Storm Tower Wins a Division of Fountain

HALLANDALE, Fla. —  Storm Tower, ridden by Rick Wilson, took the lead from Great Navigator nearing the eighth pole and scored a three-length victory in the second division of the Grade II Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream on Saturday.

The 2-1 favorite, unbeaten in three starts, was timed in 1:44 4/5 and paid $6.60, $4.20 and $3.20. Great Navigator paid $7.60 and $5.20. Kissin Kris returned $6.

Duc d’Sligovil, ridden by Julie Krone, won the first division of the Fountain of Youth by 2 1/4 lengths over Bull Inthe Heather. Duc d’Sligovil was timed in 1:45 and paid $10.20, $6.20 and $3.40. Bull Inthe Heather paid $20 and $7.20 and Silver Of Silver returned $3.

The Fountain of Youth was the final prep for the 1 1/8-mile, $500,000 Florida Derby on March 20. Both Storm Tower and Duc d’Sligovil carried 112 pounds Saturday, but would have to carry 122 in the Florida Derby.

New Jersey’s Garden State Park, the premier thoroughbred race track in the Philadelphia area, might close later this year because of financial problems, its controlling shareholder said.

“It’s an ominous decision, whether or not we can continue to race at Garden State or whether it’s in the interest of the shareholders to just sell the facility and move on,” said Robert E. Brennan, founder and chairman of International Thoroughbred Breeders Inc.

“While the final and absolute decision has not been made, and that will have to be made by the full board, the decision that we have to make to pull the trigger and close is very close.”

The park might close after the end of the thoroughbred racing season in May, he said.

Brennan’s company bought the park, which had been closed for six years after a 1977 fire, in 1983.