Orb defeated favorite Violence to win Saturday’s $400,000 Grade II Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Fla. It was the first stakes win for the Shug McGaughey trainee who is now second on the Kentucky Derby Road to the Derby points list with 50 points. It should guarantee the son of Malibu Moon a spot in the Kentucky Derby starting gate.
Orb was bet down to 5-1 from his morning line odds of 12-1 and sent off as the second choice in the field of nine. Majestic Hussar set a quick pace as the early leader, completing the half in :45.45. Staying just off his lead were Cerro and Violence. As the field turned for home, Violence closed in to take the lead. However, Orb was gaining ground from the back of the pack and quickly gave Todd Pletcher’s undefeated Violence a challenge. Although Orb never relinquished the lead, Violence continued to fight on, losing by a half-length. Speak Logistics was nearly seven lengths behind in third with Majestic Hussar another two back in fourth.
“It was great,” said McGaughey. “We got a good pace, but for him to be able to catch up from where he was over this kind of track, twice, is saying a whole lot.”
