Orchard Park wins fourth in a row

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Orchard Park continued to stake his claim as one of the better 3-year-old turf horses in the country with his fourth straight victory, an easy 2 1/4-length win over Emergency Status, in Friday's $82,050 Gravelines Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The Gravelines was restricted to Florida-bred 3-year-olds.

Orchard Park, who won the Grade 3 Palm Beach Stakes in his previous start, rallied from just off the pace to readily catch and draw off from the pacesetting Emergency Status through the stretch. Emergency Status was a bit rank early before settling down to control modest fractions. While no match for the winner, he held off Bernie B and Quick Talker to finish second.

Charming Colony, Nice Boy, and Susie's Poker rounded out the order of finish in a field that scratched down from 10 to seven starters, in part because of the imposing presence of Orchard Park.

Orchard Park returned $2.40 after covering 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.16 over firm turf. Regular rider Jerry Bailey was aboard for trainer Bill Mott.