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Gulfstream Park hosts its most important Kentucky Derby prep yet on Saturday, February 28: the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes. With such a big and competitive field, the Fountain of Youth is a horse racing betting opportunity that you just can’t miss.
The 1 1/16-mile dirt race drew a field of 11, including both familiar stakes stars and up-and-coming new faces in the division. 50 points to the winner means they are virtually assured a ticket to Kentucky, and even other horses who run well often get in with another good prep or two.
The headliners of the field include Grade 1 winner Napoleon Solo making his sophomore debut, as well as one-turn stakes winners Solitude Dude and Commandment. Some of the marquee new faces in the field include allowance winner Jackson Hole as well as impressive maiden winner Chief Wallabee.
Horse of the Year Sovereignty parlayed a Fountain of Youth victory into a Kentucky Derby win in 2025. Who will follow suit this year? Keep reading to find out who has the best chances, as well as to see the best online sportsbooks for betting the Fountain of Youth Stakes.
Where to Bet the Fountain of Youth Stakes
Before getting to know the horses in the Fountain of Youth, make sure to prime yourself for profit by choosing the best online sportsbook for betting horse racing. There are many options out there, and choosing the right one may seem daunting. However, our experts are here to make your decision easy and profitable!
Take a few minutes to read our reviews of the best sportsbooks. All of them have the basics of a great betting experience: trusted payouts, great user interfaces, and market-leading odds. Every site also offers bonuses you’ll never find at the racetrack including sign-up and deposit bonuses, referral benefits, and even rebates that pay you in cash or free bets for every wager you make.
These bonuses can boost your bankroll by hundreds or even thousands of dollars, so taking a few minutes now to find which ones suit your wagering style best can be the most important decision you make!
These are the best places to bet the Fountain of Youth Stakes online:
Fountain of Youth Stakes Horses and Odds
This is the official field for the 2026 Fountain of Youth Stakes including draw numbers, trainers, jockeys, and morning-line odds:
- Jackson Hole (Todd Pletcher/John Velazquez)
- Rockies Balboa (Dale Romans/Luis Saez)
- Talkin (Danny Gargan/Joel Rosario)
- Commandment (Brad Cox/Irad Ortiz, Jr.)
- Bravaro (Saffie Joseph, Jr./Tyler Gaffalione)
- Chief Wallabee (Bill Mott/Junior Alvarado)
- Napoleon Solo (Chad Summers/Kendrick Carmouche)
- Bull by the Horns (Saffie Joseph, Jr./Micah Husbands)
- Global Aviator (Rohan Crichton/Joe Bravo)
- Solitude Dude (Saffie Joseph, Jr./Flavien Prat)
- Lost Money (Juan Arias/Javier Castellanos)
Closer to race day the track will release a morning line. The line can be a useful guide to which horses are expected to take betting action, but it is not a guarantee of on-track odds. After all, those odds aren’t final until the horses run out of the gate.
There is a better way: playing at an online sportsbook. Not only do online sportsbooks offer the convenience of betting from anywhere, but they often offer fixed-odds betting on major horse races. That means you can lock in the best price just by making a bet. Then, you can watch the race confident in what you’ll make when you win, without worrying about late odds shifts.
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| Napoleon Solo | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Solitude Dude | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Commandment | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Bravaro | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Talkin | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Free Fountain of Youth Stakes Picks
These are the top contenders for the 2026 Fountain of Youth Stakes:
Fountain of Youth Stakes Win Candidates
Commandment is the top pick in the Fountain of Youth. His tactical speed from a good gate should help him trip out. He is a stakes winner over the local course, which is a strong predictor of horses who run well in the Fountain of Youth. Though the Brad Cox trainee has not gone two turns yet, there’s enough in his pedigree to suggest 1 1/16 miles is within his ability, and trainer Brad Cox and jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. are connections you can trust in spots like this.
Solitude Dude has won all three starts impressively and is the best sprinter to emerge from his class so far. Though he may not stay the classic distance, there’s enough pedigree to suggest 1 1/16 miles should work. He should be able to work an outside stalking trip just off a sharp pace, and he’ll be the one the rest have to catch down the lane.
Napoleon Solo is undefeated in two starts as a 2-year-old and he makes his 3-year-old debut in this spot. He has been working regularly and sharply into this spot for trainer Chad Summers, who has been having a strong year. He kept running in the Champagne (G1) after setting a swift pace, but showed on debut that he can stalk, meaning he should be able to cobble together a trip.
Underneath Contenders in the Fountain of Youth Stakes
Bravaro was a respectable second behind Nearly in the Holy Bull (G3) over this course and distance. He should move forward second off the layoff for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr., and his ability to track a fast pace and keep running means he can work out a trip from an advantageous middle post position. He also has upside to improve second off the lay, another point in his favor.
Talkin disappointed last out in the Remsen (G2), but Paladin and Renegade are both proof that the Remsen was a live spot. Now he isn’t mired in the parking lot like he was last out, and he’s had time to grow up and into a pedigree that is all route. Danny Gargan won this race two years ago with Dornoch – another last-out Remsen type – and if Talkin has grown up at all he should muster a smart late run.
Fountain of Youth Stakes Free Picks
You know where to bet the race. You know the biggest contenders to use in your wagers. Now, there’s just one thing left to do: place your bets!
These are your best bets for Saturday’s 2026 Fountain of Youth Stakes:
- $20 to win – #4 Commandment
- $1 exacta box – #4 Commandment with #7 Napoleon Solo, #10 Solitude Dude
- $0.50 trifecta key – #4 Commandment with #5 Bravaro, #7 Napoleon Solo, #10 Solitude Dude
- $0.20 superfecta key – #4 Commandment with #3 Talkin, #5 Bravaro, #7 Napoleon Solo, #10 Solitude Dude
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