Mo Donegal to Miss Fountain of Youth; Galt Draws In

The $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes lost its morning-line favorite March 2 but picked up a full brother to two-time champion Songbird in the process.

Donegal Racing's Mo Donegal , the 3-1 choice in the Fountain of Youth according to Equibase, will be scratched from the March 5 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) prep race at Gulfstream Park due to a slight fever.

"It's not a significant fever, but you still need to let the horse have some time off," said Jerry Crawford, Donegal's CEO. 

Mo Donegal, an Uncle Mo   colt who won the Remsen Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack last year for trainer Todd Pletcher, is likely to train up to the April 9 $750,000 Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino (G2) at the Big A.

"It's somewhere between a strong possibility and a probability," Crawford said about the Wood.

Crawford ruled out the March 12 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) because Mo Donegal is expected to miss a March 4 workout due to the fever. 

With Mo Donegal, who drew post 12, out of the picture, OXO Equine's Galt  will move into the 12-horse field from the also-eligible list. Out of Medaglia d'Oro   by the West Acre  mare Ivanavinalot and trained by Bill Mott, Galt has already put in two races at Gulfstream Park at the 1 1/16-mile distance of the Fountain of Youth: a maiden win and a fourth in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3).