To Honor And Serve Set For Gulfstream Debut

As a number of previously fancied contenders have gone on to either disappoint on track or pick up some type of injury moving them off the Kentucky Derby Trail, one of the most widely-anticipated colts is finally set to test the waters for his three year-old debut. 

Bill Mott's To Honor And Serve (Bernardini) has been laid off since a rousing set of victories in a pair of Grade 2 contests at Aqueduct. There is lots to like about his front running style and the $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream is setting up to be a stern seasonal bow. 

Unraced in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, where undefeated Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie) made the biggest statement yet about Derby intentions, To Honor And Serve proved his two-turn chops when he took the Remsen Stakes in New York over Mucho Macho Man (Macho Uno) who went on to win the Risen Star at Fair Grounds last weekend. 

Speaking to the Daily Racing Form, the 2010 Belmont Stakes-winning conditioner explained his two year-old campaign, "I wanted to get an extra race for him as a two year-old, which is why we skipped the Breeders' Cup, and I was very pleased with the outcome. 

To Honor And Serve scored a 102 Beyer speed figure in his Remsen victory and is currently floating as the 8/5 morning-line favourite for Saturday's showpiece at Gulfstream Park.