HORSE RACING NEWS & RESULTS

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Pletcher Leads Gulfstream Standings by Two

Todd Pletcher has won the last four Gulfstream Park trainers' championships and the last four Eclipse Award titles, and with one victory on Sunday edged clear to lead the 2008 Gulfstream meet by two with five racing days to go before closing day on Sunday.

Pletcher's stock on the national scene also had a big boost over the weekend as he sent out Starlight Stable's Monba and Stonerside Stable's Cowboy Cal to finish one-two in Saturday's $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland, punching a ticket for both to run in the 134th Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs on Sat., May. 3.

Both Monba and Cowboy Cal made their previous starts at Gulfstream with Monba finishing last of 12 in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) on Feb. 24 after getting 'squeezed at the start.' Cowboy Cal finished second at 1-2 in the Hallandale Beach Stakes on turf on Feb. 16.

Peachtree Stable's 3-year-old Distant Point had to come again in the stretch of Sunday's third race at Gulfstream to break his maiden by a nose under jockey Eddie Castro to give Pletcher his 26th winner of the session, two more than Wayne Catalano in second, followed by Nick Zito third at 22 tallies.

None of the top three trainers have runners entered today or Thursday, leaving the meet title to be determined during the final weekend.

While the Gulfstream trainers' title chase is not yet final, Eibar Coa appears to have sealed his second jockeys' meet championship here with 75 winners, three more than John Velazquez second with 72 and Jose Lezcano a distant third with 55.

Coa, who won the Gulfstream title in 2003, left to ride in Kentucky and New York after the Mar. 29 Florida Derby (G1), but is back for one final South Florida winter-campaign appearance today and could add to his lead. Velazquez and Lezcano are finished here for the season.

Famous Patriot Feeling Good After Holy Bull Effort

Trainer Tim Hills reported Patriot Stable's 3-year-old Famous Patriot returned from Saturday's $150,000 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) well after setting the pace and finishing third.

"We needed a crowbar to get the bit out of his mouth," said Hills Monday morning at Gulfstream Park. "We now know he needs to just run his race. Don't try to rate him too much because he's a one-paced horse."

Famous Patriot was the second-choice in the 1 3/16 miles contest behind even-money favorite Hey Byrn. The son of Repent set a slow pace under jockey Eddie Castro but couldn't quicken when asked at the top of stretch. Hey Byrn and Dream Maestro passed him to take the top two spots.

Hills said he will take Famous Patriot back to his summer base in New Jersey at Monmouth Park.

"We still hope we can get to the Haskell with him," said Hills, referring to $1 million Haskell Invitational (G1), the 3-year-old highlight of the Jersey Shore meet Aug. 3.

Phantom Income Bids to Get Back on Track in Thursday Feature

Klaravich Stables's 3-year-old filly Phantom Income has been alternately very, very good or very, very bad in six career starts for trainer Rick Violette Jr., and the roan/gray daughter of Montbrook will get an opportunity to get her career going in the right direction in Thursday's eighth race allowance feature at Gulfstream Park.

Leading Gulfstream jockey Eibar Coa has ridden Phantom Income in her previous career starts but won't be in town Thursday, leaving Jeffrey Sanchez to have the mount in the six-furlong test against seven rival 3- and 4-year-old fillies.

A $200,000 purchase at the OBS March sale of 2-year-olds last year, Phantom Income was brilliant winning her debut at Belmont Park in early July by 10 lengths, but finished last of nine in the Adirondack Stakes (G2) at Saratoga in her second start, although declared a 'non-starter' after an incident in the gate.

She came back in the Spinaway Stakes (G1) at the Spa in early September and stopped badly to finish seventh of nine after showing brief speed. Phantom Income was dismissed at 8-1 in the $200,000 NATC Futurity for fillies later that month at Meadowlands but then drew clear to win by 4 lengths.

In two starts since, Phantom Income finished last of 13 over the 'sloppy' track at Monmouth Park in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) on Oct. 26 and last of 10 in the Sunshine Millions Oaks most recently here on Jan. 26 in another disappointing performance.

Certain to attract plenty of support in Thursday's race is Caroni Stable's Orinoquia with Eduardo Nunez in the saddle for trainer Rodolfo Garcia. In two starts this year, the chestnut daughter of Whywhywhy finished third in the Old Hat Stakes (G2) here on Jan. 12 and second by a nose in the OBS Sprint for fillies in Ocala on Feb. 11.

Completing the field are Lee Lewis' Drama Lady, Junior Alvarado, Vegso Racing Stable's Sacred Realm, Manoel Cruz; Blue Devil Racing Stable's Honest to Betsy, E.T. Baird; Ralph Nabavi's Bianco, Eddie Castro; Sal Russomano's Lia's Luck, Joe Bravo; and Gary Aiken's Ben's Tune, Daniel Coa.

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