Shadwell's unbeaten Mohaymen (Tapit) breaks from the outside post six in Saturday's GII Xpressbet Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream Park. The grey was last seen taking the GII Holy Bull S. by an easy 3 1/2 lengths Jan. 30, but faces a formidable group of foes here. Trainer Todd Pletcher saddles two-for-two Zulu (Bernardini) on behalf of the Coolmore contingent and Stonestreet Stables. The $900,000 Fasig-Tipton Florida graduate earned the 'TDN Rising Star' distinction for a 7 1/4-length optional claiming romp going seven panels in the local slop Jan. 15. Awesome Banner (Awesome of Course) stretches out after commanding victories in the Jan. 2 GIII Hutcheson S. and Jan. 30 GII Swale S. He'll be joined by fellow Jacks or Better homebred and Stan Gold trainee Fellowship (Awesome of Course), who was third in the Holy Bull. Awesome Speed (Awesome Again), last seen running away with the one-mile Mucho Macho Man S. Jan. 2, has been working very quickly in the interim. “It's a tough race but I wouldn't trade places with anybody,” the favorite's trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. “It's going to be his toughest race to date. Zulu is undefeated. Awesome Banner is undefeated. Awesome Speed is a nice horse. It's going to be tough and we just hope we keep going and stay the same. We don't have to improve, but it's more experience and hopefully we get lucky to win.” 'Rising Star' Cherry Wine (Paddy O'Prado) will skip the race after spiking a fever.
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