Mohaymen Looks to Keep Status as Kentucky Derby Betting Favorite

Undefeated in four career starts, Mohaymen is looking to keep his status as the early betting favorite for the 2016 Kentucky Derby (G1) when he takes on a field of five in the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.

The Kiaran McLaughlin trained son of Tapit, who was purchased for $2.2 million at the 2014 September Keeneland Sale, is the current 7-2 wagering favorite in early betting for the 142nd Kentucky Derby coming up on May 7 at Churchill Downs.

The colt broke his maiden at Belmont Park going six furlongs last September and has reeled off three Grade 2 wins, taking the Nashua, Remsen and in his most recent start the Holy Bull over the Gulfstream Park main track.

The second choice in early Derby wagering is last year’s champion juvenile Nyquist, who won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and won the San Vicente (G3) at Santa Anita in his three-year-old debut. That knocked down his price slightly, currently at 7-1 in advanced betting for the Kentucky Derby.

The Fountain of Youth is a Road to the Derby points race, with 50-20-10-5 points up for grabs toward entry into the Run for the Roses. The winner stamps his ticket to Louisville as 50 points virtually assures a top 20 placement in the final standings.

Mohaymen has already picked up 20 points, which is good for fifth in the Derby points standings. The current leader with 51 points is Gun Runner, who won last Saturday’s Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds. Gun Runner is currently at betting odds of 25-1 for the Kentucky Derby.

The main rival for Mohaymen on Saturday in the Fountain of Youth could be the Todd Pletcher trained Zulu, who is at early Kentucky Derby betting odds of 25-1 despite not having made a start in stakes company to date.

The colt broke his maiden in his debut over a wet track at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 5 and then came back in the slop with a sharp looking score against first level optional claimers on Jan. 15 where he trounced the field by 7 ¼ lengths.

Pletcher has won the Fountain of Youth three times including last year with Itsaknockout.

Two are coming into the race off stakes wins. Awesome Speed won the Mucho Macho Man Stakes in his last outing on Jan. 2 while Awesome Banner is perfect in three starts, most recently winning the Swale Stakes (G2).

The Fountain of Youth serves as a major prep for the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) which will be contested on April 2 and offers up the winner 100 points toward entry into the Run for the Roses.

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