Dance Floor Dominates Fountain of Youth

Making his first start as a 3-year-old, favored Dance Floor scored a 4 1/2-length victory Saturday in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Pistols And Roses was moved to second and Tiger Tiger to third after Careful Gesture was disqualified and placed fifth for slamming into Tiger Tiger approaching the eighth pole in the $200,000 race.

Ridden by Chris Antley, Dance Floor covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:45 1/5 and paid $5, $2.40 and $2.20. Pistols And Roses paid $2.80 and $2.40; Tiger Tiger returned $4.40.

The first two official finishers automatically become eligible for the $500,000 Florida Derby on March 14. Dance Floor figures to be the strong favorite for the 1 1/8-mile race.

Dance Floor is owned by rap star Hammer’s Oaktown Stables. As a 2-year-old, Dance Floor won three of eight races, with three seconds and earnings of $373,601. He added $120,000 Saturday.

Triple Crown nominee In The Zone took the lead turning into the stretch and won the $57,750 Mountain Valley Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

In The Zone, ridden by Robbie Davis, was timed in 1:09 4/5, the fastest six furlongs of the meeting, and two-fifths of a second off the stakes record. He paid $7.20.

Boom Towner held off fast-closing Club De Noche by a nose for his sixth consecutive victory in the $84,450 Sporting Plate Handicap at Aqueduct. The winner covered the six furlongs in 1:10 2/5 and returned $7.60.