Unbeaten “TDN Rising Star” Irish War Cry (Curlin) flew slightly under the radar at 4-1 due to the presence of juvenile champion Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile) when wiring the GII Holy Bull S. last time Feb. 4. However, the Isabelle de Tomaso homebred will be the prime target this time around as the headliner in Saturday's GII Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream. An ultra-impressive winner of his Laurel unveiling Nov. 11, the Graham Motion pupil followed suit with a victory in that venue's Marylander S. and made it three in a row in the Holy Bull.
“It's going to be a little different this time,” Motion said. “We didn't have a target on our back last time. I couldn't believe how comfortably he beat the 2-year-old champion. That was exciting. This time…people will have expectations, as they should. I just would like to see him run a similar race. He's doing great and I see no reason not to run in the Fountain of Youth. We're looking forward to it.”
Holy Bull runner-up Gunnevera (Dialed In) will take another crack at the morning-line favorite here. Victorious in the GII Saratoga Special S. last term, the Peacock Racing Stables colorbearer closed out his juvenile season with a decisive 5 3/4-length victory in the GIII Delta Downs Jackpot S. Nov. 19 and was making his sophomore debut in the Holy Bull.
“I am very confident and thinking he can win,” trainer Antonio Sano said. “He will be facing some very good horses. No race is easy but I have a good horse. We don't want to change anything from the last race. The only difference is, we want to win.”
Dual Grade I winner Practical Joke (Into Mischief) makes his 2017 debut in this spot for trainer Chad Brown. The Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence colorbearer followed his five-length debut win at Saratoga Aug. 6 with victory in that venue's GI Hopeful S. Sept. 5 and a nose success in Belmont's GI Champagne S. Oct. 8. The bay suffered her first loss last time when third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Nov. 5.
“I could see him being a little sharper in this race. He's definitely been on his toes in the morning,” Brown said. “I think he's going to run really well. Going two turns off a layoff like this is a tall order, and I understand that. As long as he runs well, I'll be happy to build off this. The way he is training, I would expect him to run well.”
A few other runners deserve a look aside from the top three, including Beasley (Shackleford), who proved ultra-game in defeat when second to the Battalion Runner (Unbridled's Song), a Todd Pletcher trainee who is rumored to be pointing for the GI Florida Derby. Pletcher also saddles an interesting contender in MGSW turfer Made You Look (More Than Ready), who tries dirt for the first time in this test. The speedy Three Rules (Gone Astray), a four-time stakes winner at Gulfstream, could put some pressure on Irish War Cry early as he looks to make amends for a runner-up effort in the GII Swale S. last time Feb. 4.
Click here for a feature on trainer Graham Motion and Irish War Cry and here for a profile of his owner/breeder Isabelle de Tomaso.
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