Stryker Phd closed ground late but finished third Friday in a $33,000 allowance race at Golden Gate Fields.

Bronze Star led gate-to-wire and posted a half-length victory over G.G. Ryder in 1:38.51 on the synthetic Tapeta surface. Jerry Hollendorfer trains the top two finishers. A 5-year-old Kentucky-bred by Tapit, Bronze Star is 5-for-16 lifetime with $180,980 in earnings, but was winless in four previous starts on synthetic.

Stryker Phd lagged 14 lengths back in the five-horse field and was rolling late, but made no impact on the top two finishers and was beaten six lengths. The $3,960 earned for third place, however, vaulted Stryker Phd into third place all-time in Washington-bred earnings with $623,801.

Trained by Larry Ross and owned by Jim and Mona Hour, Stryker Phd is 11-5-7 in 28 lifetime starts. The 8-year-old Bertrando gelding was named Washington Horse of the Year in 2014 and 2015 and has a chance for a third successive title when 2016 awards are announced next month.

Ross is now trainer of two of the top three earners in Washington Thoroughbred history.

Top 10 Washington-breds by earnings:

1-Saratoga Passage, $800,212

2-Military Hawk, $686,128

3-Stryker Phd, $623,801

4-Peterhof’s Patea,$623,367

5-Rings a Chime, $606,315

6-Atta Boy Roy, $602,276

7-Wasserman, $599,901

8-Noosa Beach, $524,472

9-Captain Condo, $511,695

10-Fast Parade, $508,373