All data was manually compiled and is subject to human error.
Introduction
The Fountain of Youth is a 8.5 furlong race over the dirt for 3-year-olds at Gulfstream Park. First run in 1945, it’s currently a Kentucky Derby points race.
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Below is a look at data from a variety of angles to see what has produced winners in the Fountain of Youth from 1991-2019.
Charts are interactive, hover over or touch bars and lines for more information.
Odds are shown as listed in the results charts. Hover-over or touch each bar for $2 payout.
Built for Pleasure (1996) has been excluded from the chart at $1 odd of $143.10 to allow for better overall visualization. Outliers are included in the averages and medians.
Year
$1 Odds
1991
0.5
1992
1.5
1993
4.3
1993
2.3
1994
2.4
1995
4.7
1997
1
1998
0.9
1999
4.6
2000
2.4
2001
18
2002
5.2
2003
4.9
2004
2.1
2005
1.1
2006
0.7
2007
5.9
2008
7.3
2009
5.5
2010
3.9
2011
1.4
2012
1.2
2013
5.4
2014
4.5
2015
5.4
2016
0.4
2017
4.2
2018
18.2
2019
9.5
$1 Odds
1991-2019
Average $1 Odds:
$9.00
Median $1 Odds:
$4.20
2010-2019
Average $1 Odds:
$5.40
Median $1 Odds:
$4.30
1991-2019
Average $2 Win:
$20.20
Median $2 Win:
$10.50
2010-2019
Average $2 Win:
$12.80
Median $2 Win:
$10.70
Fountain of Youth Bettors’ Choice and Field Size 1991-2019
Bettors’ Choice is the ranked order of the field by final odds: The favorite is the first choice, the second favorite is the second choice and so on. For example, 1991 winner Fly So Free was 1st choice in a 10 horse field.
Year
Bettors' Choice
Field Size
1991
1
10
1992
1
11
1993
3
9
1993
1
9
1994
3
6
1995
4
12
1996
8
9
1997
1
9
1998
1
4
1999
2
10
2000
1
11
2001
8
11
2002
3
8
2003
4
8
2004
2
8
2005
1
9
2006
1
10
2007
2
9
2008
4
12
2009
4
10
2010
3
10
2011
1
8
2012
2
7
2013
2
9
2014
4
12
2015
3
8
2016
1
6
2017
3
10
2018
5
9
2019
5
11
Field Size
1991-2019
Average Choice of Winner:
2.8
Average Field Size:
9.17
Average Favorite Finish Position:
3
2010-2019
Average Choice of Winner:
3.08
Average Field Size:
9.33
Average Favorite Finish Position:
4.25
Fav
10
20
23
7
Fountain of Youth Winning Running Styles 1991-2019
To read the charts below, 0 on the vertical axis is the lead, any distance behind the leader is below 0 and any distance above 0 is the amount the leader is ahead of the next horse. At the bottom are the points of call as they correspond to the charts. Each line is a horse, and you can hover over the point of call for each line to see more information about the horse.
For example, if you hover over the bottom-most line in the first chart, at the 1/2 mile mark you’ll see that 2017 winner Gunnevera was 9 lengths behind the leader at this point in the race.
First Samurai (2006) and Itsaknockout (2015) both won by disqualification and have been excluded from the running style charts since they did not finish first
Position at the 1/2 mile mark
Speed:
In the lead
Presser/Stalker:
Between .1 and 3 lengths off leader
Off the pace:
Between 3 and 6 lengths off the leader
Deep closer:
More than 6 lengths off the leader
Running Style
Deep Closer
Off the Pace
Stalker/Presser
Speed
4
4
12
10
Speed
The Fountain of Youth has been predominately won by early speed since 1991, with stalkers/pressers winning 40% of the time and front-running runners winning 33.3% of the time. The last 10 years have roughly been on trend with 60% of the winners up and on the pace or in the lead, but three of the four deep closures since 1991 have won in the last 10 years.
A closer look at winning running styles by decade.
Fountain of Youth Winning Running Styles 1991-1999
The Fountain of Youth has been a fairly formful race, with favorites performing just a hair under the generally accepted average favorite win rate of 35% to win 33.3% of the time since 1991. The average winning odds since 1991 are 9-1 with a median of 4.2-1 and an average $2 ticket paying $20.20. Since 2010 the winning odds have dropped to an average of 5.4-1 and median of 4.35-1. The average $2 win ticket since 2010 has dropped to $12.80.
The winner on average has been almost 3rd choice (2.8) since 1991 moving solidly to 3rd choice since 2010 (3.08). The favorite has an average finish position of 3rd (3) since 1991 and 4th (4.25) since 2010.
On or near the lead has produced the most wins since 1991 with stalkers/pressers at a 40% rate and speed at a 33.3% win rate. Deep closers and off-the-pace runners have only won four times a piece since 1991, but three of the deep closers have won in the last 10 years.
Winners have overwhelming come from Gulfstream Park and only three winners since 1991 finished worse than 3rd last out. Field size has been above the 2017 average of 7.7 starters with an average of 9.17 starters since 1991 and an average of 9.33 starters since 2010.
