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.

It's already been an interesting time early on the Kentucky Derby trail, with poor weather forcing the shifting of race dates across the country and several key prep winners already sidelined by injury, leaving the door wide open. There's little time left for error; with 10 weeks to go, the road kicks into high gear this weekend.

The highly-regarded Buddy's Saint makes his 3-year-old debut in the Grade II Fountain of Youth Stakes, hoping to use this as a springboard into the Florida Derby for longtime New York trainer Bruce Levine. The colt was a runaway winner of the Nashua and the Remsen last fall in New York.

A member of the only crop of 2005 Horse of the Year Saint Liam, Buddy's Saint has never crossed the wire behind another horse; he finished first but was disqualified to second in his career debut.

Out of the Grade I placed Blushing John mare Tuzia, Buddy's Saint should have no issues with the nine furlong distance. He breaks from the two under Jose Lezcano.

Hall of Famer Nick Zito sends out a pair in Jackson Bend and Ice Box. Jackson Bend (Jeremy Rose, post 5) was a multiple stakeswinner last fall in Florida, sweeping the Stallion Series before being transferred to Zito following his sale to Robert LaPenta. Second in the Holy Bull to the since-sidelined Winslow Homer last time out, the colt has won at up to a mile and a sixteenth. Ice Box (Joe Bravo, post 10) was an impressive winner in a nine furlong allowance here last out; both of this son of Pulpit's wins have come around two turns.

Todd Pletcher also starts two in Grade I-placed Aikenite (Alan Garcia, rail) and Pilgrim winner Eskendereya (Johnny Velazquez, post 8).

Norfolk runner-up Pulsion (Mike smith, post 3) makes his 3-year-old debut after illness forced him out of an allowance several weeks ago. Pleasant Price (Julien Leparoux, post 4), Prince Will I Am (CC Lopez, post 6), Positive Split (Edgar Prado, post 7) and Lost Aptitude (Rajiv Maragh, post 9) complete the field.

On the undercard, D'Funnybone makes his 3-year-old debut for trainer Rick Dutrow in the Grade II Hutcheson at seven furlongs. The colt was a runaway winner of the Saratoga Special and the Belmont Futurity last year, but faltered in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

Also on the undercard, Courageous Cat makes his first start since finishing second to the brilliant Goldikova in the Breeders' Cup Mile. He's the favorite in the Grade III Canadian Turf Stakes, and Garrett Gomez comes in to ride for trainer Bill Mott. They break from the seven.

Mechanicville's Chad Brown starts the stakeswinning Bluegrass Princess in the Grade III Honey Fox. Leparoux is aboard the filly, who breaks from the seven. The favorite is the Christophe Clement trainee Akilina, who breaks from six under Maragh.

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Perhaps overshadowed in Florida today is the return of dual champion Gio Ponti in the Tampa Bay Breeders Cup, at a mile and a sixteenth on the turf.

Gio Ponti was named both champion older male and champion turf horse for a campaign last year that included four Grade I wins and two placings, including a second behind Zenyatta in the Classic. The 5-year-old is headed for the March 27 Dubai World Cup for trainer Christophe Clement and figures to get an easy return to the races here; he was installed as the prohibitive 3-5 favorite on the morning line.

Regular rider Ramon Dominguez is aboard, and they leave from the two in the field of nine, with two cross-entries.

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All eyes are already on Oaklawn Park, and today the track hosts the Grade III Southwest Stakes at a mile. The race was originally carded for Monday, Feb. 15, but pushed back due to icy conditions - not the first rescheduling on this year's Triple Crown trail. The Southwest leads into next month's Rebel, and then the April 10 Arkansas Derby. In recent years, this path to the Triple Crown has produced Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex, Curlin and Summer Bird.

Dublin has two wins in five starts lifetime, both coming at Saratoga. He broke his maiden early in the meet, then won the Grade I Hopeful on closing day despite an awkward break. The imposing son of Afleet Alex ended his 2-year-old campaign with disappointing efforts in the Champagne and Iroquois, but looks to be on the rebound; after a minor procedure to improve his breathing, he's turned in bullet works for weeks. Terry Thompson is aboard for the legendary D. Wayne Lukas, and the colt breaks from the three.

The local threat, Dryfly, is 3-for-4 lifetime with a win in the Smarty Jones at a mile here last out. Calvin Borel retains the mount for veteran trainer Lynn Whiting, who is trying to return to the Derby after taking it with Lil E. Tee in 1992. Dryfly breaks from the four.

San Rafael winner Conveyance shipped in from California for the Southwest after the Robert B. Lewis was postponed due to the rain there, then had to wait the extra week anyway. Martin Garcia comes in to ride the Bob Baffert trainee, and they leave from the nine in the field of 10.

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At the Fair Grounds, the promising Drosselmeyer is stepping up in class in the Grade II Risen Star at a mile and a sixteenth.

The son of Distorted Humor, out of Grade I winner Golden Ballet, was an impressive allowance winner last out at Gulfstream, handing adversity professionally. Both of the colt's wins have come around two turns. The Mott trainee keeps Kent Desormeaux aboard, and they break from the six.

Ron The Greek won the Lecomte here last month with a solid late move for trainer Tom Amoss. But he drew far outside, in the 11, under James Graham.

Tempted to Tapit was a runaway maiden winner at Aqueduct in January. The colt is a fruntrunner but bred to go farther; at the very least, he could factor into a solid early pace; he drew post 2, indicating that going to the lead is likely. David Cohen comes in to ride from trainer Steve Klesaris.

Pletcher ships in the speedy Discreetly Mine, runner-up in the Champagne and Futurity, rather than keeping him at home for the Hutcheson. The half-brother to Grade I winner Discreet Cat has Javier Castellano up and breaks from the four.

Three-year-old fillies take the stage on the undercard in the Grade III Silverbulletday at a mile and a sixteenth. The favorite will be Devil May Care, a game winner of the Grade I Frizette last fall. Castellano rides for Pletcher as they break from the outside, post 6, in a short field.

The budding rivalry between Friesan Fire and General Quarters is renewed in the Grade III Mineshaft. Both performed well on the Triple Crown trail last year, with Friesan Fire taking the Risen Star and Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds and General Quarters winning the Blue Grass. Both were injured in the Preakness and laid up for the rest of the season, and both returned to action with solid efforts here before moving back to stakes company. Last time out, Friesan Fire held off a steadily closing General Quarters to win the Louisiana Handicap over these same conditions.

General Quarters drew the rail under Robby Albarado for owner-trainer Tom McCarthy, and Friesan Fire breaks from beside him under Shaun Bridgemohan for Steve Asmussen.

Giant Oak has been knocking on the door, finishing second to Misremembered in the Indiana Derby last fall, and then a credible fourth in the Clark. He's been freshened since for his 4-year-old debut. The colt drew the five for the Mineshaft, as trainer Neil Pessian opted to go with this rather than the Fair Grounds Handicap on the turf, where the colt was cross-entered.

In the Grade III Fair Grounds, the veteran campaigner Silverfoot returns from a nearly six month layoff. The multiple graded winner, now 10, has nearly reached millionaire status. Jamie Theriot rides from Dallas Stewart, and the pair drew the three.

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In the Grade II San Carlos Handicap at Santa Anita it could be an epically speedy battle, as Bob Black Jack returns to tackle Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Dancing in Silks.

Bob Black Jack is making his first start since winning the 2008 Malibu Stakes. The brilliantly fast horse set a since-broken world record for six furlongs, going 1:06.53 at Santa Anita in January 2008; he also set a Santa Anita track record for seven furlongs, going the distance in 1:20.37 in December 2007. That mark was shattered by two-time champion Indian Blessing. David Flores is up on Bob Black Jack for trainer James Kasperoff, and drew well, in the two.

Dancing in Silks, who figures to try to run Bob Black Jack down in the lane, won three straight races before upsetting the Sprint. He was third behind Kinsale King in his return last out in the Palos Verdes. Joel Rosario is back aboard the Carla Gaines trainee, and they break from the three.