A. P.'s Secret to Represent Joseph in Fountain of Youth
Image:
Description:
Photo: Coglianese Photos/Ryan Thompson
A. P.'s Secret wins an allowance optional claiming race Jan. 9 at Gulfstream Park
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. is going to bypass the March 5 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) with Holy Bull (G3) hero White Abarrio but will be represented in the 1 1/16-mile Triple Crown prep by A. P.'s Secret , another gray.
The lightly raced Cupid colt, who is coming off a sharp allowance optional claiming score at Gulfstream Park Jan. 9, is set to compete in the 85-point Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier.
"A. P.'s Secret is a quality colt that we believe is at (White Abarrio's) level also, but he's going to have to jump forward to prove it," Joseph said. "We're going to go to the Fountain of Youth with him and give him a chance to prove it."
Gentry Farms' A. P.'s Secret drew off to win his Nov. 6 debut at Gulfstream by four lengths over seven furlongs. He came back to finish second in a mile allowance optional claimer to the now stakes-placed Strike Hard and then won his latest by 1 1/4 lengths. In the latter race, he completed a mile in 1:35.54, earning a 98 Equibase Speed Figure.
Video
Joseph, meanwhile, is happy with the way C2 Racing Stable and La Milagrosa Stable's White Abarrio has come out of his impressive 4 1/2-length score in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull Feb. 5. He will await the Curlin Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream April 2.