Itsaknockout on track for Fountain of Youth

Starlight Racing’s Itsaknockout (Lemon Drop Kid), unbeaten in two lifetime starts, worked four furlongs at Palm Beach Downs Sunday in :48.80 in preparation for next Saturday’s GII Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth S. The colt worked in company with “TDN Rising Star” Khozan (Distorted Humor) and the two Todd Pletcher runners shared the time as the ninth fastest of 18 at the distance. 

“I thought he breezed well,” Pletcher said of Itsaknockout. “Pretty much everything has gone according to plan since his allowance win.” 

Itsaknockout was a narrow debut winner going seven furlongs at Gulfstream Dec. 7 and is coming off a 5 1/4-length victory in a one-mile allowance Jan. 4. His trainer has been impressed by the colt’s progress and expects the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth will be a good test for him. 

“I think he’s developed well physically,” Pletcher said. “He’s done well mentally. He’s always been a straightforward horse. He’s gotten a little bit bigger and stronger. He’s actually gained weight since his last race. He’s a pretty easy horse to train. He does whatever you ask him to do. He’s push button to that point. This will be the class test that will kind of define where he is.” 

The Fountain of Youth will be Itsaknockout’s first start at two turns, but Pletcher isn’t concerned about the extra ground. 
“I’m not concerned about the distance at all,” Pletcher confirmed. 

Also working at Palm Beach Downs Sunday from Pletcher’s power-packed sophomore bench: GI Hopeful S. winner Competitive Edge (Super Saver) and GI Champagne S. winner Daredevil (More Than Ready) shared the bullet for five furlongs in 1:00.00.