Grade 2, $300,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes, 1 1/16 miles, Gulfstream Park, Feb. 27, 2021 (50 Derby qualifying points for first, 10 for second, 10 for third, 5 for fourth) Winner: Greatest Honour, by Tapit Trainer: Shug McGaughey Jockey: Jose Ortiz Owner: Courtlandt Farms Beyer Speed Figure: 89 When he ran four weeks earlier, in the Holy Bull (https://www.drf.com/news/road-2021-kentucky-derby-holy-bull-stakes-analysis), I noted how similar the campaign of GREATEST HONOUR has been compared to McGaughey’s 2013 Derby winner, Orb. That was further solidified when Greatest Honour won this race, just as Orb did eight years ago. It would stand to reason that the Florida Derby, as with Orb, will be the next start for Greatest Honour as a final prep to the Kentucky Derby. Greatest Honour appeared as though he was just getting warmed up going 1 1/16 miles – in fact, he looked like he was sputtering early on the far turn -- so the extra distance he’ll be asked to negotiate in coming weeks should be welcome. The Beyer figure, originally posted as an anemic 83, was upgraded on overnight review to 89, equal to the career-best Greatest Honour earned in the Holy Bull. This had to be a difficult figure to make, as there were no other two-turn dirt races on the marathon card. And let’s not kid ourselves – Greatest Honour wasn’t exactly running against the second coming of Hindoo (shout out to the late, great Joe Hirsch). :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2021: Point standings, prep schedule, news, and more He was supposed to win, and he did, at a distance probably short of ideal, against horses far inferior to what he’ll face in coming weeks. He’ll need to do better, and run faster, but with McGaughey at the controls, I’m certain he hasn’t come close to hitting his peak yet. The target date for that is May 1. In this race, Greatest Honour was outrun early and went into the first turn in front of just one horse, while two to three paths wide. He advanced between rivals down the backstretch, and looked ready to launch a serious bid heading into the far turn, but he idled for a furlong, and PAPETU rushed past him on his outside. He then re-engaged while being asked by Ortiz, swung about four paths wide into the lane, and when allowed to stretch out with his long, powerful stride, he inhaled the three who were still in front of him so quickly that Ortiz was able to take a hold of Greatest Honour before reaching the finish. I think the leaders were stopping, too, which might have created the illusion that Greatest Honour was finishing faster than he was; the race shape was fast early, slow late. He’s a work in progress, but there’s a lot to work with here for a master trainer. DRAIN THE CLOCK, who finished second, took the lead as expected from his inside draw, and was allowed to drift to the two to three path early on the first turn. He led narrowly from FIRE AT WILL early on the backstretch and increased his advantage when Fire At Will began to falter midway through the race, and then three furlongs out he quickly opened daylight on his nearest pursuer, TARANTINO. He maintained a daylight advantage into the lane, and for a moment it looked like he might go coast to coast, but he weakened late as Greatest Honour came on. He had his chance, just couldn’t quite stay the trip. He’ll be at his best when back around one turn. Papetu, who was third, has no speed and trailed early, but was smartly guided from his outside post to the rail into the first turn. Last into the far turn, he launched a strong rally from the four path that vaulted him right past Greatest Honour, and he had dead aim on Drain the Clock a quarter-mile out, but he couldn’t finish off the race, just going evenly through the final furlong while not able to close on Drain the Clock. A performance like that is indicative of a horse who doesn’t want any more distance. Tarantino, who was fourth, was hustled from the gate to press the pace, and was caught four paths wide early on the first turn while being bumped in his left hind end during a chain-reaction incident. He pressed the pace into the backstretch while just behind and outside of Fire At Will, advanced to second when Fire At Will began his retreat, was out-footed by Drain the Clock three furlongs out despite being asked aggressively to keep up, and went evenly the rest of the way. He probably needs to go back to the turf at this point. JIRAFALES, who was fifth, broke slowly and lacked early speed, and saved ground toward the rear of the pack around the first turn. He dropped back to last entering the far turn, saved ground most of the turn, was angled to the three path coming off the bend, and passed some tired foes while never getting involved. KING’S OVATION, who was sixth, was forwardly placed three paths wide into the first turn and was pinballed between rivals during a chain-reaction bumping incident, then was wrestled back to midpack. He was asked to advance early on the far turn after trapping PRIME FACTOR, and put in about a 50-yard spurt before steadily retreating. Prime Factor, who was seventh, saved ground midpack into the first turn, then settled into a spot where no one was around him. He advanced inside into the far turn, naively right into the trap set by Corey Lanerie on King’s Ovation, and had to check three furlongs out. He was angled to the three path, could not keep up with PAPETU midway on the turn, nor Greatest Honour moments later, and never got back in the race. Getting stopped at a critical point with an inattentive ride didn’t help, but he never really engaged afterward. The reset button needs to be hit with him. Fire At Will, who was eighth, was hustled aggressively leaving the gate and was bounced around between rivals early on the first turn, then continued to advance to get up to second behind Drain the Clock entering the backstretch. Midway through the race, though, he was done. He dropped back between rivals and had no response when sent along early on the far turn. He probably doesn’t need to be asked away from the gate like he was, but the more significant takeaway is that he’s a turf horse. He deserved a shot here. Back to the grass for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner. TIZ TACT TOE, who was ninth, was able to drop over from his outside draw and race in the two path while midpack around the first turn. He had to be put under an aggressive ride midway through the race to try and hold his position, but steadily weakened, understandable as this overmatched maiden – with a grass pedigree who had raced exclusively on grass – ran to his 133-1 odds. SOSOSUBTLE, who was last of 10, shifted to his right off the heels of Drain the Clock entering the first turn, initiating a chain-reaction of bumping that impacted three of his rivals – Fire At Will, King’s Ovation, and Tarantino. Still in tight quarters on that turn, he checked, looking as though he wanted to be anywhere but there. He then settled better and followed Drain the Clock to the far turn, moved past Tarantino into second midway on that turn, but started to weaken before reaching the quarter pole and then stopped badly.