It’s about to get serious on the Triple Crown trail. Kentucky Derby hopefuls are down to their final preps in some cases, but most have 2 races to go and beginning this weekend with the Fountain of Youth, Gotham and Rebel in the spotlight. The Fountain of Youth delivered us last year’s star sophomore Sovereignty and anything close to that level of 2026 prospects would make for a super Saturday in Hallandale Beach.

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Let’s meet the contenders for the Fountain of Youth (Race 14):

#1-JACKSON HOLE: Unbeaten colt has wins at Gulfstream and Fair Grounds as he ascends to the stakes ranks for the first time. You’ve got historic Fountain of Youth connections as John Velazquez’s 5 wins are most by any jockey and Todd Pletcher leads all trainers with 4. They scored in tandem in 2007 (Scat Daddy) and 2010 (Eskendereya). This $1.3 million purchase is by Florida Derby / Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist.

#2-ROCKIES BALBOA: Sprinter took 4 tries to break his maiden, dropping in class, and then followed with a restricted allowance score for back-to-back wins. Girvin colts gets major distance and class tests in one swoop. Luis Saez is a 3-time FoY winner (2014, 2015, 2024), and takes over for departing rider Junior Alvarado, who pilots Chief Wallabee on Saturday. Trainer Dale Romans had success here with Promises Fulfilled in 2018.

#3-TALKIN: Champagne Stakes runner-up makes his 3-year-old return while looking to wash away the disappointment of a ninth-place effort in the Remsen to close 2025. Trainer Danny Gargan looks for a second Fountain of Youth title in 3 years, having won in 2024 with eventual Belmont Stakes hero Dornoch. Joel Rosario curiously swaps seats as Kendrick Carmouche takes the call on Napoleon Solo on Saturday.

#4-COMMANDMENT: Tries to join Simplification (2022) as the only horses to win the Mucho Macho Man and Fountain of Youth – the former run for the first time as a mile race in January in 2013. Left no doubt who was best over this track Jan. 3 by 6-3/4 lengths for trainer Brad Cox. Irad Ortiz has FoY scores aboard Promises Fulfilled (2018) and Forte (2023). This $500,000 Into Mischief colt is out of 2018 Grade 1 Spinaway winner Sippican Harbor.

#5-BRAVARO: With Holy Bull Stakes winner Nearly bypassing this race to train up to the Florida Derby, this Jan. 31 runner-up is that prep’s major alumnus in action Saturday. New Yorked-bred Bravaro won twice last fall at Aqueduct vs. state-breds, including the Sleepy Hollow Stakes. He’s wintered in Florida for local trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. and fit in well enough in his Gulfstream unveiling. Tyler Gaffalione has the return mount on the son of 2015 Fountain of Youth disqualified winner Upstart, who was placed second for interference.

#6-CHIEF WALLABEE: Connections of 2025 FoY winner and eventual Kentucky Derby / Belmont hero Sovereignty, trainer Bill Mott and jockey Junior Alvarado, seek a repeat. That hasn’t happened in this race since Jimmy Jones and Bill Hartack in 1957-’58. Junior Alvarado also guided Mohaymen (2016) to a Fountain of Youth victory. If they pull it off, it will be with this field’s most lightly raced runner, a Jan. 10 Gulfstream debut winner in sharp style. His runner-up, The Puma, since returned to finish third in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

#7-NAPOLEON SOLO: Undefeated winner of the Grade 1 Champagne on Oct. 4 hasn’t raced since, making this one of the most anticipated returns of the 2026 class. The Chad Summers trainee was put away following his 6-1/2 length victory over Fountain of Youth return rival Talkin and has trained with 4 bullet workouts from 6 drills at Palm Meadows this winter. Kendrick Carmouche has the mount on this Liam’s Map $40,000 bargain.

#8-BULL BY THE HORNS: Stakes debut for this Nov. 1 Gulfstream maiden graduate, who looks to improve off a Tampa Bay allowance third last month in his only start since. Saffie Joseph Jr. trains this Essential Qualit colt, who will be ridden once again by Micah Husbands. Longshot at least has a win over the track and some 2-turn experience.

#9-GLOBAL AVIATOR: No threat fifth-place finish in the Holy Bull Stakes at 12-1 odds after minor trouble at the start. Rohan Crichton trainee has had gate issues in both starts, but overcame them for a rallying debut win at 6 furlongs. The $12,000 Global Campaign colt faces his toughest cast year and regular rider Joe Bravo returns.

#10-SOLITUDE DUDE: Arguably the leading 3-year-old sprinter on the east coast, this unbeaten Saffie Joseph trainee looks to build on Inaugural and Swale Stakes victories for a fourth tally. He’ll try beyond 7 furlongs for the first time, from a wide draw under new rider Flavien Prat as Irad Ortiz Jr. hops to ride Commandment. Colt by Yaupon has a sprint pedigree both top and bottom, but he’s opened up margin late in all 3 wins to date.

#11-LOST MONEY: Longshot maiden hasn’t come close in 3 starts, but does exit 2 of the most live maiden races of the meet vs. Waymark and Canaletto. Juan Arias trains the Street Sense colt who will be making his first start around 2 turns from an extremely difficult post draw. Jockey Javier Castellano posted FoY success with Gunnevera in 2017.