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Coa presents trophy to Gulfstream's leading rider Lopez Eibar Coa returned to the Gulfstream Park winner's circle on closing day Sunday to present fellow jockey Paco Lopez with a trophy to commemorate his second straight riding title. It was an emotional and exciting return for Coa, who broke his C-4 vertebra in a racing spill on February 18. Diagnosed by doctors as a quadriplegic after being admitted to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Coa made a recovery that was deemed "miraculous" by neurosurgeon Dr. Scott Berta. The 40-year-old veteran rider, who was released from the hospital on April 14, was able to walk into the winner's circle Sunday for the trophy presentation as well as receive a check of $25,000 from a benefit golf tournament. "It feels great," Coa said, who is continuing out-patient rehabilitation. "I feel like I have a second opportunity to just be alive. I went down doing what I love to do, so just coming back to the track made my day. "I'm glad I had the opportunity to come back before Gulfstream ends, because it's one of the tracks I love the most. With all the support from my wife Rebeca, my family and friends, this is all I need."
In the $75,000 Island Whirl division of the Florida Thoroughbred Charities S., Santa Cruz Ranch's homebred STAY RED (Red Bullet) rallied furiously to nip 8-5 favorite Beckham Bend (Invisible Ink) by a head. Sent off at 18-1 in his stakes debut, the Juan Rizo pupil zipped 1 1/16 grassy miles in 1:41 4/5 and now sports an 11-2-3-1 mark with $90,796 in earnings. Todd Pletcher took down his eighth straight training title with 48 winners, 13 more than last winter when he saddled 35 winners. Highlights of Pletcher's 2011 season included a trio of outstanding distaffers. In the three-year-old filly division, Pletcher's R HEAT LIGHTNING (Trippi) established herself as the one to beat in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 6 with a smashing victory in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) on April 2. The 8 1/4-length triumph highlighted Ladies' Day, which benefited Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Pletcher's AWESOME MARIA (Maria's Mon) ruled as the clear leader in the older filly or mare division with victories in the Rampart (G3) on April 2 and the Sabin (G3) on February 19. Stablemate HILDA'S PASSION (Canadian Frontier) was the top female sprinter with victories in the Inside Information (G2) on March 19 and Hurricane Bertie (G3) on February 13. Pletcher finished 17 wins ahead of Canani, his nearest rival who was followed by David Fawkes with 19. Betting records tumbled over the 79-day stand. Total handle increased approximately $50 million and on-track handle increased 13.6 percent. Meanwhile, a new standard was set in Gulfstream's building as attendance went up 11.2 percent over last year. While the betting figures were fueled by large, competitive fields and innovative wagers, such as the 10-cent Rainbow 6 and 50-cent Pick 5, Gulfstream played host to the nation's brightest stars, most notably DIALED IN (Mineshaft), who will be the likely favorite for the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs on May 7. The Nick Zito-trained three-year-old colt stamped himself as a Derby prospect on January 30, when he closed from last to capture the Holy Bull S. (G3) in only his second lifetime race. Following an allowance tune-up against older horses, in which he narrowly lost to stablemate Equestrio (Elusive Quality), Dialed In rolled to victory in Gulfstream's signature race, the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) on April 3. With his victories in the Holy Bull and Florida Derby, Dialed In will be eligible for the Preakness 5.5, in which he can reward his connections with $5.5 million in bonuses with a victory in the Preakness S. (G1) at Pimlico on May 21. Dialed In was only one of several Kentucky Derby prospects that spent the winter at Palm Meadows. SOLDAT (War Front) and UNCLE MO (Indian Charlie), who are expected to join Dialed In in the Kentucky Derby field, made the trip from Gulfstream's satellite training facility in Boynton Beach, Florida, to score stakes victories. Soldat drew off to a powerful victory in the Fountain of Youth (G2) on February 26 and Uncle Mo, the 2010 juvenile champion, made a triumphant three-year-old debut in the Timely Writer S. on March 12. Although three-year-olds are in the spotlight at Gulfstream, brilliant performances certainly weren't limited to the sophomore class. The Chris Block-trained GIANT OAK (Giant's Causeway) captured the most prestigious race for older horses with a memorable stretch run in the Donn H. (G1) on February 5. TACKLEBERRY (Montbrook), though, showed the most versatility among older horses while winning three major stakes: the Sunshine Millions Classic on January 29, the Gulfstream Park Sprint (G2) on February 12 and the Gulfstream Park H. (G2) on March 12. On the sprint side, BIG DRAMA (Montbrook) followed up his 2010 Eclipse Award-winning season and victory in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) with a track record-breaking triumph in the Mr. Prospector (G3) on January 15.
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