SportsLine horse racing writer Gene Menez reveals his Fountain of Youth Stakes 2025 picks after evaluating the contenders
SportsLine horse racing writer Gene Menez reveals his Fountain of Youth Stakes 2025 picks after evaluating the contenders
Will Todd Pletcher add to his win total at the 2025 Fountain of Youth Stakes on Saturday? The renowned trainer has the most victories in the history of this Kentucky Derby prep race, as his Fountain of Youth Stakes horses won in 2007, 2010, 2015 and 2023. He has a chance to add to that total with two horses in the Fountain of Youth Stakes 2025: River Thames and Gate to Wire. River Thames is the 2-1 betting favorite in the 2025 Fountain of Youth Stakes odds. Post time is 5:44 p.m. ET at Gulfstream Park.
Gate to Wire is 6-1 in the latest Fountain of Youth Stakes odds 2025, while Burnham Square and Sovereignty are 5-2 and 3-1, respectively. With several talented three-year-olds set to enter the starting gate on Saturday, you’ll want to see what SportsLine writer Gene Menez has to say before making any 2025 Fountain of Youth Stakes picks or horse racing predictions.
A former reporter and editor at Sports Illustrated, Menez covered an array of sports, including horse racing, for the magazine and its website for almost 14 years. Between 2010 and 2012, he served as SI’s handicapper for the Triple Crown races and correctly predicted Super Saver to win the Kentucky Derby in 2010.
In 2015, while writing for Sports on Earth, Menez accurately gave out the Kentucky Derby superfecta (American Pharoah, Firing Line, Dortmund and Frosted), which paid $1,268.20 for $2. Then in 2017, he tweeted out his Kentucky Derby picks, including Always Dreaming to win, and hit the Pick 4, which paid almost $6,900 on a $1 bet.
In May of last year, Menez gave out 18-1 Mystik Dan as a live longshot in the Kentucky Derby. Last November, he crushed the late Pick 4 on Breeders’ Cup Saturday for a $5,303 score.
For Saturday, Menez has handicapped the 2025 Fountain of Youth Stakes field, made his picks and constructed his best bets. You can head to SportsLine now to see them.
Top 2025 Fountain of Youth Stakes predictions
One surprise: Menez is high on Gate to Wire, even though he is a longshot at 6-1. This three-year-old thoroughbred is in a small but stacked field and had hiccups after winning his debut race. However, he was the first across the finish line in his last start on Feb. 1 at the Swale Stakes.
In that race, Gate to Wire raced comfortably in the middle of the pack before turning on the jets with 1/16 of a mile left to race. He ended up winning by five lengths, and Menez thinks he can outrace his odds at the Fountain of Youth Stakes 2025 “if he doesn’t bounce off that last effort.” You can see all of Menez’s 2025 Fountain of Youth Stakes bets here.
How to make 2025 Fountain of Youth Stakes picks
Menez is also backing a favorite who isn’t known for distance racing but “checks all the boxes.” Menez is including this horse in his 2025 Fountain of Youth Stakes bets, and so should you. He’s sharing what horses to back at SportsLine.
So what horse wins the Fountain of Youth Stakes 2025? And how has Menez constructed his wagers? Visit SportsLine to see Menez’s picks for the Fountain of Youth Stakes, all from the expert who gave out 18-1 Mystik Dan as a live longshot in the Kentucky Derby and crushed the late Pick 4 on Breeders’ Cup Saturday for $5,303, and find out.
2025 Fountain of Youth Stakes odds, contenders, post positions
| Horse | Odds | Picks |
| Gate to Wire | 6-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Sovereignty | 3-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Burnham Square | 5-2 | SEE PICKS |
| McKellen | 30-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Solid Left | 20-1 | SEE PICKS |
| River Thames | 2-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Neoequos | 10-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Keep It Easy | 8-1 | SEE PICKS |