Ete Indian romps to 8 1/2-length victory in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream
There was no suspense in the stretch run of the Fountain of Youth Stakes, no need for the photo-finish camera to settle a close outcome.
Because it was anything but close.
Ete Indien romped to an ever-widening 8 1/2-length victory Saturday at Gulfstream Park and stamped himself as a horse to be reckoned with on the road to the Kentucky Derby.
Asked if he was ever concerned at any stage of a 1 1/16-mile race that Ete Indien led from start to finish, trainer Patrick Biancone replied jokingly: “I was only concerned by how many lengths he would win by.”
The $400,000 stakes was expected to be a coming-out party for heavy favorite Dennis’ Moment, a highly touted 3-year-old who was making his 2020 debut. But the colt never mounted a serious threat, finishing last, while Ete Indien left the rest of the field in his distant wake.
“When the horse broke really sharp from the gate, the race was pretty much over,” winning jockey Florent Geroux said.
And not even a poor outside post proved to be any kind of obstacle.
The track at Gulfstream is configured in such a manner that it is a short run to the first turn in 1 1/16-mile races, making it extremely difficult for horses drawing outside posts. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. wanted nothing to do with it and scratched Chance It, the 7-2 second choice on the morning line, after the colt drew post No. 12 on the far outside.
But Biancone said he rolled the dice by taking a shot with Ete Indien, who started from the No. 10 post.
“At one stage of my life I was playing poker and we’d say no gamble, no future,” Biancone said. “You have to gamble a little bit to have a future, and I think this horse was the perfect horse to do it.”
Geroux was able to use Ete Indien’s quick early speed to his advantage, breaking on top ahead of the rest of the field and guiding him over to the rail. Ete Indien did the rest, running away with the victory. It was far back to Candy Tycoon in second.
“As soon as I secured a spot, I just put the horse on cruise control,” Geroux said.
As a 2-year-old last year, Ete Indien’s first two races were on the turf. Biancone said he trains most of his horses on grass because he feels it’s more forgiving on them physically. But the trainer tested him on dirt for the first time in a one-mile race at Gulfstream on Dec. 20. Ete Indien won. And on Feb. 1, he ran him in the Holy Bull Stakes. Ete Indien lost that one, but to one of the premier 3-year-olds in the nation, Tiz the Law.
Now Ete Indien and Tiz the Law could meet again in the March 28 Florida Derby, a final prep for the Kentucky Derby on May 2.
“He will have one more run before the [Kentucky] Derby, and if he wins next time, we’ll go to the Derby,” Biancone said. “And if he doesn’t win next time, we’ll stay home. We have a choice of races. We prefer to run here, though, because we’re from Florida and we love Florida.”
For Dennis’ Moment, it’s back to the drawing board after Saturday’s disappointing finish.
“I just hope he’s all right,” said his trainer, Dale Romans. “We’ll take him back and check him out.”
Jockey Flavien Prat was at a loss to explain Dennis’ Moment’s dismal performance.
“When I hit the five-eighths pole, he just dropped the bit and after that I was done,” Prat said. “He didn’t want to go.”
For Ete Indien, the road to the Kentucky Derby became more promising Saturday. He earned 50 qualifying points, which all but guarantees him a spot in the starting gate at Churchill Downs for the Run for the Roses.
“I don’t care who runs against my horses,” said Biancone when asked about a possible rematch with Tiz the Law in the Florida Derby. “If he’s good enough, he’s good enough. That race [his loss to Tiz the Law] was in February. But we’ll see what happens at the end of March, and see what happens later on.”
