Las Vegas, NV -- The 68th running of the Fountain of Youth Stakes takes place this Sunday, February 26th from Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. A very strong field of eight Three Year Olds will be chasing the $400,000 purse and also some "race cred" ahead of the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 31st and the Triple Crown that starts in May. The eight entries will go 1 1/8 miles on Gulfstream's main dirt track.

The Fountain of Youth Stakes offers us a good glimpse into the horses that will contend for this year's Triple Crown - the winner of this race will almost certainly be an early favorite in the Kentucky Derby in May. The Fountain of Youth is the 11th race on Gulfstream's Sunday card with a post time of 5:13 PM ET. Sunday's race is shaping up to possibly becoming the race of the season thus far - needless to say there is a ton on the line!

Here is a breakdown of the eight entries and the credentials that brought them to this highly anticipated race.

Fountain of Youth Stakes Race Favorites

Algorithms - Algorithms is the favorite in this race despite the presence of Union Rags, mostly because of an incredible 5 lengths win over Eclipse Award winner Hansen at the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes on January 29th at Gulfstream. So impressive is Algorithms that jockey Javier Castellano chose to ride him over Union Rags in this race. In three career starts, Algorithms is unbeaten.

Fountain of Youth Stakes horse betting at Gulfstream Park with OffTrackBetting.com

Union Rags - Union Rags is still #1 on the Associated Press list of Derby contenders despite finishing second last time out in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile to Eclipse Award winner Hansen. In four careers starts Union Rags has three wins and that second place finish. Among the wins are the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at Belmont in October and the Grade 2 Three Chimneys Stakes at Saratoga in August. Union Rags will have a new rider - Julien Leparoux will get the mount for the first time.

Discreet Dancer - This will be Todd Pletcher-trained Discreet Dancer's graded stakes debut after wins in an Allowance Optional Claiming and Maiden Special Weight, both at Gulfstream. The colt is largely untested so far but if his 9 1/2 length win in a 5 1/2 furlong race debut is any indication, Discreet Dancer could be one to watch.

Remaining Field Entries

Casual Trick - Casual trick finished an impressive second at the Gulfstream Park Derby on New Year's Day but followed that up with a disappointing eighth in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Gulfstream on January 29th. Casual Trick has one career victory in four starts - at Churchill Downs in November.

Fort Loudon - has raced in some big events - finishing fourth in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes in a race that Algorithms won and seventh in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Fort Loudon has four wins in nine career starts.

Csaba - is a two time winner at Calder but most recently finished fifth at the Dania Beach Stakes at Gulfstream in December.

Neck 'n Neck - In two career starts, Neck 'n Neck has a fifth at the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs and a second to Discreet Dancer at an Allowance Optional Claiming on January 7th.

News Pending - has six career starts with only one win - a Maiden Special Weight race on December 22nd.

Fountain of Youth Stakes Entries

Race 11 on Gulstream's Sunday card with a Post Time of 5:13 PM ET.