Laurel Park-Based Colt Fourth in Fountain of Youth (G2)

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable, Pantofel Stable and Howling Pigeon Farms’ Grade 2 winner Shotski, fourth in the Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) Feb. 29, will remain at Gulfstream Park before leaving later this month to head overseas for a planned start in the $2.5 million UAE Derby (G2).

Laurel Park-based trainer Jerry O’Dwyer said Thursday that Shotski, beaten a neck and a head for second in three-way photo finish with Candy Tycoon and As Seen On Tv behind front-running winner Ete Indien, came out of the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth in good order.

O’Dwyer plans to work Shotski once at Gulfstream and ship to Dubai for the 1 3/16-mile UAE Derby Saturday, March 28 at Meydan Racecourse. The UAE Derby, won last year by Plus Que Parfait, offers 170 Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points.

“He seems in good form, full of himself at the moment. Our primary plan is to keep him here in Florida with the plan to go to Dubai,” O’Dwyer said. “That’s what we’re looking at right now. We’ve been talking about it. We’re going to fly out of here on the 17th of March, so we’ll keep him here, give him one breeze and then head over there all things being well.”

Shotski drew Post 10 in the Fountain of Youth, outside all but Ete Indien. With a short run to the first turn, Shotski was unable to move closer inside under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez and encountered a wide trip while racing mid-pack, closing to within 2 ½ lengths of the lead after a half-mile in 46.72 seconds.

“We’re very happy with his performance getting the trip that he got. He was stuck wide the whole way,” O’Dwyer said. “They talked about how much further he had to run than the winner, and all the other horses. I do feel we were the second-best horse in the race on the day. In racing, things don’t always go your way. He ended up being fourth and, all things being equal, he probably should have been second.”

Velazquez and Shotski, sent off at 15-1, found themselves carried even further out as they approached the stretch but continued on strong to the wire though were unable to hold off 25-1 long shot Candy Tycoon or catch As Seen On Tv, the 9-5 second choice.

“We’re a little disappointed in that, but we’re proud of the horse’s big effort. He had to fight for it the whole way,” O’Dwyer said. “Johnny had to work pretty hard on him and he got pushed out a little bit on the turn for home and couldn’t get going and battled those other two horses. It’s tough, tough racing with these 3-year-olds.”

Shotski broke his maiden in his second start last Oct. 3, the only race over his home track at Laurel Park. He was fourth in the Street Sense Stakes four weeks later and won the Remsen (G2) Dec. 7 at Aqueduct to close his 2-year-old season, then began his sophomore campaign running second in the Withers (G3) Feb. 1 prior to the Fountain of Youth.