Trainer Todd Pletcher, still in search of his first Kentucky Derby victory, looks to be loaded for bear once again just 10 weeks out from the Run for the Roses.

Pletcher’s Eskendereya ran away with the Grade II Foun¬tain of Youth Stakes on Saturday afternoon at Gulfstream, coasting to an 8 ½ length score under Johnny Velazquez.

"You’ve got to be excited when they perform like that in these kind of races at this time of year," Pletcher said. "I was particularly pleased with the way he finished. I don’t think we’ve ever gotten to the bottom of him."

Buddy’s Saint, making his 3-year-old debut after authoritative wins in the Nashua and Remsen last fall in New York, went off the 9-5 favorite. But the colt was knocked out of contention on the first turn. After breaking aggressively, he went for an opening on the rail and was jostled hard by Aikenite, appearing to bounce off the rail several times. Jose Lezcano eventually got the colt in the clear, but he had little left and finished ninth of 10.

"The other horses came in like nothing," Lezcano said. "I was already in a spot and they came in and killed my horse, put him into the rail. He came back a little bit to run, but I was out of the race by then because of what happened."

Meanwhile, Eskendereya was stalking the pace set by Lost Aptitude, who reeled off splits of :23.72 and :47.92 early. Eskendereya, a son of Giant’s Causeway, pounced on the far turn and drew away late for the convincing win, stopping the clock in 1:48.87 for the nine furlongs.

"It was great feeling when he kicked in and accelerated away from them," Velazquez said. "He galloped out really well, and I hope he can learn to relax just a bit more in the first part of the race. If he does, I don’t think he’ll have any trou¬ble going further."

Multiple stakeswinner Jackson Bend, who was sent off the second choice for trainer Nick Zito, tried to stay with the winner around the turn but wound up a distant second under Jeremy Rose. He did dig in well to hold off a mild rally from Aikenite, also trained by Pletcher.

"My horse ran his heart out," Rose said.

Eskendereya finished second in his career debut on closing day at Saratoga last September, then broke his maiden in the Pilgrim Stakes at Belmont when it was taken off the turf. Following a lackluster effort in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, he won a one-mile allowance in his 3-year-old debut Jan. 7 at Gulfstream.

Pletcher said he’ll likely point Eskendereya to the Florida Derby on March 27. He would join stablemate Rule, who took last weekend’s Sam F. Davis Stakes, in the race.

Zito added that Jackson Bend is likely headed to the Wood Memorial.

The top three were followed by Pleasant Prince, Ice Box, Pulsion, Positive Split, Prince Will I Am, the troubled Buddy’s Saint and Lost Aptitude.

On the Fountain of Youth undercard, D’Funnybone took the Hutcheson Stakes under Edgar Prado, validating the form he showed last year when scoring runaway wins in the Saratoga Special and Belmont Futurity.

Trainer Rick Dutrow said he’ll likely stretch the colt out in the Florida Derby.

Pletcher's outstanding day continued as his Discreetly Mine captured the Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds and Connemara won the El Camino Real Derby.

Discreetly Mine broke through with a stakes win after Grade I placings last year in the Futurity and Champagne. The colt led wire-to-wire under Javier Castellano, with Aqueduct maiden winner Tempted to Tapit second throughout. The winner is likely headed to the Louisiana Derby.

Connemara rallied from last to first to take the El Camino Real in solid fashion. The colt, a half-brother to Lion Heart, is headed to the Santa Anita Derby.

In the day's other Derby prep, San Rafael winner Conveyance improved his record to 4-for-4 lifetime with a wire-to-wire win in the Grade III Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

Martin Garcia was up on the colt, who whisked through brisk early splits before finishing up in 1:36.94 for the mile. The Bob Baffert trainee was making his first start outside of California.

Dublin, winner of the Hopeful last summer at Saratoga, was making his 3-year-old debut in the race for Hall of Famer Wayne Lukas. The colt turned in a solid effort; after breaking poorly and with just one horse beaten down the backstretch, he made a sweeping move on the turn and closed strongly for the place.

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Karelian withstood a furious late rally and a stewards' inquiry to stun dual Eclipse champion Gio Ponti in the Tampa Bay Breeders' Cup.

Under Rosemary Homeister, Jr., Karelian (5-1) was allowed to coast through moderate early splits before being confronted by Gio Ponti (1-5) and Ramon Dominguez turning for home. The two battled the length of the stretch, with Karelian winning by a bob. The winner, on the inside, came out significantly down the stretch, but the result was allowed to stand, as the horses did not make contact.

Gio Ponti, who was prepping for the Dubai World Cup, was making his first start since finishing second in the Classic on Nov. 7.

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On the Fountain of Youth undercard, Courageous Cat claimed the Grade III Canadian Turf Stakes with a gritty performance. It was his first start since finishing second to the brilliant Goldikova in the Breeders' Cup Mile.

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Stonehouse upset the Mineshaft Handicap at Fair Grounds on Saturday afternoon after odds-on favorite Friesan Fire faded badly late.

Friesan Fire and General Quarters, 1-2 in the Louisiana Handicap last time out, tracked each other through moderate early fractions. But turning for home, Friesan Fire refused to change leads and dropped out of contention. Stonehouse ranged up between horses and did well to turn back a stubborn General Quarters on the inside.

Before taking the Risen Star, Pletcher and Castellano teamed up to take the Fair Grounds Handicap with Blues Street.

About the only thing that went wrong for Pletcher on Saturday was in the Silverbulletday, when his Grade I winning filly Devil May Car stopped badly in the stretch. Jody Slew scored her second straight stakes win.

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Bob Black Jack made his return to the races a successful one, taking the Grade II San Carlos Handicap with a wire-to-wire performance at Santa Anita.

The 5-year-old, who stopped the clock in 1:21.05, was making his first start since taking the 2008 Malibu Stakes.

Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Dancing In Silks finished fifth as the favorite.