2014 Fountain of Youth Stakes winner
Wildcat Red was a flashy chestnut Florida bred who put on one of the most exciting Kentucky Derby prep performances of 2014. He was foaled in 2011, a son of the speedy stallion D'wildcat out of the Miner's Mark mare Racene. He was bred in Florida by Moreau Bloodstock International and Winter Racing Enterprise and raced for Honors Stable Corp. His trainer was Jose Garoffalo, the South Florida horseman whose patient handling brought out the best in the colt. Luis Saez rode him to his biggest win.
Wildcat Red lit up Gulfstream Park in February 2014 with a thrilling win in the Fountain of Youth Stakes. He went head and head with General a Rod down the entire stretch, neither colt giving an inch in one of the most photographed finishes of the prep season. Wildcat Red stuck his nose in front right at the wire to win by a head, sending Florida bred fans into a happy frenzy. The performance jumped him into the conversation for the Kentucky Derby and made him one of the more popular contenders in the Sunshine State.
He nearly added the Florida Derby to his record. With Hall of Famer John Velazquez picking up the mount in the next prep, Wildcat Red ran a brave race only to be edged out at the wire by Constitution, who would go on to a brilliant stallion career. The narrow loss did not dim the colt's Derby hopes too much, but the 2014 Kentucky Derby itself proved a tougher day. Wildcat Red finished seventh in the field won by California Chrome, his front running style getting caught up in a fast early pace.
After his three year old campaign, Wildcat Red retired to stud. He stood in Florida and Kentucky for various phases of his stallion career, passing along the D'wildcat speed to a number of useful runners. Wildcat Red is remembered as one of the most exciting Florida bred prep race winners of recent years, the colt who fought tooth and nail with General a Rod in that thrilling Fountain of Youth stretch run, and as a popular ambassador for Florida breeding during the 2014 Triple Crown trail.
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