Bourbon War Dominant in Friday Feature, Fountain of Youth Likely Target

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Bourbon Lane Stable and Lake Star Stable’s Bourbon War registered a dominant 2 ¼-length victory in Friday’s featured ninth race at Gulfstream Park, establishing himself as a horse to watch on the road to the Kentucky Derby.

Trained by Mark Hennig, the son of Tapit ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.54 to notch his second win in three career starts in the optional claiming allowance race for 3-year-olds.

The Grade 2, $400,000 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream March 2 is the most likely target for Bourbon War.

“I think you’d have to. We’re going to see how it stacks up, but we’ll nominate him up to all these 3-year-old races,” Hennig said. “I think he’s ready to take the step back into graded-stakes company.”

The 3-2 favorite settled off the pace in a tightly packed field of nine before advancing between horses on the turn, finding a seam between pacesetter Bourbon War and second-choice Cutting Humor at the top of the stretch and drawing off to post a comfortable victory under Irad Ortiz Jr.

“I was glad he kind of got through that little hole. I was like, ‘Is there a hole here turning for home, or not? Don’t get stopped.’ It worked out good,” Hennig said.

Bourbon War debuted with a 2 ¼-length triumph in a mile optional claiming allowance at Aqueduct Nov. 14 before stepping up to finish a wide fourth in the Grade 2 Remsen on December 1st.

“He got some schooling in the Remsen and I think Irad made a point of schooling him a little bit (today),” Hennig said. “I asked him if he did anything wrong today and he said, ‘Not a thing,’ so that’s good.”

Todd Pletcher-trained Cutting Humor finished second under John Velazquez while Award Winner was third.