Fountain of Youth Stakes
| Grade II race | |
 | |
| Location | Gulfstream Park Hallandale Beach, Florida  |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1945 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | www.gulfstreampark.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1⅛ miles (9 furlongs) |
| Track | Dirt, left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds |
| Weight | Assigned |
| Purse | $350,000 |
The Fountain of Youth Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida at the beginning of March. A Grade II event open to three-year-olds willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the dirt, it offers a purse of $350,000. It is the final stakes prep to the Florida Derby and is an official prep race for the Kentucky Derby.
Tim Tam (1958), Kauai King (1966), Spectacular Bid (1979), and Thunder Gulch (1995) won this race then went on to win the Derby and 1987 winner, Bet Twice, won the Belmont Stakes. The 1985 winner, Proud Truth, won that year's Breeders' Cup Classic.
The Fountain of Youth Stakes was inaugurated in 1945 and run at various distances until 1953 when it was modified to 1 1/16 miles. In 2005, it was changed to its present distance of 1⅛ miles.
The race was run in two divisions in 1947, 1953, 1983, 1986 and 1993.
Records
Speed record:
- 1:49.00 - First Samurai (2006) at present distance of 1⅛ miles
- 1.41.00 - Sensitive Prince (1978) at previous distance of 1 1/16 miles
Winners of the Fountain of Youth Stakes since 1987
* In 2006, Corinthian won but was disqualified for interference and placed third.
Earlier winners
- 1986 - Ensign Rhythm
- 1986 - My Prince Charming
- 1985 - Proud Truth
- 1984 - Darn That Alarm
- 1983 - Highland Park
- 1983 - Copelan
- 1982 - Star Gallant
- 1981 - Akureyri
- 1980 - Naked Sky
- 1979 - Spectacular Bid
- 1978 - Sensitive Prince
- 1977 - Ruthies Native
- 1976 - Sonkisser
- 1975 - Greek Answer
- 1974 - Green Gambados
- 1973 - Shecky Greene
- 1972 - Gentle Smoke
- 1971 - Authorize
- 1970 - Corn Off The Cob
- 1969 - Al Hattab
- 1968 - Wise Exchange
- 1967 - In Reality
- 1966 - Kauai King
- 1965 - Maribeau
- 1964 - Dandy K
- 1963 - Cool Prince
- 1962 - Sharp Count
- 1961 - Beau Prince
- 1960 - Eagle Admiral
- 1959 - Easy Spur
- 1958 - Tim Tam
- 1957 - Gen Duke
- 1956 - Oh Johnny
- 1955 - Nance's Lad
- 1954 - Sea O Erin
- 1953 - Ram O War
- 1953 - Tribe
- 1952 - No race
- 1951 - Alerted
- 1950 - Black George
- 1949 - Count-A-Bit
- 1948 - No race
- 1947 - Atomic Power
- 1947 - Tight Squeeze
- 1946 - No race
- 1945 - Twenty Thirty