Fountain of Youth Winner Simplification Returns to Tab

Tami Bobo's Simplification  returned to the Gulfstream Park work tab March 19 for the first time since scoring a dominating 3 1/2-length victory in the $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2).

The Antonio Sano-trained 3-year-old son of Not This Time   breezed five furlongs in 1:01.81 under jockey Jose Ortiz before galloping out to six furlongs in 1:14.85.

"It was a very good work. The horse worked in hand. He went very easy," Sano said. "The gallop was good. The horse came back very good. That's what's important for me."

Simplification rated well off the early pace before making a sweeping move to the lead and drawing away with authority to capture the March 5 Fountain of Youth. In the Feb. 5 Holy Bull Stakes (G3), the Florida-bred colt, who won the Jan. 1 Mucho Macho Man Stakes with a strong front-running performance, broke last from the starting gate but recovered well enough following a wide trip to finish second behind loose-on-the-lead White Abarrio .

Also Saturday, trainer Kenny McPeek sent Lucky Seven Stable's Smile Happy  and Rattle N Roll  to the Gulfstream track to breeze in company. They received a joining bullet after breezing five furlongs in :58.81.

"They worked super. They both needed a steady one and they both zipped along," McPeek said. "I was really pleased with both of them."

McPeek said he hadn't yet chosen between the Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa (G1) and the April 9 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland for Smile Happy's next start. Rattle N Roll, who finished sixth in the Fountain of Youth, is entered in the March 26 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Smile Happy closed to be second behind loose-on-the-lead Epicenter  in the Feb. 19 Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2) in his 2022 debut after winning his first two races as a juvenile, including the 2021 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs.

OGMA Investments and Jack Hardin Towell Jr.'s O Captain , who closed from last to finish third in the Fountain of Youth at odds of 87-1, breezed five furlongs at Gulfstream in 1:01.14 Saturday morning. The Gustavo Delgado-trained son of Carpe Diem  , who broke his maiden at first asking and finished third in the Limehouse Stakes in his two prior starts, is pointed to the Florida Derby.

Meanwhile at Palm Beach Downs, the Todd Pletcher-trained Charge It  went five furlongs in 1:00.18 in advance of the Florida Derby. The talented maiden winner, a son of Tapit   owned by Whisper Hill Farm, was one of numerous high-class horses to breeze for the Hall of Fame trainer Saturday.

Among his better 3-year-olds, Mo Donegal  and Emmanuel  were each credited with a half-mile in :49.41, and Louisiana Derby entrant Pioneer of Medina  went the same distance in :48.98.