Betting Fountain of Youth on $100 budget

Saturday’s $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park has major Kentucky Derby implications and I’m siding with #8 Irish War Cry. The Graham Motion-trained Curlin colt returned a $10.80 win mutuel winning the February 4 Holy Bull (G2) as the third betting choice, but I’m thinking 8-5 or 9-5 is a likely price for today’s probable favorite.

He does figure to alter tactics after leading wire-to-wire in the last two outings, but the unbeaten sophomore captured his first start last-to-first and doesn’t want to be dueling on the front end in upcoming engagements like the Kentucky Derby. I will look for a strong showing from just off the pace.

With plenty of speed entered, #2 Gunnevera could be sitting on a big effort following a troubled second in the Holy Bull. The 1 1/16-mile is a perfect fit for the late-running colt and I will use the chestnut son of Dialed In underneath in the exacta.

The 11^th race, the Canadian Turf (G3), kicks off a Pick 3 ending with the Fountain of Youth (races 11-13) and I expect #3 Heart to Heart to rebound.  He will make a title defense, winning easily last year in wire-to-wire fashion, and catches a softer field than he faced when weakening to fourth most recently in the Ft. Lauderdale (G2).

In the middle leg, the Mac Diarmida (G2), I will use both Chad Brown trainees -- #4 Wake Forest & #6 Mr. Maybe – along with #1 Danish Dynaformer, who is capable of better than he showed in the W.L. McKnight (G2) last out.

There’s nothing wrong with betting him straight (Win wager) and here’s how I will be playing Irish War Cry using a $100 bankroll:

Race 11

$10 Pick 3:

3 with 1,4,6 with 8 ($30)

Race 12

$10 Daily Doubles:

1,4,6 with 8 ($30)

Race 13

$40 Exacta:

8-2 ($40)

Good luck!

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