SIMPLIFICATION

Earns Trip to Kentucky Derby with Fountain of Youth Victory

BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Florida-bred Simplification punched a ticket to the 2022 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade 1) with a come from behind victory in the $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park on March 5 under jockey Jose Ortiz. The Fountain of Youth, which offered 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the winner, featured a field of 11 3-year-olds in the mile-and-one-sixteenth race which also acts as the main local prep race for the $1 million Curlin Florida presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms @Xalapa (G1).

The race was marred by an unfortunate incident in the far turn when High Oak clipped heels with A.P’s Secret approaching the quarter-pole and fell, causing a trailing Galt to also fall. Both horses were reported to be uninjured and jockeys Junior Alvarado and Joel Rosario, who rode High Oak and Galt respectively, also appeared to be okay.

But the day belonged to owner Tami Bobo’s Simplification, who is trained by Antonio Sano and won the Fountain of Youth as the 5-2 favorite.

Considered to be a front-runner after winning the $150,000 Mucho Macho Man while leading from start to finish going a mile at Gulfstream on Jan. 1, Simplification tossed his head at the start of the Grade 3 Holy Bull on Feb. 5 at Gulfstream and was forced to run far back in the field of nine early.

But he rallied to finish second to White Abarrio that day and proved to Sano he was more versatile than originally thought.

“When [Simplification] broke bad last time I thought, ‘What a disaster.’ I learned that the horse can run in the front or from behind,” Sano said “He doesn’t have to be in the front. The plan today for the race was that he didn’t need the front.”

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After breaking well from post two, Ortiz settled Simplification into mid-pack along the rail around the clubhouse turn as the Florida-bred pair of Markhamian and Dean Delivers ran one two through a first quarter-mile in :23.77. Ortiz and Simplification had to check slightly down the backstretch while in tight and three off the rail but were able to settle into seventh behind a tight-packed group as Markhamian clipped off a :48.27 half-mile. Around the turn, Dean Delivers put a neck in front with A.P.’s Secret to his outside and 5-2 second choice Emmanuel began to move while four-wide. Simplification followed Emmanuel before surging to the lead on the far outside to take the lead into the run for home. Emmanuel and Dean Delivers gave chase in second but Simplification drew clear to win by three-and-a-half lengths ahead of a late running In Due Time in second with 87-1 longshot O Captain rallying late to finish third. Emmanuel was fourth, followed in order by Dean Delivers, Rattle N Roll, A.P.’s Secret, Markhamian and Howling Time. Giant Game and Mo Donegal were scratched. In Due Time earned 20 Derby qualifying points while O Captain earned 10 and Emmanuel five. Simplification finished the distance in 1:44.04 and paid $7 to win. “For me I liked the trip. I talked to Jose [Saturday] morning and said you don’t need to be in the front. The start was very important. If the horse has a good start and a safe trip, you won’t have a problem,” Sano said. “I wanted him to stay outside. Our horse in front with the speed horses won’t have a chance. The horse responded to Jose. He said, ‘Go,’ and it was all good.” “I knew [Simplification] was going to be tough,” Ortiz said. “I worked him and Antonio had a lot of confidence in him. He broke well. He pulled me into the race. He put me there. At the three-eighths pole, I decided to go wide and follow Emmanuel and he was there for me.” Simplification is by Not This Time out of the stakes-placed mare Simply Confection, by Candy Ride (Arg) and was bred in Florida by France Weiner and her late husband Irwin Weiner. Simplification is the first foal for Simply Confection, who was second to West Coast Belle in the 2014 Rags to Riches Stakes at Churchill Downs and has an unnamed 2-year-old filly by Mendelssohn and an unnamed yearling filly by Audible. Simply Confection is currently in foal Union Rags. “I am very proud,” France Weiner said. “And the best news is I still have a half-sister to him [by Audible] who just turned a year old. She is a very, very fine filly. She is a beautiful strong looking filly with a lot of promise. I plan to sell her in the summer.” Simplification went through the 2019 Keeneland November Sales with the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment, but was an RNA ($50,000). She was then approached by Bobo later, who purchased Simplification privately. Jockey Jose Ortiz and trainer Antonio Sano n Lauren King Photo Should Simplification make the Kentucky Derby, he would be the second Derby starter for Weiner, who along with her latr husband Irwin, bred Florida-bred Closing Argument, who was second to Giacomo in 2005. “This might be my second trip to the Derby, so I think I’m luckier than most people. Simplification is the first Florida-bred winner of the Fountain of Youth since Wildcat Red in 2014. Other Florida-bred winners of the Fountain of Youth include Trust N Luck in 2003, Booklet (2002), Built for Pleasure (1996), Duc d’Sligovil (1993), Shot Gun Scott (1990), Ensign Rhythm (1986), Darn That Alarm (1984), Copelan (1983), Star Gallant (1982), Ruthie’s Native (1977), Green Gambados (1974), Shecky Greene (1973), Gentle Smoke (1972), Authorize (1971) and In Reality (1967). TFH

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