Horse Racing Fantasy Community

With the Breeder's Cup behind us, us horse racing fans are now looking at the spring, when the 2 year old will be 3 year olds, and those 3 year olds will be looking to race in the Triple Crown. Since May's still over 5 months off, I figured we could make the wait easier using our own Horse Racing Fantasy. I'm going to run a fantasy road to the triple crown, posting 1-2 derby preps a week until I've run 12 preps. Then will come the Triple Crown races. I'm aiming for the fantasy Derby to be run in mid-January. We'll start today with the Fountain of Youth Stakes.

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Welcome all to the first race on the Road to the Fantasy Triple Crown. We have a field of eight lined up to contest a mile and a sixteenth over Gulfstream's main track.

The first speed horse in this race, Didntraisenofool, is the 2nd choice at 3/1. He ran a 108 SR last time out over a mile and a half. He's not always consistent but when he's on his game he's good. His career best speed rating was a 110.

Golden Java, the consistently decent closer, is the two horse. He usually posts speed figures in the high eighties or low nineties, but is consistent. If he runs a career best or if the other horses aren't at the top of their game, he's a logical contendor to pick up the pieces.

Touch of Class is 3-for-16 on the dirt and has been improving as of late. He's been running speed ratings in the high nineties and low one hundreds the past few times out, compared to races in the eighties a while back. His best races come from just off the pace.

Major Moves is a maiden in this race, and his odds reflect it at 13 to 1. However, he isn't without class. He runs fairly in GIs and GIIs, but he may be better off stepping down in class. Despite his maiden status, his speed figures are good enough to make him a contender at a price.

Natty Dread breaks from the five hole today. He's never won on a fast dirt track, but if he can give an effort similar to those he's given in the slop, he could win easily.

Number 6, the 5/2 favorite, is speedster Broad Bush. He's 2-for-5 on the dirt and is quite a performer, consistently posting speed figures around 102. He's never won at today's distance but has won going longer, including a wire-to-wire victory in a mile and a quarter GI event, in which he defeated the likes of Touch of Class, Havin Fun, Major Moves, and Grimacing.

Stake Your Claim is currently sitting at 5/1 on the board. He was a winner last time out at 11/1, and knows how to win, with a lifetime record of 30-4-2-4. He can sit off the pace or go with the leaders, but with the quickness of the front-runners in this field, he's likely to come from somewhere off the pace.

Saratoga Party has beaten Daisy Cutter before, outgaming her to the finish in a G1 event. His most recent start was a dismal 12th-place effort, but if he can bounce back from that race he's got a fair chance at the prize.

That's the field in the Fountain of Youth. And with that, here's the race.

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Didntraisenofool and Broad Bush quickly go to the front, with Natty Dread, Stake Your Claim, and Touch of Class together about 4 lengths back. Major Moves and Golden Java follow, and Saratoga Party trails.

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A quarter went by in 22:1, and Didntraisenofool starts to draw off. Broad Bush tracks in second, with the others still following behind. The half mile was 45:1, and Natty Dread is starting to close on the leaders. But as they enter the far turn Didntraisenofool starts drawing off again. Behind them Saratoga Party is starting to gain ground, but he's still a good 8 off the leader.

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Now Broad Bush is trying to overtake the gray leader, with Natty Dread still in third and Saratoga Party creeping up on the fourth place Stake Your Claim. Touch of Class, Golden Java, and Major Moves complete the field.

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As they come off the turn Didntraisenofool is still in front as he has been the whole way around, and Broad Bush is still trying to get to him in second. Saratoga Party can't get past a determined Stake Your Claim, and with only 3/16ths to go, can anyone catch the leader?

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Major Moves is finally making his move, but no one's going to get to Didntraisenofool. He wins by 5 on the wire!

The final time was 1:40.86, and Didntraisenofool posted a 112 speed rating. Longshot Major Moves was second, and favored Broad Bush finished third.