Vekoma, the third-place finisher in the Fountain of Youth Stakes on Saturday at Gulfstream Park, has several options for his final prep for the May 4 Kentucky Derby, but the Florida Derby is the preferred choice at the moment, his trainer, George Weaver, said Sunday morning.

Weaver said he would evaluate how Vekoma does exiting the Fountain of Youth to see if he would benefit from more time until his next start. He also said the prospective fields for races like the Florida Derby, Wood Memorial, Blue Grass, and Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 13 at Oaklawn will be a factor.

"The next race is the most-important race -- a mile and an eighth, the most points," Weaver said from the Palm Beach Downs training center, where he is based during the winter. "The Florida Derby is here, but he's nominated everywhere -- the Wood, Blue Grass, Arkansas Derby. It will depend on whether he needs an extra week or two coming out of this until his next race, or if he can get an extra week out of his last prep until the Kentucky Derby.

"We'll evaluate the fields, too. We want to give him his best chance to get to the Derby."

Vekoma won both his starts at age 2, including the Nashua Stakes. The Fountain of Youth was his first start at 3, and first around two turns. He was beaten 2 3/4 lengths by Code of Honor.

"He came out of the race well. I'm happy with him," Weaver said. "I'm not disappointed. First race in four months, going two turns, finishing third, it's something we can build off of. I thought he earned the right to go on."