HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (AP) Lea swung five-wide for a sustained drive down the middle of the track to catch stubborn long-shot Confrontation and win the $150,000 Hal's Hope Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.
Lea was making his first start since being sidelined with an illness following a victory in the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream last February. He became just the second repeat winner of the Hal's Hope with the victory by a half-length.
Ridden by Joel Rosario, Lea ran a mile in 1:35.460 and paid $4, $2.80 and $2.10 in the Grade 3 race.
Parranda won the Grade 3, $150,000 Marshua's River Stakes by three lengths in a field of older female turf runners.
Mshawish rallied past tiring rivals and held off a strong late bid by Grand Tito to win by a neck in the Grade 2, $200,000 Fort Lauderdale Stakes.
