Luis Saez Scheduled to Ride Fountain of Youth Winner

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth (G2) winner Wildcat Red tuned up for a scheduled start in Saturday’s $75,000 Quality Road Stakes at Gulfstream Park with a five-furlong workout under jockey Edgard Zayas Sunday morning.

Breezing over a muddy track and around the “dogs,” the 3-year-old son of D’wildcat was timed in 1:02.43 completed with a 24-second final quarter of a mile.

“It wasn’t the best track, but it was good enough to get the work in,” trainer Jose Garoffalo said. “I told the rider to go slow at the beginning and let him run in the stretch, and that’s what he did. He was very, very strong.”

Garoffalo said Luis Saez would travel to Gulfstream Saturday to ride the colt, aboard whom he captured the Fountain of Youth the only time horse and rider teamed up.

Wildcat Red has not raced since finishing a very troubled 18th in the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs on May 3. Owned by Honors Stable Corp., the Florida-bred colt had previously finished no worse than second in seven starts, including a close runner-up finish behind Constitution in the $1 million Besilu Stables Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream on March 29.

“Everything is good. The horse came back from the work in great shape,” Garoffalo said. “I can’t wait to see him run again.”