Phantom Currency Eyeing Comeback in Appleton Stakes

Susan and Jim Hill's Phantom Currency , more than a year since becoming a graded stakes at Gulfstream Park, is staging a comeback on the same course in the April 2 $100,000 Kitten's Joy Appleton Stakes (G3T).

The 6-year-old gelded son of Goldencents   last raced Feb. 27, 2021, when he won the Mac Diarmida Stakes (G2T) gate to wire by three-quarters of a length and captured his second straight victory on the Gulfstream turf. He got sidelined by a soft tissue injury following the Mac Diarmida and has been recuperating at Hills' Margaux Farm near Midway, Ky.

"We gave him plenty of time," said trainer Brian Lynch. "He went through the full rehabilitation program there. They've done a great job getting him ready for us, and we've been able to just train straight on with him. We haven't missed a beat."

Phantom Currency has been breezing regularly since mid-December on the grass at Palm Meadows Training Center, most recently he working a bullet five furlongs in :57.05 March 27.

"I think he'll run a big race fresh," Lynch said. "I think he's got a lovely work pattern coming into the race. We're just so happy to have him back in the barn and have him back to what we think might possibly be a very good year for him."

Each of Phantom Currency's five career wins have come in front-running fashion and Lynch expects that to be the case again, due both to the layoff and the shorter distance of a mile. The gelding's last five starts in 2020-21 ranged from 1 1/8 to 1 1/2 miles. Phantom Currency hasn't raced at a mile since running sixth in a September 2020 optional claiming allowance at Kentucky Downs.

"No doubt he's going to be fresh and I think he'll leave there running," Lynch said. "The mile is maybe an awkward distance for him because they can go quite quick and they may like to pressure him. If he was to be left alone I think we've got him fit enough to run a big one."

Irad Ortiz Jr. will be aboard Phantom Currency, who drew post 7 in a field of nine and is the slight morning-line favorite at 3-1.

A couple of challengers with a fondness for both the course and distance are Steve Goldfine, Kari Provost, and Jeff Zlonis' Gray's Fable  (5-1) and Calumet Farm's grade 3-winning homebred English Bee  (7-2).

Gray's Fable, a 7-year-old son of Gio Ponti  , is also coming off an extended break between starts, not having raced since finishing fifth in the King Edward Stakes (G2T) last August at Woodbine. Trained by Hall of Famer Roger Attfield, the gelding led all the way to spring a 7-1 upset of last year's Appleton by two lengths and remains his lone stakes victory. For his career he has a 2-1-1 record at Gulfstream from five starts and 3-1-2 record from seven starts at a mile.

Junior Alvarado, who was aboard for his 2021 Appleton victory, has the mount. They will be breaking from post 5.

English Bee will be making his third start at Gulfstream's Championship Meet for trainer Graham Motion, having run third by two lengths in the 1 1/8-mile Ft. Lauderdale Stakes (G2T) Dec. 18 and third by four lengths in the 1 1/16-mile Canadian Turf Stakes (G3T) March 5. In between those starts, the 6-year-old son of turf champion English Channel  was fourth by 3 1/2 lengths in the Tampa Bay Stakes (G3T), also at 1 1/16 miles.

Overall, English Bee has finished third or better in 12 of 25 starts with six wins, including the New Kent County Virginia Derby (G3T) and Parx Fall Derby in successive 2019 starts, and $504,740 in purse earnings. The gelding has a 1-2-2 record from seven starts at Gulfstream and a 4-1-0 record from nine starts at a mile.

Championship Meet-leading rider Luis Saez gets the call from outermost post 9.

"I think it makes sense to bring him back and take advantage of the course there," Motion said. "He's just a hard-knocking guy and I think he fits with these horses. I just think he really likes the firm turf. He's made over half a million dollars. He's such a cool horse."

Entries: Kitten's Joy Appleton S. (G3T)

Gulfstream Park, Saturday, April 02, 2022, Race 13

• Grade IIIT
• 1m
• Turf
• $100,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 5:55 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Noble Indy (KY)	Emisael Jaramillo	120	Gustavo Delgado	12/1
2	2Scarlett Sky (KY)	Joel Rosario	118	Claude R. McGaughey III	6/1
3	3Wolfie's Dynaghost (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	120	Thomas Albertrani	9/2
4	4Order and Law (KY)	Leonel Reyes	118	Daniel Pita	12/1
5	5Gray's Fable (KY)	Junior Alvarado	120	Roger L. Attfield	5/1
6	6Safe Conduct (ON)	Paco Lopez	118	Philip M. Serpe	15/1
7	7Phantom Currency (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	120	Brian A. Lynch	3/1
8	8Carpenters Call (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	118	Gerald S. Bennett	10/1
9	9English Bee (KY)	Luis Saez	120	H. Graham Motion	7/2