Horse Racing News by Mike Welsch

R Heat Lightning drew off to a decisive 7 1/2-length victory over even money favorite Dancinginherdreams in Saturday's Grade 2, $250,000 Davona Dale at Gulfstream Park.

Leading rider Paco Lopez will remain sidelined for at least another week due to injuries sustained in the spill here last Friday that also left Eibar Coa hospitalized with a broken neck.

To Honor and Serve drew post position 7 and tops a field of eight 3-year-olds and Kentucky Derby hopefuls who will contest Saturday's $400,000 Fountain of Youth.

Eibar Coa was scheduled to undergo surgery on Monday at Memorial Hospital in Hollywood, Fla., to repair a broken wrist suffered in a spill that occurred following Friday's sixth race at Gulfstream Park.

Trainer Todd Pletcher continued his domination of the older filly and mare handicap division at Gulfstream Park this winter after sending Awesome Maria out to a decisive 4 3/4-length victory in Saturday's $100,000 Sabin.

Jockey Eibar Coa underwent surgery to stabilize his fractured C-4 vertebra at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Fla., his agent Tito Fuentes reported shortly before 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Frank Stronach, chairman and CEO of MI Developments Inc., announced Thursday the formation of the Gulfstream Park Thoroughbred After-Care Program to help find suitable homes for retired Thoroughbreds.

Nominations are out for the four stakes races to be decided here on the weekend of Feb. 26, and the two most important names on those lists are not even in the most important race of that weekend, the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth.

Hilda's Passion used her inside post and high speed to dominate Sunday's $150,000 Hurricane Bertie at Gulfstream Park, leading throughout en route to a 2 1/2- length victory over Ms Vanenzza in the Grade 3 stakes for fillies and mares.

Tar Heel Mom and Hilda's Passion square off again, this time at 6 1/2 furlongs, in the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie.