Gulfstream Park Races March 4-5, 2006

The Grade 2 $300,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap features some of the best older horses on the continent. 3-1 second choice Harlington rated off the pace of It's No Joke early, passed horses on the inside on the turn, then came out to rally and hold off the late charge of 25-1 outsider Contante to prevail by just a neck in 1:55.18 for the 1 3/16 miles. 5-2 favorite Suave was sixth, Funny Cide was seventh, and Sun King disappointed in eighth. Winning trainer Todd Pletcher said, "Johnny (Velazquez, jockey) said he locked onto him and he (Harlington) drug him up to the lead. With four horses across the track, you've got to take that chance when it comes (go inside), but I don't think he's ever been to the lead that soon, and he didn't know what to do when he got there. It's just a sign of how enormously talented he is that he's able to race like this without totally focusing. He's come a long way, but he's still not battle tested. That was my concern going against horses that had been in the Triple Crown, but a race like this should help."

Results chart