Ete Indien, who stamped himself a serious Triple Crown prospect in the Feb. 29 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park, emerged well from his dominant 8 1/2-length victory, trainer Patrick Biancone said Sunday.

“Very good,” Biancone said. “He ate all his dinner and he’s happy and sound this morning, which is what you want to see. We’re good.” The 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth marked the first graded stakes score for the 3-year-old son of four-time graded-winning millionaire Summer Front who is owned by Linda Shanahan, Sanford Bacon, Dream With Me Stable, Horse France America, D P Racing, and Biancone.

Under Florent Geroux, subbing for injured jockey Luca Panici, Ete Indien led all the way in the Fountain of Youth, where he broke from the far outside post 10 following the early scratch of Chance It, who drew post 12 (Makabim also scratched). The winning time was 1:43.02.

“I’m going to be honest with you. He’s impressing me every day when he trains since I’ve had him,” Biancone said. “Yesterday, he had a difficult task. We got a bad draw, but everything did go well.”

Ete Indien opened his sophomore campaign with a second to Tiz the Law in the Feb. 1 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream. The two horses are headed for a rematch in the March 28 Curlin Florida Derby (G1), where Tiz the Law figures to be a solid favorite.

“At this age, it’s just a question of improvement,” Biancone said. “Hopefully he keeps improving and developing the right way. That would be good.”

Biancone also trains Sole Volante, who captured the Feb. 8 Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) in his most recent start. Owned in part by Biancone’s daughter, Andie, Sole Volante is scheduled to run next in the March 7 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2).

Both of Biancone’s Triple Crown prospects are based at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County.

“Maybe it’s too much, I don’t know. We’ll see,” Biancone said. “We don’t want to get overexcited, you know?”

Ete Indien’s record at Gulfstream gives Biancone reason for optimism heading toward the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby. Last year’s edition was won by Maximum Security.

“I want to see how he comes back, how he works the next time. He’ll need to improve a little bit to be able to win the Florida Derby,” Biancone said. “We’re here in Florida, he’s training in Florida, and we love Florida. I think we’ll take a shot if he’s in good form.” – Article courtesy of the BloodHorse