6 Ene. USA. Hal's Hope H. G3. Gulfstream Park. 8f. Dirt. 100.000 $
1.- CHATAIN (C.Velasquez)
2.- MINER'S LAMP (J.Alvarado)
3.- ACTIN GOOD (E.Coa)

Favored Chatain made it back-to-back wins in Gulfstream Park's $100,000 Hal's Hope Handicap (gr. III) (VIDEO) with a devastating kick for home Jan. 6.

Unhurried early in the one-turn mile for regular rider Cornelio Velasquez, Chatain circled most of his 10 rivals rounding the bend and never let up, getting the lead at the furlong pole and drawing off under urging by 2 1/2 lengths in spite of bumping with Actin Good in the stretch.

Trained by Angel Penna for owner Lazy F Ranch, the lightly raced Chatain, a 5-year-old Forest Wildcat horse, won for the sixth time in nine lifetime starts. The bay has a three-race winning streak that began in August and now boasts total earnings of $276,330.

Chatain won last year's Hal's Hope by a head over Sir Greeley in track record time, but that may not have been his best effort of 2007. He ran fourth, beaten just 2 1/2 lengths by 2006 Horse of the Year Invasor, in the Donn Handicap (gr. I) one month later.

“I think he's better than when he won this race last year," Velasquez said. "He runs nice all of the time.”

Stonerside Stable bred Chatain, who is out of the Red Ransom mare Roujoleur, in Kentucky.