By Bill Finley
Awesome Banner (Awesome of Course), winner of the GIII Hutcheson S. and GII Swale S., may not start in this Saturday's GII Fountain of Youth, according to owner Fred Brei. Brei said that if the colt doesn't go this Saturday at Gulfstream, he will instead point for the Mar. 12 GII Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs. Brei noted that his Jacks Or Better Farm will definitely start Fellowship (Awesome of Course) in the Fountain of Youth and he is mulling over whether or not it makes sense to start two horses in the same race.
“Fellowship ran really well when he was third in the GII Holy Bull S., but there was no speed in there,” Brei said. “In the Fountain of Youth, there will be plenty of speed, so Fellowship should get a good setup. If any horse goes to Tampa, it will be Awesome Banner. It's the same amount of Derby points as the Fountain of Youth, so if we go to Tampa with him, I don't see what we have to lose.”
Brei said he will not make his decision until entry time of the Fountain of Youth. When asked if he were leaning in either direction, he said he would prefer not to comment. Awesome Banner is unbeaten in three career starts, but has yet to race beyond seven furlongs and prove he can go a distance of ground. Brei said he is confident his colt will go the Fountain of Youth distance of a mile and a sixteenth.
“Unlike most sprinters, he's not loaded with early speed,” said Brei. “That makes him different from a lot of the rest. Just by what I've seen in this horse, I'm very confident he can go two turns. If he can't, I still know I have an outstanding sprinter on our hands.”
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