan Racing1-1/16 M1:43.33$400,000G22025SovereigntyJunior Alvarado William I. MottGodolphin1-1/6 M1:43.12 $401,650 G22024DornochLuis SaezDanny GarganWest Paces Racing, R. A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing & Breeding, Two Eight Racing, Pine Racing Stables1-1/6 M1:43.64$400,000G22023ForteIrad Ortiz Jr.Todd A. PletcherRepole Stable & St. Elias Stable1-1/6 M1:43.12$300,000G22022Simplification José OrtizAntonio SanoTami Dellatore-Bobo1-1/6 M1:44.04$300,000G22021Greatest HonourJosé OrtizClaude R. McGaughey IIICourtlandt Farms (Donald & Donna Adam)1-1/6 M1:44.02$300,000G22020 Ete Indien Florent Geroux Patrick Biancone Linda Shanahan, Sanford Bacon, Dream With Me Stable, Horse France America, D P Racing & Patrick Biancone Racing 1-1/16 M1:43.02$235,600G22019 Code of Honor John VelazquezClaude R. McGaughey IIIWilliam S. Farish III1-1/16 M1:43.85$233,120G22018 Promises Fulfilled Irad Ortiz Jr. Dale Romans Robert J. Baron1-1/16 M1:44.17$238,080G22017 Gunnevera Javier Castellano Antonio Sano Peacock Racing Stables1-1/16 M1:44.25$235,300G22016 Mohaymen Junior Alvarado Kiaran McLaughlin Shadwell Stable1-1/16 M1:42.84$245,520G22015 Itsaknockout † Luis Saez Todd A. Pletcher Starlight Racing (Jack Wolf, m.p.)1-1/16 M1:46.28$240,560G22014 Wildcat Red Luis Saez Jose Garoffalo Honors Stable Corp. (Salvatore Delfino & Josie Martino)1-1/16 M1:41.85$255,000G22013 Orb John VelazquezClaude R. McGaughey III Stuart S. Janney III & Phipps Stable1-1/16 M1:42.24$240,000G22012 Union Rags Julien Leparoux Michael Matz Chadds Ford Stable (Phyllis Mills Wyeth)1-1/16 M1:42.68$240,000G22011 Soldat Alan Garcia Kiaran McLaughlin Harvey Clarke & W. Craig Robertson III1-1/8 M1:50.23$240,000G22010 Eskendereya John Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Zayat Stables1-1/8 M1:48.87$150,000G22009 Quality Road John Velazquez James A. Jerkens Edward P. Evans1 M1:35.01$150,000G22008 Cool Coal Man Kent Desormeaux Nick Zito Robert V. LaPenta1-1/8 M1:50.07$210,000G22007 Scat Daddy John Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher James T. Scatuorchio & Michael Tabor1-1/8 M1:49.11$180,000G22006 First Samurai † Edgar Prado Frank L. Brothers Bruce Lunsford & Lansdon B. Robbins III1-1/8 M1:49.00$180,000G22005High FlyJerry D. BaileyNick ZitoLive Oak Racing (Charlotte Weber)1-1/8 M1:49.70$180,000G22004Read the FootnotesJerry D. BaileyRichard VioletteKlaravich Stables1-1/16 M1:42.71$120,000G22003Trust n LuckCornelio VelásquezRalph ZiadieE. Paul Robsham1-1/16 M1:43.33$120,000G12002BookletJorge ChavezJohn T. Ward Jr.John C. Oxley1-1/16 M1:44.49$120,000G12001SongandaprayerEdgar PradoJohn F. DowdBobby Hurley1-1/16 M1:43.48$120,000G12000High YieldPat DayD. Wayne LukasMichael Tabor & Bob & Beverly Lewis1-1/16 M1:42.56$120,000G11999VicarShane SellersCarl NafzgerJames B. Tafel1-1/16 M1:45.64$120,000G11998Lil's LadJerry D. BaileyNeil J. HowardLillian Durst, William S. Farish III, Centennial Farm (Donald Little)1-1/16 M1:42.63$120,000G21997PulpitShane SellersFrank L. BrothersClaiborne Farm1-1/16 M1:41.86$120,000G21996Built For PleasureGary BoulangerTommy Heard Jr.Tommy Heard Jr.1-1/16 M1:43.64$120,000G21995Thunder GulchMike E. SmithD. Wayne LukasMichael Tabor1-1/16 M1:43.21$120,000G21994DehereCraig PerretReynaldo NoblesDue Process Stable1-1/16 M1:44.70$120,000G21993-1Duc d'SligovilJulie KroneJeremy McNeillRay McNeill1-1/16 M1:45.16$113,094G21993-2Storm TowerRick WilsonBenjamin W. Perkins Jr.Charles Hesse1-1/16 M1:44.98$113,094G21992Dance FloorChris AntleyD. Wayne LukasOaktown Stable1-1/16 M1:45.32$150,268G21991Fly So FreeJosé A. SantosScotty SchulhoferTommy & Elizabeth Valando1-1/16 M1:44.30$73,737 G21990Shot Gun ScottDave PennaRonald J. SarazinJean Friedberg & A. Scott Hamilton1-1/16 M1:44.60$77,427 G21989Dixieland BrassRandy RomeroCharles PeoplesBayard Sharp & William S. Farish III1-1/16 M1:44.60$130,000G21988Forty NinerEddie MapleWoody StephensClaiborne Farm1-1/16 M1:43.20$98,991G21987Bet TwiceCraig PerretWarren CrollBlanche P. Levy & Cisley Stable1-1/16 M1:43.40$100,482 G21986-1Ensign RhythmJulio PezuaLeo Azpurua Jr. Lushland Farm1-1/16 M1:45.60$57,210G21986-2My Prince CharmingJosé A. SantosNewcomb GreenDon Aronow1-1/16 M1:45.00$58,060G21985Proud TruthJorge VelásquezJohn M. VeitchDarby Dan Farm1-1/16 M1:43.60$106,860G21984Darn That Alarm Mike VeneziaGeorge GianosRobert N. Caporella1-1/16 M1:43.00$73,200G21983-1Highland Park Don BrumfieldAnthony L. BasileBwamazon Farm1-1/16 M1:44.60$45,338G21983-2CopelanLaffit Pincay Jr.Mitch GriffinFred W. Hooper1-1/16 M1:43.60$44,888G21982Star GallantSandy HawleyLeonard ImperioBuckram Oak Farm (Mahmoud Fustok)1-1/16 M1:43.20$54,630G21981AkureyriEddie MapleWoody StephensHickory Tree Stable1-1/16 M1:44.40$47,697G31980Naked SkyJerry D. BaileyNeal WinickMaribel G. Blum1-1/16 M1:43.80$29,820 G3 1979'Spectacular BidRon FranklinBud DelpHawksworth Farm (Harry & Teresa Meyerhoff)1-1/16 M1:41.20$35,880G31978Sensitive PrinceMickey SolomoneH. Allen JerkensTop the Marc Stable1-1/16 M1:41.00$22,170G31977Ruthies Native Craig PerretEugene JacobsRuth A. Perlmutter 1-1/16 M1:42.00$26,010G31976SonkisserBraulio BaezaStephen DiMauroHarold Snyder1-1/16 M1:43.80$22,770G31975Greek AnswerMickey SolomoneFrank H. Merrill Jr.W. Preston Gilbride1-1/16 M1:42.80$22,650G31974Green Gambados Chuck BaltazarJohn W. JacobsHarbor View Farm1-1/16 M1:42.40$46,440G31973Shecky GreeneBraulio BaezaLou M. GoldfineJoseph Kellman1-1/16 M1:43.80$22,590G31972Gentle SmokeWalter BlumDavid SazerForus Stable1-1/16 M1:42.00$43,0201971AuthorizeJacinto VasquezJohn W. RussellFred W. Hooper1-1/16 M1:42.60$20,160 1970Corn off the CobAngel Cordero Jr.Arnold N. WinickFence Post Farm1-1/16 M1:44.60$24,9501969Al HattabRay BroussardWarren A. Croll Jr.Pelican Stable (Rachel Carpenter)1-1/16 M1:42.60$13,9251968Wise ExchangeEddie BelmonteHirsch JacobsIsidor Bieber1-1/16 M1:43.80$14,9251967In RealityEarlie FiresMelvin CalvertFrances A. Genter1-1/16 M1:44.40$15,125 1966Kauai KingDon BrumfieldHenry ForrestFord Stable (Michael Ford)1-1/16 M1:43.20$11,5501965MaribeauSam BoulmetisJoseph W. MerglerBriardale Farm (Anthony Imbesi)1-1/16 M1:44.60$11,2751964Dandy KMickey SolomoneRobert E. WingfieldCecil Carmine1-1/16 M1:44.80$11,0751963Cool PrinceJimmy CombestNick CombestWilliam G. Helis Jr.1-1/16 M1:45.80$10,7251962Sharp CountBill ShoemakerLester G. JoffrionReverie Knoll Farm (Freeman Keyes)1-1/16 M1:43.20$10,4001961Beau PrinceEddie ArcaroJimmy JonesCalumet Farm1-1/16 M1:43.20$10,5751960Eagle AdmiralManuel YcazaCharles E. WhittinghamLlangollen Farm Stable1-1/16 M1:41.80$10,6751959Easy SpurBill HartackPaul L. KelleySpring Hill Farm1-1/16 M1:41.80$10,4001958Tim TamBill HartackJimmy JonesCalumet Farm1-1/16 M1:42.80$9,8501957Gen. DukeBill HartackJimmy JonesCalumet Farm1-1/16 M1:44.00$11,6951956Oh JohnnyHedley WoodhouseNorman R. McLeodWallace Gilroy1-1/16 M1:44.20$12,7651955Nance's LadJohn ChoquetteHilton A. DabsonHilton A. Dabson & Chester J. Caithness1-1/16 M1:43.20$13,5501954Sea O ErinJohn H. AdamsHarry TrotsekHasty House Farm1-1/16 M1:48.60$11,8001953-1Ram o' WarDouglas DodsonJerome J. Sarner Jr.Bruce S. Campbell1-1/16 M1:42.60$12,1501953-2Tribe Bennie GreenJames W. HealyVera S. Bragg1-1/16 M1:43.40$12,3001952 Race not held1951AlertedWilliam M. CookJames PenrodHampton Stable (Frank Stout)7 F1:24.20$3,2501950Black GeorgeKenneth ChurchR. Earl BarnettWilliam H. Veeneman7 F1:23.40$3,2501949Count-a-BitJack RobertsonGeorge E. RobertsFred A. Blaser1-1/16 M1:44.20$3,2001948 Race not held1947-1Tight SqueezeRocco SistoMerritt C. BuxtonRarco Stable (Mary Robinson)6 F1:11.80$7,1501947-2Atomic PowerMerritt A. BuxtonMerritt C. BuxtonRarco Stable (Mary Robinson)1 M, 70 yds.1:40.60 $6,0501946 Race not held1945Twenty ThirtyRobert WatsonCecil HowardHarry C. Hatch1-1/16 M1:45.20$3,200

† 2015: Upstart finished first but was disqualified to second for impeding Itsaknockout in the stretch run. † 2006: Corinthian finished first but was disqualified to third for interference against both First Samurai and Flashy Bull.

External links The Fountain of Youth Stakes at Pedigree Query

See also Fountain of Youth Stakes top three finishers and starters Road to the Kentucky Derby

References