Orchard Park another turf star for Mott

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Bill Mott, whose arsenal of outstanding turf horses is seemingly endless, has another star on his hands in Orchard Park, who figures to extend his current win streak to four when he faces nine rivals in Friday's $75,000-added Gravelines Stakes. The 1 1/8-mile Gravelines is restricted to 3-year-olds who are registered Florida-breds.

Orchard Park has won his last three starts against open company, including the Grade 3 Palm Beach Stakes, where he overcome a difficult post en route to a come-from-behind 1 3/4-length victory over Lord Juban. A son of Hennessy out of the stakes placed mare Blue Begum, Orchard Park will again have the services of regular rider Jerry Bailey in the Gravelines. He will be the first mount Bailey has accepted since winning the Dubai World Cup Saturday night aboard Street Cry.

Lord Juban will be back for another try at Orchard Park. An improving son of Lord Avie trained by Tim Ritvo, Lord Juban ran back-to-back victories to conclude his 2-year-old campaign, then made a successful jump to stakes company, finishing third in the Dave Feldman Stakes and second in the Palm Beach. Cornelio Velasquez will be the rider.

Worldly Victor a late-running roan colt, seeks to rebound from a disappointing sixth-place finish in the Palm Beach, when he encountered trouble early and late. In his previous start, Worldly Victor rallied to a 1 1/2-length upset win in the Dave Feldman while equipped with blinkers for the first time by trainer Phil Gleaves. Leading rider Edgar Prado picks up the mount.

Emergency Status, who was steadied in traffic several times during the early stages of the Palm Beach, could wake up at a big price if he is able to control the pace from his inside post in a field lacking much in the way of early speed. Emergency Status seeks his first victory since capturing Meadowland's grassy World Appeal Stakes last fall. Jose Ferrer will be aboard.

The rest of the field for the Gravelines includes Charming Colony (Rene Douglas), Quick Talker (Manny Aguilar), Bernie B. (Aurelio Toribio Jr.), Nice Boy (Abel Castellano Jr.), Susie's Poker (Eibar Coa), and Kiss With Caution (Jose Santos).

Charming Colony finished second, beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Worldly Victory in the Feldman, but could not repeat the effort when he finished a tiring seventh in the Palm Beach.

Kiss With Caution comes off an easy entry-level allowance win on the main track, but showed promise in his only previous turf try last summer at Monmouth Park.

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