The Florida Horse April 2009

AD bleed check.qx:Layout 1

3/30/09

3:03 PM

Page 1

AD bleed check.qx:Layout 1

3/25/09

1:02 PM

Page 1

D’WILDCAT

FORE S T WILDCA T – D’ E NOUGH, b y D ’ A C C OR D

2007 Florida Leading Freshman Sire

Big Results at Florida Select Sales Results from Fasig-Tipton Calder and OBS March select sales include $200,000 colt, $130,000 colt and $100,000 filly Leading Florida sire by average at Fasig-Tipton Calder and OBS March with 2 or more sold 18% stakes horses/starters, $52,418 avg. earnings/starter

D’WILDCAT

G1 SW by a son of STORM CAT

SUMMERFIELD, FLORIDA

Farm Manager: David McClure 2121 SE 145th St., Summerfield, FL 34491 352.307.8485 www.vinery.com

Tom Ludt, General Manager Inquiries: Declan Doyle (352.362.6624)

PEACE RULES VINERY

JULES – HOLD TO FASHION, by HOLD YOUR PEACE

PEACE RULES

LTD

2008 Florida Leading Freshman Sire

Percentage of Winners Ranks Above Leaders Has higher percentage of winners than crop leaders MEDAGLIA D’ORO, TAPIT, LION HEART, and SPEIGHTSTOWN Ranks 4th by number of winners (32) and repeat winners in his crop First crop 2YO stakes winners on both coasts

3-Time G1 SW of $3,084,278 ALKE

■

CONGRATS

90341.VIN.PceRls&Dwilds.FlHrse.April.indd copy.indd 1

■

D’WILDCAT

■

PEACE RULES

■

POMEROY

3/25/09 4:06:50 PM

Contents.qx:Layout 1

4/1/09

10:14 AM

Page 1

contents CONTENTS

FLORIDA FOCUS 8 DOWN MEMORY LANE 16

By Jo Ann Guidry

FTBOA NEWS DIGEST 19

By Carlos E. Medina

STATE OF THE EQUINE 26 Ocala-based The Sanctuary offers advanced technologies and treatments for the equine athlete

By Jo Ann Guidry

APRIL 2009 • VOL 52/ISSUE 4

46 EQUINE CARE: DRUG STUDY IS ABOUT FAIRNESS University of Florida study of therapeutic drugs may do away with some race-day test violations

By Denise Steffanus

49 HOBEAU FARM’S JACK DREYFUS PASSES AWAY

By Carlos E. Medina

50 OBS MARCH SALE RECAP

By Carlos E. Medina

NEW FACES 34 A fresh look at some of the new babies on the ground

by Florida’s youngest stallions Photos by Louise Reinagel & Serita Hult

COVER STORY: FREQUENT FLYER 38 Big City Man wins in Dubai. By Carlos E. Medina

A THRILLER AT TAMPA BAY DOWNS 40 Musket Man shows maturity in Tampa Bay Derby victory By Doug McCoy

54 FLORIDA-BRED TOPS FASIG-TIPTON CALDER

By Carlos E. Medina

60 THE BLACK STALLION LITERACY PROJECT Marion County’s first-grade students experience the joys of reading, thanks to horses

By Shanna Bellingham & Summer Best

62 FLORIDA NEWS: THIS ONES FOR PHIL AND QUALITY ROAD SHINE AT GULFSTREAM PARK

By Nick Fortuna

Cover photo: DUBAI RACING CLUB/WATKINS Contents photo: JOE DIORIO

4 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009

66 PLAYER’S PAGE Not much has changed By Paul Moran

Masthead.qx:Layout 1

4/1/09

11:17 AM

Page 1

Pedigree oPerformance o Conformation 801 SW 60th Avenue • Ocala, Florida 34474 (352) 732-8858 • Fax: (352) 867-1979 • www.thefloridahorse.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Michael Compton BUSINESS MANAGER

Patrick Vinzant ADVERTISING MANAGER

Summer Best ART DIRECTOR

John Filer CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

JoAnn Guidry WRITERS

Carlos Medina • Nick Fortuna ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Beverly Kalberkamp CORRESPONDENTS

Ben Baugh, Jay Friedman, Doug McCoy, Cynthia McFarland, Mark Shuffitt PUBLISHER Florida Equine Publications, Inc. (A corporation owned by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association)

Executive Office - 801 SW 60th Avenue • Ocala, Florida 34474 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Gilbert Campbell, President/Board Chairman Eddie Martin, 1st Vice President J. Michael O’Farrell, Jr., 2nd Vice President Mark Roberts, Secretary Diane Parks, Treasurer EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Richard E. Hancock CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Michael Gilliam

© THE FLORIDA HORSE (ISSN 0090-967X) is published monthly except July by THE FLORIDA HORSE, INC., 801 SW 60th Ave., Ocala, Florida 34474, including the annual Statistical Review in February.

Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Florida Equine Publications or the Florida Thoroughbred Breedersʼ and Ownersʼ Association. Publication of any material originating herein is expressly forbidden without first obtaining written permission from THE FLORIDA HORSE©.

Statistics in the publication relating to results of racing in North America are compiled from data generated by Daily Racing Form, Equibase, Bloodstock Research Information Services, and The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc., the copyright owners of said data. Reproduction is prohibited.

A dvertisin g co py d ead lin e 5th o f mo n th p recedin g p ub licatio n. Su bscrip tio ns and ch ang e of add ress: Please m ail to – Circulation s D ep artment. T HE FL ORIDA H ORS E, 801 SW 60th Ave., O cala, Florida 34474.

Printed by Boyd Brothers, Inc.

Kingmambo—Commodities, by Private Account • $5,000 live foal

The only graded stakeswinning son of Kingmambo ($250,000 stud fee) in Florida!

Kingmambo is the sire of 73 stakes winners and 8 champions.

Rey de Café was a winner sprinting and routing on dirt and turf.

His offspring should also excel on synthetic surfaces.

El Crespo, Rey de Cafe's half-brother, won the recent Palm Beach Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park!

BOYD

American Horse Publications • FLORIDA MAGAZINE ASSOCIATION • MEMBER BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU

COGLIANESE PHOTO

FTBOA OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS Gilbert G. Campbell, President J. Michael O’Farrell, Jr., Second Vice President Eddie Martin, First Vice President Mark Roberts, Secretary Diane Parks, Treasurer

DIRECTORS Fred Brei Donald Dizney Barry W. Eisaman Michael Mulligan Peter Vegso

Sheila DiMare Bonnie M. Heath III George G. Isaacs Jessica Steinbrenner Charlotte C. Weber

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

Richard E. Hancock

Book Now!

Multiple Mare Discounts

NOMINATED TO Florida Stallion Stakes

www.doublediamondfarm.com

899 S.W. 85th Ave., Ocala, FL 34481 o (352) 237-3834 o Fax: (352)237-6069

Also standing: AMERICAN SPIRIT oo PROUD AND TRUE oo WEKIVA SPRINGS THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009 5

EditorsWelcome.qx:EditorWelcome

editor’s

3/31/09

welcome

Michael Compton

4:55 PM

Page 6

Strengthening The Industry

he Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association rolled out an Economic Stimulus plan for the state’s Thoroughbred industry prior to the current legislative session in Tallahassee.

The industry can already check off one of the objectives outlined in the program as the FTBOA, FHBPA and Churchill Downs have agreed to make this year’s running of the Florida Stallion Stakes series the most lucrative ever.

The entities have also increased the money available in Calder’s juvenile racing program this year. Straight maiden purses have been hiked to $35,000, which includes $5,000 in FSS supplements and $5,000 in Florida Owners’Awards.

Clearly, there is no better time than the present to add a young Florida-bred to the stable.

“The 2-year-old racing program at Calder is important to Florida’s breeders and owners,” said Richard Hancock.

“We have to make our purses in this state more competitive in order to retain racing stables in South Florida. We look forward to continue working closely with the FHBPA and Churchill Downs to strengthen Florida’s Thoroughbred industry.”

Legislative goals of the Economic Stimulus package include to have the freedom to grow and expand the state’s lucrative Breeders’ Awards program through a Breeders’ Flexibility Bill (read more on the Breeders’ Flex Bill on page 19), and to seek additional revenues for racetracks, Breeders’ Awards and purses by increasing

Florida-bred, OBS graduate Big City Man is among the Calder-based juveniles in recent years to parlay his early Sunshine State foundation to Grade 1 success.

6 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009

JIM LISA PHOTO

T

revenue from casino operations at south Florida parimutuels by lowering the tax rate from 50 percent to 35 percent (read further details on page 20).

The Florida Horse will provide a detailed summary of the current legislative session in the May issue, as the session is scheduled to end April 30th.

•The best advertisement for breeding and racing in the Sunshine State is success on the racetrack. Florida-breds have that covered, as they continue to win the world over.

Featured on the cover this month is Florida-bred Big City Man, winner of the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) on the Dubai World Cup program March 28.

The Golden Shaheen was won last year by Florida-bred Benny the Bull, who parlayed his Dubai score to an Eclipse Award at season’s end. With any luck, Big City Man will star in some future races on U.S. soil and follow Benny the Bull’s path to championship status.

A son of former Florida stallion Northern Afleet, Big City Man made four starts at Calder in 2007. The $45,000 OBS August graduate broke his maiden as a juvenile by 10 lengths before capturing the Criterium Stakes and the Dr. Fager division of the Florida Stallion Stakes while in the care of trainer Jose Pinchin.

He was sold privately to Prince Sultan Mohammed Saud Al Kabeer following the Dr. Fager and shipped to the Middle East. The chestnut colt did not race in 2008, but has returned in the Saudi Arabia barn of trainer Jerry Barton this year stronger than ever. He has rattled off three wins in four starts over the Nad Al Sheba strip and is Florida’s newest millionaire. The $1.2 million winner’s share of the Golden Shaheen purse boosted his career bankroll to $1,521,505.

Big City Man’s impressive victory over Eclipse champion Indian Blessing in the six-furlong Golden Shaheen, accomplished in 1:08 4/5, also vaulted Jeff Schwietert’s Four Horsemen’s Ranch to the top of the Florida breeder list with earnings of $2,685,497 from only 14 starters through March 29. Schwietert is currently the stallion manager at Bridlewood Farm.

The late Arthur Appleton, incidentally, ranks second on the leading breeder list behind Four Horsemen’s Ranch.

Bridlewood runners have banked $854,689 on the year from 199 starters. ■

New Multiple

Mare Incentives

Best of the Rest

Skip Trial - Obstinacy, by Valid Appeal Fee: $1,500 LF

Concerto

Chief’s Crown - Undeniably, by In Reality Fee: $5,000 LF

Concorde’s Tune

Concorde Bound - Parisian Tune, by Tunerup Fee: $2,500 LF

Drewman

Unbridled - Lucky Soph, by Cozzene Fee: $1,500 LF

New for 2009

Gottcha Gold

Coronado’s Quest - Gottcha Last, by Pleasant Tap Fee: $2,500 LF

High Cotton Dixie Union - Happy Tune, by A.P. Indy Fee: $2,500 LF

Montbrook

Buckaroo - Secret Papers, by Jet Diplomacy Fee: $10,000 LF

Sweetsouthernsaint

if you want a runner,

look to Ocala Stud

Saint Ballado - Sweetsoutherncross, by Tri Jet Fee: $2,500 LF

Stallions Available Daily For Inspection.

J. Michael O’Farrell, Jr. • P.O. Box 818, Ocala, FL 34478 352/237-2171 • FAX 352/873-3223 • www.ocalastud.com All stallions nominated to Breeders’ Cup, FSS & FTCS Mark J. Barrett photo

104605-OcalaStud-Roster-FH.indd 1

2/26/09 2:19:49 PM

Focus.April.09.qx:Layout 1

3/31/09

3:59 PM

Page 8

FLORIDAFOCUS

She’s Our Annie Gets First Stakes Win in Prima Donna Florida-bred filly earns third straight victory at Oaklawn Park

COADY PHOTO

8 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009

Sheʼs Our Annie

She’s Our Annie shares a lot of genes with one of the most promising 3-year-olds in the country, Rachel Alexandra, who won the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) on March 14 and is a prospect for either the Kentucky Derby (G1) or the Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs in May. Both fillies were sired by Medaglia d’Oro and are out of Roar mares.

training session at Stephens Thoroughbreds in Morriston. Those injuries kept her out of serious training for about six months and wiped out her juvenile campaign.

“She’s so powerful,” Helmbrecht said.

“She’s the kind of filly that can tear herself apart. The time off let her mature a little bit more and get herself together.”

Brei Enjoys His Own March

By CARLOS E. MEDINA For Fred Brei, March came in like a lion when he sold a Florida-bred Medaglia d’Oro colt for $1.6 million to top the FasigTipton Calder juvenile sale, and it’s going out like a lion as well, thanks to last month’s long-shot victory by his filly Garter Belt in the Green Oaks Stakes at Delta Downs.

“After I came home from South Florida, I said to my wife, ‘We’re on a roll. Let’s play the lottery.’ We haven’t won. I got the Power Ball three times though.”

Garter Belt, a Florida-bred daughter of Anasheed out of the Tabasco Cat mare Sexy Stockings, earned $45,000 to nearly double her career earnings to $104,000.

The 3-year-old was bred and is owned

by Brei’s Jacks or Better Farm and nipped fellow Sunshine State product Southern Yankee for the win.

“You always like to win. We ran her a

COADY PHOTO

By NICK FORTUNA Michael Helmbrecht remembers watching She’s Our Annie sprint across the paddock as a yearling at Destiny Oaks of Ocala and leave every other young horse on the farm in her dust.

That kind of speed and precociousness led him to enter her into the 2007 Keeneland September sale of yearlings with a $90,000 reserve, twice as much as the final bid she brought.

Though the buyers at the sale clearly didn’t think all that much of She’s Our Annie, Helmbrecht felt confident that he had a runner on his hands, so he wasn’t sad to see her return to the 55-acre Ocala farm.

“She didn’t bring a lot of money because she was a little bit flat in the knee, or she was this or that, but I had so much confidence in her, and that’s why I set the reserve so high,” Helmbrecht said. “She just did everything so easily. When she’d run across the paddock, she’d be 10 lengths in front of the other horses. She was one of those babies that let you know she could outrun anything, so she ended up being a good one to keep.”

On March 22, She’s Our Annie rewarded Helmbrecht for his confidence by winning her stakes debut, capturing the $50,000 Prima Donna Stakes by 2½ lengths. She beat three other 3-year-old fillies by finishing the six-furlong race in a time of 1:09.03, tying the record for the race set by Only a Glance in 1987.

She’s Our Annie led from start to finish under jockey Jon Court. The filly, trained by Jinks Fires, has won three consecutive races and earned $75,300 from four starts, all sixfurlong events this year at Oaklawn. She ran third in her career debut in January, then broke her maiden by three lengths and won a firstlevel allowance by six lengths in February.

The filly was going to race as a juvenile last year at Keeneland, but she sustained hairline fractures in both of her front tibias when she broke from the starting gate during a

Garter Belt

Focus.April.09.qx:Layout 1

3/31/09

3:59 PM

She’s Our Annie is the first foal out of Girl Gone Crazy, while Rachel Alexandra is out of Lotta Kim. Helmbrecht, who manages Destiny Oaks for the farm’s owners, Indiana residents Bill and Janet Grube, bought Girl Gone Crazy when she was pregnant with She’s Our Annie. The mare has since produced a 2-year-old filly by Southern Image who’s being trained at Stephens Thoroughbreds, a yearling colt by A. P. Warrior and a sucking colt by Songandaprayer. She’s in foal to Corinthian.

Destiny Oaks, which has been in operation

Page 9

for four years, has 13 mares on its farm, and Helmbrecht said he’d love for them to keep producing horses like She’s Our Annie. The filly probably will run in the $75,000 Instant Racing Stakes, a one-mile test for 3-year-old fillies on the undercard for Oaklawn’s Arkansas Derby (G2) on April 11.

“We’re just tickled to death with her,” Helmbrecht said. “I think she’ll be able to get the mile, but once I know she can run the route, then we might look at some bigger game. Everyone thinks that they have a runner, but every once in a while, you’re right.”

Hialeah Park Gets Permit to Race Quarter Horses Owner seeks to regain Thoroughbred permit, renovate track

By NICK FORTUNA State gaming regulators granted Hialeah Park a permit for quarter horse racing March 16, a move that track owner John Brunetti said he hopes is a first step toward the racetrack regaining its permit to race Thoroughbreds.

Brunetti said the park won’t race quarter horses unless it also can secure a Thoroughbred racing permit. The park has been damaged by hurricanes in recent years and would require renovation projects at a cost of $50

Madness little differently. We found out that she likes to come off the pace. We also put blinkers back on her and made some other changes. They worked,” Brei said.

The filly’s previous two races were both graded stakes. She finished well back both times. The Green Oaks win shows her talent, but Brei isn’t sure the filly is ready to try graded races again just yet.

“She’s not there right now,” he said, “maybe when she gets older. This is a filly that has always been thin. She has not blossomed yet, but she’s finally starting to get enough body to fill her out and to go with her ability.”

million to $60 million before it can open.

Brunetti said an investment that large would only be worth it if the track can secure a thoroughbred racing permit, which he said was the “centerpiece of the whole economic engine.”

“We’re very pleased, and we want to thank the city the Hialeah and our representatives for helping us obtain the permit, but we want everyone to know that this was just a first step toward our ultimate hope and expectation of returning thoroughbred racing to Hialeah,” Brunetti said.

“What we’re planning is a year-round destination of entertainment at Hialeah Park, and quarter horse racing would complement and supplement Hialeah’s Thoroughbred racing.”

Florida doesn’t have any quarter horse tracks up and running, but the state’s pari-mutuel division has received several requests for permits in recent years, largely because under state law, poker rooms can be run at quarter horse tracks.

Brunetti said that in addition to a poker room, retail development near the track, including movie theaters and restaurants, would make Hialeah Park a year-round attraction.

Brunetti said he hopes to hear from state regulators about the track’s Thoroughbred racing permit soon.

“The matter is under discussion right now,” said Brunetti. “If we got everything approved in the next three weeks, we could probably have quarter horse racing in 2011 and ThoroughSee Hialeah continued on page 10

George G. Isaacs, General Manager bridlewoodfarm.com 352 622-5319 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009 9

3/31/09

3:59 PM

Page 10

FLORIDAFOCUS Hialeah continued from page 9

$90,000 colt at OBS February Select $140,000 colt at OBS March Select

PROUD ACCOLADE Yes It’s True - Proud Ciel, by Septieme Ciel - Fee: $4,000

Mo r e fi r s t 2y o s by t hi s G1- WINNING JUVENILE a t OBS Ap r i l:

309, 387, 458, 543, 621, 709, 796, 846, 864, 888, 925, 1254, 1260, 1332

George G. Isaacs, General Manager www.bridlewoodfarm.com

352.622.5319 NYRA photo

10 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009

breds in 2012. That’s a conservative estimate.

We’ve had tremendous losses from the hurricanes, and we’d have to replace our demolished stable area since we have none at the moment.

To bring Hialeah Park back to its magnificence would take a lot of time and money.”

Brunetti said a Thoroughbred racing permit and the resulting commercial development in the South Florida city of Hialeah would give a boost to an area that, like most of the United States, has been hit hard by the ongoing economic recession.

“This is a great economic engine when you think about the number of employees, the amount of construction work and the permanent jobs,” said Brunetti, who owns Red Oak Farm in Ocala.

“I think it’s very vital to South Florida and should get very serious consideration.The quarter horse permit is just a first step in a long march.”

In 1979, Hialeah Park was added to the U.S. National Register of Historical Places.

The Miami Jockey Club began racing there in 1925, only to see the facility devastated by a hurricane in 1926. The park was rebuilt and reopened in January 1932 and quickly became a major racing venue. The track was known for its infield lake that was home to flocks of pink flamingos and native flora and fauna, and it was designated as a sanctuary for the American Flamingo by the Audubon Society.

Journeyman Announces Stud Fee Revisions Journeyman Stud has revised the stud fees on a number of its stallions for the remainder of the 2009 breeding season, it was announced last month. The stallions affected by fee reductions are Circular Quay ($7,500), Cowtown Cat ($5,000), Gaff ($2,500), Mass Media ($3,000) and Saint Anddan ($4,500).

Brent Fernung, owner of Journeyman Stud, said: “We have always based our success on standing topquality Florida stallions at below-market prices. With the upheaval in the economy this year, it has become apparent to me that we need to adjust our fees further in order to maintain that balance. Although some of our stallions like Circular Quay and Cowtown Cat have significant-sized books right now, we feel we need to be aggressive in order to ensure they get every chance to be successful. The contracts that were signed to these stallions earlier this season at the higher prices will be adjusted to reflect the new fees.

“The rest of the stallions—Bwana Charlie, Deputy Glitters, Exclusive Quality, Indy Wind, Sweet Return (IRE) and Wildcat Heir, while not having their individual fees reduced, will be available for multiple-mare discounts and other special considerations.”

The filly Cheeky Miss won the last race run at Hialeah on May 22, 2001. The track was home to the Flamingo Stakes, which served as a prep race for 3-year-old Kentucky Derby hopefuls, and the Widener Handicap for 4-year-olds and up.

Many scenes from the 1989 movie “Let It Ride,” starring Academy Award-winning actor Richard Dreyfuss, were filmed at Hialeah Park.

Smooth Air Closes Strong at Gulfstream

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

ble drew even on the inside nearing the far Florida-bred champion Smooth Air turn. Smooth Air was third on the inside, just closed with a rush to win the $300,000 Gulf- two lengths off the lead. stream Park Handicap March 14.

Formidable opened a 1½-length lead in Smooth Air, ridden by Paco midstretch but could not hold it.

Smooth Air Lopez, finished 1¼ lengths in Finallymadeit caught him nearing the sixteenth pole and then front of fellow Florida-bred FiSmooth Air, despite a wide trip, nallymadeit with Formidable drove by both of them to win third in the field of six. The going away. winning time was 1:35.49 for SmoothAir is a homebred son the mile. of Smooth Jazz owned by Mount Finallymadeit took the early Joy Stables. The 4-year-old colt lead from Formidable and was half a length in front turning has won six of 14 starts with cadown the backstretch. Formidareer earnings of $932,200.

COGLIANESE PHOTO

Focus.April.09.qx:Layout 1

Here is what we’re offering you:

1) Multiple Mare Discounts: 10% discount for 2 mares 25% discount for 3 mares 50% discount for 4 or more mares

2) 60% / 40% Foal Share with a Stud Fee Cap: Regardless of what that foal sells for; you will never pay more than 40% of net proceeds or more than the stud fee.

3) Signature Sales: We will sell approved progeny of our stallions, or mares in foal

to our stallions, in our consignments at OBS August or OBS October for expenses only. NO consignor commissions.

Give us a call!

Bill Bazzell 352-369-1900

William C. Schettine 7100 NW 110th St., Reddick, FL 32686 FAX 352-369-4368 u e-mail: Bill@signaturestallions.com www.signaturestallions.com Cindy Mikell photos

BACHELOR BLUES STRAIGHT MAN

104632-Signature_incentives-FH.indd 1

u

CHAPEL ROYAL

u

IRISH ROAD

UNBRIDLED TIME

u

WESTERN PRIDE

u

2/26/09 10:07:07 AM

Focus.April.09.qx:Layout 1

3/31/09

12:40 PM

Page 12

FLORIDAFOCUS

Calder to Present 28 Stakes Races Worth $4,125,000

12 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009

By CALDER PUBLICITY MIAMI GARDENS – Calder Race Course announced last month its stakes schedule for the 2009 Calder Meet, a program that includes renewals of the Summit of Speed and Festival of the Sun and the 28th runnings of the Florida Stallion Stakes series.

The 2009 Calder Meet stakes schedule features 28 stakes races worth a total of $4,125,000. Nine of the stakes carry graded status by the American Graded Stakes Committee, including the $350,000 Princess Rooney Handicap (G1), to be run on the Summit of Speed program on July 11.

Calder’s longtime cornerstone event, the Festival of the Sun, is scheduled for Oct. 17.

John Marshall, vice president and general manager of racing, said, “In light of recent cuts in stakes purses and race days across the country, Calder is proud to offer a stakes program of this caliber for horsemen to compete and fans to enjoy. We restructured this year’s stakes program to strengthen our overnight racing in order to provide consistent quality opportunities for horsemen and fans during these uneasy times.”

While some stakes purses are slightly reduced from 2008 levels in order to fortify the overnight program, the prize money remains strong.

The schedule has also been endorsed by the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (FHBPA) and the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’Association (FTBOA), the latter of which contributes funding to seven of the Calder meet’s stakes races.

“This stakes schedule is attractive to both local horsemen who compete here day in and day out, as well as those shipping in from racing centers around the country,” said FHBPA President Sam Gordon. “Calder did a good job adjusting the racing program to

withstand today’s economic conditions.”

The Princess Rooney and the $350,000 Smile Sprint Handicap (G2), both run on the Summit of Speed card, continue to be a part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” program, with the winner of each race automatically qualifying for a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint and Breeders’ Cup Sprint, respectively. The $25.5 million Breeders’ Cup World Championships will be held November 6-7 at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.

“We have a lot of equity in our big event race days, like the Summit of Speed and Festival of the Sun,” said Racing Secretary Mike Anifantis, “and hope to continue to attract America’s best quality horses to create outstanding betting opportunities for our customers. It is equally important for us to adjust the schedule for the betterment of Florida racing.”

Calder’s Summit of Speed is now in its tenth year. In that short amount of time, four Summit veterans have gone on to win Eclipse Awards as the nation’s top sprinter (Orientate, Florida-bred Lost in the Fog, Maryfield (female sprinter) and Floridabred Benny the Bull).

The Festival of the Sun, now in its 18th year, is Calder’s signature event and will be held on Oct. 17. Seven stakes races – including the rich finales of the Florida Stallion Stakes – command the attention on the racetrack, but complementary horse-related events and family-style entertainment abound as well.

“Preview” days for both the Summit of Speed and Festival of the Sun are also on the schedule (June 13 and Sept. 26), while Calder’s “Juvenile Showcase,” a day dedicated to 2-year-old Thoroughbreds and the sport’s emerging stars, is slated for Aug. 29.

The Juvenile Showcase features the middle legs of the Florida Stallion Stakes program.

AD bleed check.qx:Layout 1

3/30/09

8:56 AM

Page 1

Focus.April.09.qx:Layout 1

3/30/09

3:04 PM

Page 14

FLORIDAFOCUS

Kelly Leak gets first win on dirt in Sunland Derby Florida-bred wins richest race in New Mexico history

By NICK FORTUNA

COADY PHOTO

had to take on leading Kentucky Derby (G1) Trainer Michael Machowsky knew prospect Pioneerof the Nile. Machowsky said Kelly Leak was capable of winning the at the time that he felt Kelly Leak was ready $900,000 Sunland Park Derby March 29 if he to run his best race, but he wanted to make got a decent trip, and when he saw the leaders sure the horse would earn as big a paycheck cover the first quarter-mile in a blistering as possible for his effort.

22.07 seconds, he knew his talented closer The Sunland Derby’s $500,000 winner’s had them right where he wanted them. share boosted Kelly Leak’s career earnings to Kelly Leak earned his first stakes victory $621,890. The race was originally valued at in the richest race in New Mexico history at $800,000, but in an effort to draw talented Sunland Park, using his come-from-behind horses and eventually earn graded status for running style to rally for a 1 ½-length victory the race, Sunland Park offered to boost the over Mythical Power. purse if the field inNone of the three cluded horses with horses who battled for graded stakes earnings. the early lead and covKelly Leak fit the ered the first half-mile in bill, having run fourth in 45.32 seconds – Santathe Best Pal Stakes (G2) monicacanyon, Mayor at Del Mar in August.

Marv and Valid Stripes – He had finished first in finished better than that race but was diseighth in the field of a qualified and placed dozen 3-year-olds, as fourth because of interKelly Leak passed his ference during the Kelly Leak tired rivals while making stretch run, and Azul his move around the final turn. Kelly Leak, Leon was awarded the victory. running for the first time under Mike Smith, Prior to the Sunland Derby, Kelly Leak a native of Roswell, N.M., went three wide to had only run on dirt once, finishing third to set up his strong stretch run and finished the fellow Florida-bred This Ones for Phil in the nine-furlong test in 1:50.02.

Sunshine Millions Dash at Gulfstream Park “It all went kind of perfectly,” Ma- in January. He broke his maiden on the Holchowsky said. “He got a good trip, and they lywood Park artificial surface last June and were knocking heads pretty quick on the earned his first turf victory in an allowance at front end. I was pretty darn confident in him. Santa Anita last month. Kelly Leak has won My only concern was that it was a mile and three of his eight starts and has finished in the an eighth, and that’s the farthest he’s ever money six times. gone, so I thought that was the only thing that “The nice thing about him is he’ll run on could get him beat. But he’s always had a anything,” Machowsky said. “We’ll keep him good finishing kick, so we just wanted to on dirt for a while because there are so many give him a good trip.” opportunities, but right now, I’m not quite Kelly Leak, bred in Florida by Luis de sure what we’ll do. We’ll have to look and Hechavaria, was favored in the race. The vic- see. You don’t have to run all that often when tory rewarded Machowsky for his decision to you run for this kind of money.” scratch Kelly Leak from the $200,000 San FeKelly Leak is out of the World Appeal lipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita on March 14, mare Hasty Appeal and is owned by a group where the son of Runaway Groom would have led by Blahut Racing LLC.

14 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009

AD bleed check.qx:Layout 1

3/25/09

10:06 AM

Page 1

MemoryLane.qx:Layout 1

3/31/09

4:01 PM

Page 1

By JO ANN GUIDRY ultiple grade-one stakes winner Peace Rules lived up to his name, ruling over his fellow Floridabreds to garner the 2003 Florida-bred Horse of the Year title. On the human side of the equation, the late John Franks was honored as the Florida Breeder of the Year and Leading Owner by Florida-bred Earnings.

Franks, who owned Ocala-based Franks Farms/Southland Division, died on December 31, 2003.

Peace Rules placed himself solidly on the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail with a decisive victory in the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds. In his first start as a three year old, Peace Rules defeated Funny Cide and fellow Florida-bred lone Star Sky. He followed that with an impressive three-anda-half length win in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland.

On the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs, Peace Rules turned in a gritty thirdplace finish to Funny Cide with Empire Maker second in the Kentucky Derby. Two weeks later, he posted a fourth-place effort to Funny Cide in the Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course.

Following a three-month break, Peace Rules returned to the races at the top of his game. He captured the Haskell Invitational Handicap (G1) at Saratoga, besting Sky Mesa with Funny Cide third. Peace Rules closed out his stellar season with a second to Ten Most Wanted in the Travers Stakes (G1).

On the year, the Bobby Frankel trainee banked $1,850,000 for owner Edmund Gann.

Peace Rules was named the Florida-bred champion 3-year-old colt and Florida-bred Horse of the Year.

A 2000 chestnut colt by Jules out of the HoldYour Peace mare Hold to Fashion, Peace Rules was bred by Dr. Ron Chak’s Newchance Farm. Chak offered Peace Rules three times at public auction before successfully selling him. The colt failed to meet his reserve

M

in the 2000 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s October mixed sale and had to be withdrawn from the 2001 OBS August yearling sale. At the 2002 OBS March juvenile sale, Peace Rules was sold for $35,000 to trainer Gary Contessa. After breaking his maiden, Peace Rules was sold privately to Gann.

Rounding out the roster of 2003 Florida-bred

$675,350. The 2003 Florida-bred champion 3year-old filly won the Test Stakes (G1), Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), Tiffany Lass Stakes and Thelma Stakes. Lady Tak was also second in the Acorn Stakes (G1), Ashland Stakes (G1) and Gazelle Handicap (G1).

As an owner, Franks notched his fourth consecutive title as Leading Owner by Florida-bred Earnings with a total of $3,124,987. Of Franks’ 11 Florida-bred stakes winners on the season, he raced six: Chatter Chatter, Smoocher, Allwood, Zak’s Precocious, Kiss Me Twice and Lucky Sabre.

Montbrook, who stood at Ocala Stud, was tabbed as the Florida Stallion of theYear and Hold to Fashion, the dam of Peace Rules, was named the Florida Broodmare of the Year. Montbrook was the leading Florida stallion by progeny earnings with $3,946,263.

Bridlewood Farm stallion Halo’s Image was the leading Florida juvenile sire by progeny earnings ($892,481) and Hidden Point Farm stallion Family Calling was the leading Florida freshman sire by progeny earnings ($597,346).

The year marked the 25th anniversary of Florida-bred Affirmed sweeping the 1978 Triple Crown and continuing his reign as the last horse to have accomplished the feat.

Florida-bred Eclipse champion Precisionist was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, New York. Fred Hooper’s homebred won 13 graded stakes, including the 1985 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), and earned $3,485,398. He garnered the 1985 Eclipse Award as champion sprinter.

The $3.6 million Sunshine Millions, staged simultaneously at Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita Park, and the $500,000 Florida Cup Day at Tampa Bay Downs both had their inaugural runnings. In the Sunshine Millions, Florida-breds won seven of the eight races over their California-bred rivals.

Florida-bred won 314 stakes races, including 62 graded stakes and 12 grade-one events.

Florida-bred earned in excess of $34 million in stakes purses and more than $180 million in total North American purse money. ■ NTRA HORSEPHOTO

‘03

Down Memory Lane

16 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009

Peace Rules

2003

champions were: Lady Tak (3-year-old filly); Chapel Royal (2-year-old colt); Chatter Chatter (2-year-old filly); Puzzlement (older male); Smok’n Frolic (older female); ShakeYou Down (sprinter); and Man From Wicklow (turf horse).

John Franks’ Florida-breds delivered the numbers to garner him the dual titles of 2003 Florida Breeder of theYear and Leading Owner

by Florida-bred Earnings.As a breeder, Frank’s Florida-bred earned $8,298,549. He bred 11 Florida-bred stakes winners, including Floridabred champions Chatter Chatter and Lady Tak. Franks’ leading earner as a breeder was gradeone stakes winner Lady Tak, who banked

AD bleed check.qx:Layout 1

1/14/09

9:00 AM

Page 1

Whoa! Now that’s an RTV of a different color.

DFH'"" DFH##"" Smooth, quiet and nimble, Kubota’s DFH'"" gasoline-powered utility vehicle has features usually found only on larger models. Like 15.8 HP, a 2-cylinder liquid cooled, fuel injected engine, VHT transmission and more. Need all weather comfort? Kubota’s DFH##"" has a heated/air conditioned factory installed cab, a powerful 24.8 HP, 3-cylinder liquid cooled diesel engine, 3-range VHT transmission, and 1300 lbs. of towing capacity. Enough to make anyone say “Whoa!”

E77 A@7 A8 F:7E7 3GF:AD;L76 8>AD;63 =G4AF3 673>7DE @73D KAG BOYNTON BEACH Florida Coast Equipment 9775 West Boynton Beach Boulevard (561) 369-0414 CHIEFLAND Suwanee River Kubota 14811 NW Hwy 19 (352) 490-7061 CRESTVIEW Wise Equipment 1147 Ferdon Boulevard (850) 682-3366

GAINESVILLE Gatorland Kubota 4502 NW 13th Street (352) 376-4506

LIVE OAK Gordon Tractor 1722 South Ohio (386) 362-1887

HASTINGS Futch’s Tractor Depot 8515 SR 207 North (904) 692-3673

MADISON Gordon Tractor 491 SW Range Avenue (850) 973-2245

JACKSONVILLE Coastal Equipment Systems 5287 New Kings Road (904) 924-9624

MARIANNA Panhandle Tractor, Inc. 5003 Hwy 90 (850) 526-2257

OCALA AgriCon Equipment 5211 West Silver Springs Boulevard (352) 622-9155

PENSACOLA Coastal Machinery Company 6701 Mobile Hwy (850) 944-2002/(800) 476-1130 www.coastalmachinery.com

PANAMA CITY Sowell Tractor 2841 Hwy 77 North (850) 763-5441

PLANT CITY Gulf Coast Turf & Tractor 404 North Frontage Road (813) 764-0603

Kubota Tractor Corporation Markets a Full Line of Tractors and Construction Equipment Through a Nationwide Network of Over 1,000 Authorized Dealers. ©Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2009

TALLAHASSEE SGT Rentals 4017 Woodville Hwy (850) 671-2585

FTBOA.NewsDigest.qx:Layout 1

3/31/09

Gilbert G. Campbell President

Eddie Martin First Vice President

J. Michael O’Farrell Second Vice President

Mark Roberts Secretary Diane Parks Treasurer

DIRECTORS Fred Brei Donald Dizney Barry W. Eisaman Michael Mulligan Peter Vegso Sheila DiMare Bonnie M. Heath III George G. Isaacs Jessica Steinbrenner Charlotte C. Weber Richard E. Hancock

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association 801 SW 60th Ave. Ocala, Florida 34474 Phone: (352) 629-2160 Fax: (352) 629-3603 visit us at www.ftboa.com e-mail: info@ftboa.com

10:45 AM

Page 19

Breeder Flex Bill Unanimously Passes Florida House Committee

By CARLOS E. MEDINA The FTBOA-supported Breeders’ Award Flex amendment, which would allow for more flexibility in paying out breeders’ awards, cleared another step March 19 toward its journey to a vote before the full Florida House of Representatives.

The House’s version of the bill was before the Insurance, Business and Financial Affairs Policy Committee, where it passed unanimously.

The bill, listed as HB 1103 and introduced by state Rep. Kurt Kelly, who represents parts of Marion County, would allow the FTBOA to bring the awards program in line with others across the nation.

“We’d like to thank Rep. Kelly as well as our representatives in Tallahassee, Matt Bryan and Nick Larossi, for their work on behalf of this bill,” said Richard E. Hancock, executive director of the FTBOA. “This bill will allow us to be more competitive with other states which already pay breeders’ and stallion owners’ awards down several places in a race and on out-ofstate races. It will allow us the same flexibility so we can maintain and improve Thoroughbred racing in Florida.”

The FTBOA is charged with the task of distributing breeders’ and stallion owners’ awards, but as it stands now, the association is only allowed to distribute awards to those connected with the winning horse.

The flexibility bill is part of the FTBOA’s economic stimulus plan,

which also includes changes and upgrades to the Florida Stallion Stakes series and lowering taxes on slot machines at pari-mutuel facilities.

“As far as lowering the taxes on slots, there’s been good support from legislators for either offering lowered taxes through credits or lowering the rate. I’m confident there will be a reduction of some sort.”

Lowering the taxes on pari-mutuel facilities like Gulfstream will help set a more level playing field with the casinos owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida in South Florida, which are not required to pay the state any tax.

The House version of the Breeder Flexibility Bill must now clear the General Government Policy Council and then the Government Operations Appropriations Committee before it goes to the House floor.

Last year, an identical measure passed the Senate without opposition. The House, however, did not take up the bill, and it subsequently died.

THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009 19

FTBOA.NewsDigest.qx:Layout 1

3/31/09

10:45 AM

Page 20

FHBPA ANNOUNCES NEWLY ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS The Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association announced its newly elected board members last month.

The FHBPA elects five members each year to the 15-member board of directors.

New to the board as an owner is Teresa Palmer, who along with her husband, David, owns Bridlewood stallion Mr. Livingston and made it to the 2007 Kentucky Derby (G1) with Storm in May. She lives in South

Florida. John Penn, who is currently listed as FHBPA secretary, was also elected as an owner. Both are members of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’and Owners’Association.

The alternate owner is Jay Kotzen, who is currently on the board.

Elected to the board as trainers were Barry Rose, currently listed as the FHBPA treasurer, and Manny Tortora, another current board member. Both are members of the FTBOA.

The alternate for the trainers was John Shaw.

A fifth open seat, which is awarded to the owner or trainer with the highest number of votes, went to trainer Larry Pilotti, who is also currently on the board. His alternate is Kotzen.

The five board members will serve for three years apiece, while alternates serve for one year.

The new members will be seated and new officers elected at a future board meeting.

Senate Gaming Bills Clear Committee

By CARLOS E. MEDINA The Florida State Senate Committee on Regulated Industries passed two bills March 25 related to gaming issues impacting the Florida Thoroughbred industry, including one that would reduce the tax rate on slot-machine revenue at South Florida pari-mutuel facilities.

Senate Bill 836 would reduce the slot tax rate from 50 percent to 35 percent for parimutuel facilities, including Gulfstream Park and Calder Race Course. Calder has not yet installed slot machines. The reduced tax rate at Gulfstream would mean a higher percentage of revenue for breeders’ incentives and purses.

The current contract between the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association and Gulfstream would call for the percentage of slot revenue to increase to 12 percent from the 7.5 percent currently taken out for awards and purses. There is a similar standing contract with Calder once it installs the machines.

“This is one of our stimulus issues that we targeted to keep the Thoroughbred industry strong. The Senate committee recognized the fact that the Thoroughbred industry – training, breeding and racing – has a $5 billion impact on the state and accounts for more than 75,000 jobs,” said Richard E. Hancock, executive vice president of the FTBOA. “This would mean an increase of about 60 percent for revenue coming from slots that would go to breeders’ awards. That is a significant increase,” Hancock said.

20 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009

The tax-reduction portion of the bill is an attempt to put the pari-mutuels on more level footing with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, whose casinos pay no state tax on slot-machine revenue.

The bill combines several other issues related to the pari-mutuel industry. It also calls for Video Lottery Terminals, or VLTs, to be allowed in parimutuel facilities which do not have slots. Those facilities would include Tampa Bay Downs, Ocala Breeders’ Sales ITW and Ocala Jai Alai.

The bill includes the provision that the operator of a Thoroughbred track would need to negotiate a contract with the majority horsemen’s group and the FTBOA before a license can be issued. The provision is the same one included in the slot-machine legislation.

“It was important to have that as statute, and I’m glad our representatives working for us in Tallahassee were able to get that language in,” Hancock said. “Really, a lot of the language in this bill comes from our efforts over the years.”

The bill would also allow “historical,” or instant racing machines, which were first installed in Oaklawn Park in the early part of the decade and have proven popular.

The machines have a library of thousands of races already run. The machines give winning percentages for jockeys, trainers and horses, but other information is hidden. The player selects his choice, and the machine shows the race video.

Again, the installation of the machines would be contingent on agreements between the

tracks, the FTBOA and the majority horsemen’s group in the area.

The bill also includes the FTBOA-supported Breeders’ Award Flexibility legislation. The Senate version is identical to the standalone bill in the Florida House of Representatives.

Senate Bill 836 would also extend the hours of operations for card rooms to 18 hours a day on weekdays and 24 hours a day on the weekends.

The bill passed the committee unopposed with a vote of 7-0.

Also presented before the committee was Senate Bill 788, which relates to the Seminole Gaming Compact signed by Gov. Charlie Crist in 2008 without legislative approval. The Florida Supreme Court found Crist did not have the authority to enter into the compact without legislative approval.

The bill mirrors the original compact and would also allow Seminole-owned casinos to offer blackjack and Baccarat. But the bill has a provision that would allow the casinos to offer roulette and craps if the pari-mutuel facilities in South Florida are ever allowed to offer blackjack and other card games.

The state would get $400 million guaranteed in the first three years and then $100 million a year thereafter. If the net proceeds exceed $2 billion, the state would receive 10 percent of the amount over the $2 billion. That rate would increase to 25 percent over $4 billion in net proceeds.

The bill passed by a vote of 6-1.

AD bleed check.qx:Layout 1

12/31/08

10:14 AM

Page 1

– STANDING –

Unbridled – Tutta, by In Reality

Forty Niner – Narrate, by Honest Pleasure

Stonehedge Farm South Gilbert and Marilyn Campbell, Owners X

Larry King, Farm Manager X P.O. Box 87, Williston, FL 32696 X 352/528-4951 X Fax 352/528-4952 &,1'< 0,.(// SKRWR

PhotoSpread.qx:Florida Horse_template

22 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009

3/30/09

11:38 AM

Page 22

PhotoSpread.qx:Florida Horse_template

3/30/09

3:10 PM

Page 23

Florida-breds This Ones for Phil (outside) and Big Drama battled through the stretch of the March 28 Swale Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park with Big Drama crossing the wire first in a stakesrecord time of 1:20.88 for the seven furlongs.

The son of Montbrook was disqualified from first, however, for interference in the stretch, and This Ones for Phil was awarded the win. The loss snapped Big Dramaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s five-race win streak. It was the second stakes score of the Gulfstream meet for This Ones for Phil, who also captured the Sunshine Millions Dash in January.

COGLIANESE PHOTO

This Ones for Phil was bred by Gilbert Campbellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Stonehedge Farm South and is a son of resident stallion Untuttable. The chestnut is trained by Richard Dutrow and is owned by a partnership that includes Paul Pompa Jr.

HeavenOnEarth.32383.qx:Layout 1

5/30/08

1:24 PM

Page 1

Horse Heaven o Ocala/Marion County is blessed with mineral-rich soil and water, moderate climate and high concentration of top industry professionals.

Floridaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exceptional agriculture and business climate for breeding, training and racing means Thoroughbreds from the Sunshine State start with an advantage.

All of this and more is why Ocala/Marion County, Florida, is known around the globe and throughout the equine industry as the Horse Capital of the World.

Discover Horse Heaven on Earth.

Discover

BARBARA D. LIVINGSTON PHOTO

Ocala/Marion/County, Florida!

HeavenOnEarth.32383.qx:Layout 1

5/30/08

1:16 PM

Page 2

on Earth

FLORIDA DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner 850-488-4366 • Fax 850-922-0374 • e-mail: davisp@doacs.state.fl.us 407 S. Calhoun • 412 Mayo Building, Tallahassee, FL 32399

FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’ AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION 801 SW 60th Ave. • Ocala, FL 34474 352-629-2160 • Fax: 352-629-3603 www.ftboa.com • info@ftboa.com

Sanctuary.qx:Florida Horse_template

3/31/09

4:04 PM

Page 26

Ocala-based The Sanctuary offers advanced

technologies

and treatments for the equine athlete.

By JO ANN GUIDRY he graded stakes-winning 3-year-old colt had suffered a dorsal cortical stress fracture of the left front cannon bone while training at the racetrack. An Ocala veterinarian prescribed a proactive treatment, employing The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation Center to administer laser therapy.

“The veterinarian developed a treatment protocol of thirty days stall rest and therapeutic laser therapy,” said

T

26 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009

Brenda McDuffee, who serves as The Sanctuary’s general manager. “We began with three consecutive days of laser treatment, followed by two weeks of treatments every other day and concluding with two weeks of treatments twice a week.”

After 29 days, the veterinarian took radiographs of the colt’s leg and concluded that with use of the laser treatments that “in less that 30 days there was significant improvement of radiographic appearance of the fracture.

Sanctuary.qx:Florida Horse_template

3/30/09

2:39 PM

Page 27

The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation Center PHOTOS COURTESY THE SANCTUARY

These fractures normally take 90 days to heal.â&#x20AC;?

Within six months, the colt returned to the racetrack to resume his racing career.

This is the kind of success story envisioned when managing partner Tom Grabe first proposed the idea of an equine state-of-the-art sports therapy and rehabilitation center. The Sanctuary, an Ocala-based, 26-acre facility offers a comprehensive A to Z menu (AquaPacer to Zamar) of specialty treatments and ther-

apies. The emphasis here is addressing and healing the ailments and injuries that are unfortunately the nature of the equine athlete. And utilizing the most advanced medical technologies to reach that goal.

The first-ever facility of its kind in the Ocala area provides a wish list of must-haves in the area of equine sports therapy and rehab: hyperbaric oxygen chamber, AquaPacer treadmill, cold

THE FLORIDA HORSE â&#x20AC;˘ APRIL 2009 27

Sanctuary.qx:Florida Horse_template

3/30/09

2:39 PM

Page 28

advanced technologies and treatments saltwater hydrotherapy, P3-electromagnetic pulse therapy, Pegasus therapy laser, infrared light therapy, Zamar ice/heat therapy and Transpirator II chelated silver respiratory therapy. There is also a 126-foot long, 14-feet deep saltwater equine swimming pool, a five-furlong training track, two Equigym free exercisers and turnout paddocks.

The 40,000-square foot main complex that houses the therapy equipment also consists of a 20-stall barn, a 70x200 therapy area, air conditioned exam and conference rooms; rubber pavers are installed throughout for safety. There is also an additional 20-stall barn in the infield of the training track.

In addition, The Sanctuary provides mobile unit services to farms, training centers, sales and equine shows. Treatments such as Pegasus laser, P3 electromagnetic pulse and and Transpirator therapies can be brought right to the client.

LOOKING FOR A SOLUTION

Hyperbaric tank and inside monitor of Hyperbaric tank. (at right) Salt water leg spa (below)

“My wife Amy and I are longtime Quarter horse breeders,” explained Grabe. “We had a couple of horses that had some physical issues and ended up having to have surgery. After the surgery, we brought them home and they became lawn ornaments. The horses weren’t happy with that and neither were we. That’s what got us thinking about getting them some physical therapy while they recuperated from the surgeries.”

Grabe checked around to see what was available in the Ocala area and located a couple of equine swimming facilities. But the problem was that thanks to the

28 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009

large equine population in the area, all the swimming facilities were booked solid. Finally through word of mouth, Grabe was able to arrange to use a private farm’s swimming pool for his horses. But the experience got him to thinking.

“Ocala is a major equine center and I knew if I had had trouble finding a swimming facility, then others had as well,” said Grabe. “Then I started thinking about all the other kinds of equine sports therapies and what if there was a place in Ocala that offered those as well. I just had to believe that was something that would be welcomed.”

Two years later in September, 2007, after the Grabes partnered with Tim and Ann Admonius and Ron Scott, the property for The Sanctuary was bought. Nine months later, The Sanctuary officially opened on June 28, 2008.

Located west of Ocala just off U.S. Highway 27 on Northwest Highway 225, the property had been a revolving door of breeding and training operations over the years. Ironically, the property itself was the initial rehab client for The Sanctuary partners.

“The basic infrastructure of the facility was good,” said Grabe. “But we had to do major refurbishing throughout to get it to be the facility we envisioned. And, of course, once you get into those sorts of things, it always takes longer than you think it will. But we are very pleased with the end results and have been happy with people’s reaction when they come to visit. People say they don’t recognize the place from before when they drive up.”

While the facility was being remodeled, the partners began acquiring a staff and making initial contact with the area equine community. Brenda McDuffee, who

AD bleed check.qx:Layout 1

3/27/09

1:08 PM

Page 1

Sanctuary.qx:Florida Horse_template

3/30/09

2:39 PM

Page 30

advanced technologies and treatments with husband Don owns and operates McDuffee Quarter Horses, was hired as general manager. Soon joining her was a staff of vet techs, providing varied backgrounds, knowledge and experience in a multitude of equine endeavors. There is no staff veterinarian for The Sanctuary, allowing for independent vets to use the facility as needed for their clients.

“We felt not having a veterinarian on staff was the way to go,” said Grabe. “That way there would be no conflict of interest and we could draw a wider clientele base. We are here to serve the equine community and have an open-door policy to everyone.”

McDuffee added, “We like to think of ourselves as an equine Switzerland. We’re neutral and open-minded.”

ADVANCING TECHNOLOGIES

While horsemen are familiar with laser and electromagnetic therapies, new technologies have made them even more effective. And the same technologies have also brought new therapies like the hyperbaric oxygen chamber, cold saltwater hydrotherapy, chelated silver respiratory therapy and above ground water treadmill.

“It was our goal to have as many of these advanced sports therapies and treatments as possible available,” said Grabe. “Most of these therapies have been used or are being used with humans. Now they’ve been adapted for horses and we think that’s very exciting.”

McDuffee added, “Therapies also change over the years and evolve into something else, usually for example into something better like the AquaPacer and hyperbaric oxygen chamber.”

It was our goal to have as many of these advanced “sports therapies and treatments as possible available.

Most of these therapies have been used or are being used with humans. Now they’ve been adapted for horses and we think that’s very exciting. —Tom Grabe

”

New technologies have made therapies more effective.

30 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009

AD bleed check.qx:Layout 1

3/27/09

1:11 PM

Page 1

Sanctuary.qx:Florida Horse_template

3/31/09

4:05 PM

Page 32

Instead of submerging a horse in water as the standard aquatred does, the AquaPacer is a raised, glass-enclosed treadmill that the horse walks up onto. Then the water fills to whatever required level necessary for the particular therapy; the speed of the treadmill and the water temperature are also customized. Akin to treading a mountain river current, the horse uses more of a full range of motion to get therapeutic, anaerobic and aerobic benefits without the stress of impact. There is also less chance of the horse cheating since there is less buoyancy as with a conventional aquatred.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy makes it possible for horses to receive oxygen delivered at higher than normal atmospheric pressures while in the chamber. This allows a super influx of oxygen throughout the body, promoting the formation of new red blood cells, accelerating healing and improving

advanced technologies and treatments

hope is that not only will people “beOur willing to use these advanced thera-

pies and treatments to heal their horses, but that they will use them as preventive measures as well. —Tom Grabe

”

the effectiveness of medications. The Sanctuary has had success using the hyperbaric chamber to treat broodmares with reproductive issues.

“We are also very pleased with the results we’re having with treating racehorses with respiratory problems with the Transpirator II,” said McDuffee. “The therapy uses a chelated silver additive, delivering it via a vaporized warm steam rather than the water droplets of a nebulizer. This allows the entire respiratory system to be soaked with the chelated silver.”

Both McDuffee and Grabe see value not only in treatment, but in preventive measures as well.

“Our hope is that not only will people be willing to use these advanced therapies and treatments to heal their horses, but that they will use them as preventive measures as well,” said Grabe. “Whether used for recreation or competition, all horses are athletes on some level and therefore they are going to have some physical issues.”

McDuffee adds, “It makes more sense to treat some issues with preventive therapy before there’s a crisis. It saves time and money, and it could save your horse.” ■

Equine rehabilitation laser.

32 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009

Weathering.qx:Layout 1

3/31/09

3:50 PM

Page 1

FTBOA, FHBPA and Churchill Downs are raising purse money in the juvenile racing program at Calder this year and growing the Florida Stallion Stakes, making the popular series more lucrative

than ever in 2009!

$35,000 minimum purses for maiden special weight, which includes $5,000 FSS supplements and $5,000 Florida Ownersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Awards.

Your next opportunity to purchase a race-ready 2-year-old in training is April 20-23 during the OBS Spring sale in Ocala!

FoalPictorial.NewFaces.qx:Florida Horse_template

3/31/09

3:16 PM

Page 34

New Faces LOUISE REINAGEL PHOTOS

2

1

3 1) Saint Anddan - Folk Art filly 2) Aristocrat - Here Comes Cherry 3) Wilko - La Maga filly 4) Wilko - Expectant filly

4 34 THE FLORIDA HORSE â&#x20AC;˘ APRIL 2009

FoalPictorial.NewFaces.qx:Florida Horse_template

3/31/09

3:16 PM

Page 35

Featured on the following pages are new arrivals representing the freshman crop of some of Florida’s newest stallions.

1 1) Aristocrat - Wild Rush Creek 2) Exclusive Quality - Sassy Bear 2009 3) Exclusive Quality - Brandy Fever

2

3

4 4 High Cotton - Miss Sabrina 5) High Cotton - Almost Aprom Queen

6 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009 35

FoalPictorial.NewFaces.qx:Florida Horse_template

3/31/09

3:17 PM

Page 36

New Faces

1-3 SERITA HULT PHOTOS 4-5 LOUISE REINAGEL PHOTOS

1

3

4 36 THE FLORIDA HORSE â&#x20AC;˘ APRIL 2009

1) SimonPure-Merci 2) Simon Pure-Bright Smile 3) Simon Pure-Sweet Serenade 4) Sweet Return-Silver Lyrics 5) Sweet Return-Tis Willie Nellie

2

5

COOKIE SERLETIC PHOTO

Dept.Ag.33546.qx:Layout 1

12/15/08

10:10 AM

Page 1

Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner 850-488-4366 • Fax 850-922-0374 e-mail: davisp@doacs.state.fl.us 407 S. Calhoun • 412 Mayo Building, Tallahassee, FL 32399

Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association 801 SW 60th Ave. • Ocala, FL 34474 352-629-2160 • Fax: 352-629-3603 www.ftboa.com • info@ftboa.com

NEWS.Page38.qx:Florida Horse_template

3/31/09

5:02 PM

Page 1

FLORIDA NEWS

By CARLOS E. MEDINA ate in 2007, Jeff Schwietert started wondering where Florida-bred Big City Man had gone. The Northern Afleet colt he bred had just won two straight stakes races at Calder Race Course and then disappeared.

“I was really upset. I thought he had died. I couldn’t find anything about him,” said Schwietert, the stallion manager at Bridlewood Farm.

Then almost a year and a half after he seemingly fell off the face of the earth, Big City Man reappeared in Dubai in the hands of Saudi Prince Sultan Mohammed Saud Al Kabeer.

“I was just so glad we hadn’t lost him.

He was always a really good horse. I still don’t know what really happened to him,” Schwietert said.

On March 28th, Big City Man showed he was all the way back as he ran down and beat Indian Blessing in the six-furlong Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) during World Cup Day in the United Arab Emirates.

“I was tickled to death. I was doing so much hollering that I didn’t hear the call. I had to watch the replay again to make sure he had won,” Schwietert said.

The race’s outcome was the same, but depending on the angle of the replay, the race seemed to shake out differently.

The live pan shot of the straightaway race seemed to show Big City Man in the lead, with Indian Blessing coming on strong but

L

38 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009

a couple of whacks at the right time, and he exploded. It was very impressive. It’s hard not to be excited,” Schwietert said.

Schwietert bred the horse, who is out of the Valid Appeal mare Mini Appeal, under the Four Horsemen’s Ranch banner and sold him privately as a yearling.

“I was confidently hopeful. I hit the exacta with him and bet him to win. Since not able to catch the 4-yearhe came back and was winning again, I old. The overhead shot, howstarted reading everything I could find ever, told the real story. Indian about him. I knew he was cut out to be a Blessing was in the lead, and Big City Man and Jeff top horse. The horses he’d beat up on at Schwietert (inset) Big City Man had to put in a Calder are doing great now,” he said. burst of his own to catch and pass the filly.

Among those horses was Florida-bred “I thought it was a battle for the lead the Smooth Air, who has competed in top comwhole way. Then I saw the overhead shot, and pany the last two years. it looked like Big City Man was like five It’s exciting,” Schwietert said. “I hope he lengths behind her. That was even more im- comes over to race here. You can only hope. pressive,” Schwietert said.

He could run in the Smile Sprint Handicap Big City Man went on to a 1¼-length vic- at Calder and then maybe in the Breeders’ tory in the $2 million race.

Cup. For the sport’s sake, I would like to see “The jockey did a terrific job. He gave him that happen.” ■ HANCOCK PHOTO

WATKINS PHOTO

Schwietert Thrilled With Big City Man’s Dubai Victory

Frequent Flyer

Big City Man takes to his new surroundings in the Middle East

By PAOLO ROMANELLI Prince Sultan Bin Mohammed Bin Saud Al Kabeer purchased Big City Man, through his agent, Emmanuel de Seroux of Narvick International, following the Dr. Fager Stakes at Calder in 2007.

Big City Man was subsequently shipped to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia to the Nofa Equestrian Resort (pictured below), the private training and breeding center owned by Prince Sultan, a member of the ruling family of Saudi Arabia and owner of Almarai, the world’s largest dairy factory, which is based in Riyadh.

Upon relocating to his new home, Big City Man was given a few months to acclimatize while in the care of trainer Jerry Barton, Prince Sultan’s private trainer. Barton is a former assistant trainer to D.

Wayne Lukas and brother of jockey Donna Barton.

The main goal of Prince Sultan for Big City Man was to have the Florida-bred compete on the Dubai World Cup program.

Sixteen months after leaving Calder, Big City Man returned to the races and captured the Keeneland Trophy Jan. 8 at Nad Al Sheba with Jose Verenzuela in the irons. On Jan. 22, he won again, taking the Al Shindagha Sprint (UAE-G3).

Then on March 5, he was a good second to Godolphin’s Gayego in the Mahab Al Shimaal (UAE-G3), despite missing some training time due to a temperature.

His victory in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) stamped Big City Man as one of the best sprinters in the world. Only time will tell if he makes a return trip to the U.S. and is able to continue his sensational year. Certainly, the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) is a logical target.

Misc Ads:145-160 3/24/09 2:42 PM Page 2

Not All Equine Rehabilitation Centers Are

CREATED EQUAL.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy · Aqua Pacer - Water Treadmill · Cold Saltwater Leg Spa · Swimming Pool · 24-Hour Nursing Care P3 Electromagnetic Pulse Therapy · Pegasus Therapy Laser · Zamar - Hot / Cold Therapy · Transpirator 2 · Solarium · 5/8 mile track Mobile Therapy Service To Your Location · Complimentary Therapies Available

The Sanctuary’s

technologically advanced approach is designed so that each and every champion equine athlete can reach their physical and mental peak. Our staff will use their years of experience to establish protocols designed for the individual. These protocols are designed with the assistance of your veterinarian and/or trainer so we can be sure to give your horse every opportunity for complete recovery.

CONDITIONING · REHABILITATION · RECOVERY AT AFFORDABLE RATES. THE MOST ADVANCED FACILITY AND EQUIPMENT IN THE WORLD

Your veterinarian will be assisted by our staff in every phase of the healing and rehabilitation process. Our facility will serve as an extension of your veterinarian’s hospital and our staff will support them completely.

Our mission is to provide complete support to the veterinarian and their patient, the equine athlete.

Our 26 acre state-of-the-art facility coupled with a staff with decades of equine experience will provide your horse with the best care possible in the safest environment imaginable. An attention to detail provides your equine athlete with every opportunity to recover mentally and physically in order to make a successful return to competition, breeding or the owner’s enjoyment.

w w w. S a n c t u a r y E q u i n e R e h a b. c o m

|

For more infomation or to make an appointment call:

352.369.HEAL (4325)

5590 NW Hwy 225

|

Ocala, Florida 34482

TampaBay.qx:Florida Horse_template

3/30/09

3:14 PM

Page 40

ill er AThr At Tampa Bay Downs Musket man shows maturity in Tampa Bay Derby Victory

By DOUG MCCOY eading into this year’s Tampa Bay Derby, Musket Man was a colt of unquestioned ability. But like many juveniles, the son ofYonaguska had a problem keeping his mind on the business at hand. He would often loaf during his morning training and had to be pushed to put it all together and show his wealth of talent.

In the Tampa Bay Derby March 14, Musket Man found himself in a situation at the top of the lane that called for complete attention and commitment. Caught in a box inside and behind rivals through the second turn of the 11⁄16-mile Derby, Musket Man raced in third, three lengths off the lead with a quarter-mile to travel. Join in the Dance, trained by Todd Pletcher, had opened up a daylight lead heading to the furlong marker.

From the far turn to the wire, Musket Man grew up. He gathered himself in the stretch, changed leads on cue and launched his charge to the wire. He ran down Join in the Dance in the final strides to post a thrilling neck victory under Daniel Centeno.

“They (Musket Man’s handlers) told me this guy tends to be a little lazy and to stay after him,” said Centeno in the winner’s circle after his first graded winner. “I got in behind a bunch of horses and he didn’t like it, but I was able to ease him out in the turn. We still had a lot to do going into the stretch, but I thought to myself, ‘You better not get lazy now.’ I went after him and let him know I wanted his run, and he changed leads in mid-stretch and sort of took off on me. He sure wasn’t lazy at the end.”

Join in the Dance, owned in part by Orlando Magic forward Rashard Lewis, was game in defeat in his first start around two turns, finishing 2½ lengths to

COOLEY PHOTO

H

40 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009

the good of Justdontcallmejeri with Nowhere to Hide another half-length back in fourth.

The win was the fourth from five career starts for Musket Man, who is trained by Derek Ryan and owned by Eric Fein and Vic Carlson. The colt had won the Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in his first outing as a 3-year-old, and was third behind General Quarters in the Sam Davis Stakes.

TampaBay.qx:Florida Horse_template

3/30/09

3:14 PM

Page 41

“

They told me this guy tends to be a little lazy and to stay after him. I got in behind a bunch of horses and he didn’t like it, but I was able to ease him out in the turn. We still had a lot to do going into the stretch, but I thought to myself, ‘You better not get lazy now.’ I went after him and let him know I wanted his run, and he changed leads in mid-stretch and sort of took off on me. He sure wasn’t lazy at the end.

—Daniel Centeno

”

General Quarters didn’t break alertly in the Derby and was caught behind rivals most of the way. He wound up fifth as the second choice. Hello Broadway, from the barn of Barclay Tagg, was sent to the post as the 2-1 choice, but raced wide much of the trip under Eibar Coa and wound up seventh in his second start of 2009.

Musket Man covered the mile and a sixteenth in

1:43.67, just two fifths of a second off the track record of 1:43.11, set by Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense when he won the 2007 Tampa Bay Derby.

“We’ll take him back to the barn and see how he comes out of the race,” said Ryan. “He’s nominated for the Illinois Derby, but the owners are all from NewYork, so me might have a look at the Wood (Memorial) as

Musket Man winning the Tampa Bay Derby by a neck over Join in the Dance.

THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009 41

Tampa Bay Downs

4:59 PM

Page 42

well. Danny (Centeno) had been working him in the morning and he’s never worked as well for anyone else.

I’m definitely keeping Danny on him now.”

The $180,000 winner’s share of the Derby increased Musket Man’s bankroll to $287,600.

“It’s unbeliveable,” said co-owner Fein who won last year’s Tampa Bay Derby with Big Truck. “I buy five 2year-olds every year for modest prices and hope for the best. Now I have two wins in a row in the Tampa Bay Derby. The trainer has done an unbelievable job with him and we’ve got the leading rider. The situation worked out perfectly.”

Don’t Forget Gil, who had a rough trip the last time she raced at Tampa Bay Downs, had a veritiable walk in the park in the 26th running of the $200,000 Florida Oaks (G3) and blew her field away through the final furlong of the 11⁄16-mile test for a popular four-length victory.

The last time Don’t Forget Gil competed at Tampa, she broke through the starting gate prior to the start of the Suncoast Stakes then had traffic problems while ridden by Kent Desormeux and wound up a fast-closing third, beaten less than a length.

There were no such problems in the Oaks as Don’t Forget Gil was patiently handled by Rajiv Maragh. Don’t Forget Gil raced in easy striking distance for five furlongs then moved to the front after six furlongs in 1:12.59. She was quickly challenged out of the second turn by Florida-bred Ameribelle and Suncoast winner

•

Donʼt Forget Gil (below) easily wins the Florida Oaks.

3/31/09

42 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009

Rock Candy, but shook off those bids, gained a clear lead in mid-stetch and then drew off with a flourish when asked.

“I watched her last race and knew she would be solid today,” said Maragh, “She had a problem in the gate, got shuffled back early then was still closing fast at the end. She was going so easily at the finish.

Owner Alan Brodsky said, “Pretty confident coming into this one. This horse is really something special, she’s as good a horse as I’ve ever had.”

As for future plans, “We’re going to look around and do what’s best for her. Certainly the Kentucky Oaks is a possibility.You know from the Florida Oaks to the Kentucky Oaks, we’ll go state by state.”

Ameribelle, who entered the Oaks off a strong second in the Suncoast, was easily second best in the field of six 3-year-old fillies, finishing five lengths to the good of Suncoast winner Rock Candy, who tired in the drive after racing wide much of the trip.

Don’t Forget Gil covered the mile and a sixteenth over a fast racing strip in 1:43.65, a stakes record. The win was the third from six career starts and the $105,000 winner’s share of the Oaks raised her career earnings to $201,986.

Backseat Rhythm benefitted from a ground-saving trip under Coa and ran down Florida-bred Elusive Lady in the final strides to post a nose victory in the $175,000 Hillsborough Stakes (G3) over a mile and a furlong on the Tampa turf course.

Backed down to the favorite’s role in the field of 10

•

COOLEY PHOTO

TampaBay.qx:Florida Horse_template

3/30/09

3:14 PM

Page 43

JOE DIORIO PHOTO

TampaBay.qx:Florida Horse_template

COOLEY PHOTO

fillies and mares, Backseat Rhythm, a Grade 1 winner at three, posted her first victory against older competition.

Elusive Lady, who was able to dictate a slow pace under Joe Bravo, held a clear lead a furlong out, but just failed to hold on late while finishing three parts of a length ahead of Endeavour winner Ballymore Lady. That one lacked racing room leaving the final turn of the Hillsborough then closed willingly but couldn’t reach the top two.

The win was the fifth from 15 outings for Backseat Rhythm, who is trained by Pat Reynolds, and the $105,000 winner’s share of the HIllsborough brought her career earnings to $822,196. Final time for the Hillsborough over a firm turf course was 1:51.43.

•

Slipping through along the rail into the stretch, Castles in the Sky ran down stubborn 50-1 shot Cooper County to post a neck victory in the $75,000 Turf Dash.

Centeno pilotted the winner for trainer Jamie Ness, who has dominated this stake in recent years. Castles in the Sky sped through the about five panels on the turf in a very fast :55.75. Cooper County was a length and a quarter clear for second ahead of Our Friend Harry with Marina Ballerina fourth. Favored Chamberlain Bridge was bumped at the break and faded to ninth after disputing the early pace.

The final attendance on Festival Day was announced at 10,420. I

Elusive Lady (in the lead, above) was run down

by Backseat Rhythm (last, above) in the final strides to take the Hillsborough Stakes.

THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009 43

LeadingSire.qx:Florida Horse_template

3/31/09

4:57 PM

Page 1

Leading Florida Sires The following list includes currently active, deceased, and pensioned stallions, with racing results updated through March 27, 2009. Statistics provided by The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc.

PUT IT BACK Farm Name

CONCERTO

CHAPEL ROYAL NA Earnings

Stk Gr Strtrs Wnrs SW's Wins SW's

Earnings

Leading Earner

Leading Yrlg Earnings Sold

Yrlg Avg

2yo Sold

5

$12,300

29

45

$30,646

38

$68,980

$10,500

9

$26,833

Name

Sire Name

Put It Back

Honour and Glory Bridlewood Farm

$838,105

78

28

4

4

1

$885,823

High Resolve

$165,000

Chapel Royal

Montbrook

Signature Stallions

$584,214

66

20

1

1

0

$658,406

Cape Royale

$90,000

Concerto

Chief's Crown

Ocala Stud

$648,951

56

20

0

0

0

$648,951

Finallymadeit

$210,000

5

2yo Avg $39,438

Montbrook

Buckaroo

Ocala Stud

$640,815

77

23

1

1

0

$640,815

Oilgonewile

$85,000

13

$19,246

18

$79,844

Graeme Hall

Dehere

Winding Oaks

$542,955

78

26

1

1

0

$542,955

Stoneyer

$50,319

20

$30,370

12

$39,333

Full Mandate

A.P. Indy

Hartley/De Renzo

$458,738

83

24

0

0

0

$458,738

Divine Legacy

$44,400

22

$7,355

19

$20,395

Double Honor

Gone West

Get Away Farm

$453,129

74

23

0

0

0

$454,761

Lovely Isle

$48,500

8

$6,113

10

$29,100

Halo's Image

Halo

Bridlewood Farm

$445,199

60

14

1

1

1

$439,599

How's Your Halo

$98,000

6

$19,617

7

$48,214

Three Wonders

Storm Cat

deceased

$426,203

83

20

0

0

0

$427,917

Anythingyouwant

$53,200

5

$2,280

18

$18,306

Adena Springs South $377,540

59

18

1

1

0

$381,405

Milwaukee Miracle

$39,750

32

$14,363

13

$29,023

Milwaukee Brew Wild Again

44 THE FLORIDA HORSE â&#x20AC;˘ APRIL 2009

AD bleed check.qx:Layout 1

3/30/09

8:51 AM

Page 1

Approaching $19 million in progeny earnings for the half-brother of Unbridledâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Image - Haloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Image, Floridaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Perennial Leading Sire.

by UNBRIDLED out of SUGARâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S IMAGE,

by VALID APPEAL $1,000 LF Property of Happy Alter

Out of the winningest Valid Appeal mare Sugarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Image, Haloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Image is by Halo and Unbridledâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Image is

by Unbridled.

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss out on this unbridled value to breed for 1/5th of Haloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Imageâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stud fee.

Truly champion bloodline for a bargain price - $1,000

George G. Isaacs, General Manager 8318 N.W. 90th Terrace, Ocala FL 34482 1) t 'BY Visit our site at www.bridlewoodfarm.com

Contact: Happy Alter at 954.473.1777 or George G. Isaacs, Bridlewood General Manager, at 352.622.5319

Now accepting credit card payment

EquineCare.qx:Florida Horse_template

3/27/09

3:25 PM

Page 46

Equine Care

Is About UF study of therapeutic drugs may do away with some race-day test violations

By DENISE STEFFANUS rainers caught doping their horses to alter performance should get busted for it, but what about the trainer whose race-day test reveals a trace amount of a therapeutic medication? Drugs such as the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory Banamine, whose analgesic effects last only about four hours, might trip a bad test even when it is administered weeks prior to race-day testing.

A study of more than 40 therapeutic drugs commonly used in horseracing conducted at the University of Florida’s Equine Performance Laboratory may influence the way the Florida Division of PariMutuel Wagering treats trainers whose horses test positive for trace amounts of therapeutic medications due to the sensitivity of the screening process.

Richard Sams, Ph.D., director of the Florida Racing Laboratory, said the new information generated by the study is not about leveling the playing field.

“It’s a matter of fairness,” he said.

Sams explained that the presence of a controlled therapeutic substance—no matter how small an amount was detected—historically has been deemed a violation, with no negotiation.

T

46 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009

EquineCare.qx:Florida Horse_template

3/27/09

“Under the rules, those findings constituted violations,” he said. “But the horsemen were just incensed that drugs that had shortlasting therapeutic effects were being detected days or weeks after administration when they no longer were producing effects during the time of the race, but still they resulted in a positive finding. Banamine is a real obvious example that comes to mind.”

To address the issue, Sams said the Florida Legislature established the Equine Performance Laboratory and charged its director, Patrick Colahan, D.V.M., Ph.D., with the task of gaining a better understanding of the relationship between the duration of the effects of certain therapeutic drugs and the duration of their detectability in test samples. Based on the laboratory’s sound scientific findings, the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering could confidently establish thresholds for certain therapeutic substances, and race-day test results lower than those thresholds would not be reported as violations.

“Some of the important medications we have investigated are trimethaprim/sulfa and pyrimethamine for treatment of EPM [equine

3:25 PM

Page 47

protozoal myeloencephalitis], procaine from procaine penicillin versus from a nerve block, and albuterol inhaled versus oral,” Colahan said. The laboratory also looked at caffeine because of the many positives that substance has caused.

The study was conducted in two parts: one part determined the time it takes for specific drugs to be eliminated in horses (clearance times) that are maintained in a reasonable level of physical fitness; the second part assessed the effects, if any, on performance of the drugs studied. All drugs were administered either according to the label dosage recommendations or at the dosage typically administered at the racetrack.

The Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering uses the data generated by the study as accurate information on which to base its medication rules. The Racing Laboratory uses the data arising out of the drug-elimination portion of the study to determine when a drug most likely was administered, based on the amount of drug found in the serum or urine sample at the time of testing. The Florida Racing Laboratory is one of only four ac-

credited testing laboratories in the United States that is involved in racehorse testing.

CLEARANCE TIMES

Unlike other studies to establish drug clearance times, Colahan’s laboratory maintains a herd of 20 racing-age Thoroughbreds in athletic condition, rather than just a handful of non-Thoroughbred, sedentary horses at pasture. The horses in Colahan’s study are exercised regularly so they are able to run a mile on a treadmill in two minutes without undue stress, making them more representative of racehorses than those used in other studies.

“Fitness probably makes a difference,” Colahan said, explaining that compared with athletes, sedentary horses at pasture typically have a lot more body fat in which the horse can store certain drugs and thereby extend clearance times. In contrast, exercise accelerates heart rate and metabolism, which could shorten clearance times in athletic horses.

“The simplest way to do the study, rather than estimate all those [variables], is to do the studies in horses that are exercised,” Colahan said.

In determining a drug’s effects, if any, on

THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009 47

EquineCare.qx:Florida Horse_template

3/31/09

performance, Colahan used incremental stress tests. During an incremental stress test, the horse is exercised on a treadmill until it is fatigued.

“The bottom-line measure of a performance effect would be whether the horse could run longer or faster,” Colahan said. “The treadmill gives you the ability to impose an exercise regime, and the horse serves as its own control, with the drug and without the drug.”

4:09 PM

feine they would have gotten steroids that are being set right now,” Colafrom drinking a cola so the han said. “What I can tell you is that these anDivision could have a basis to write rules re- abolic steroids last a lot longer than people garding trace amounts of caffeine.” think they do. Using the label dose, for inBased on the results for this substance, stance, of boldenone, there are concentrations Colahan recommended the Division amend in horses that are easily detectable for time its rule on trace amounts of caffeine. periods approaching six months. And there is Procaine is a drug used in nerve blocks, a considerable variation between individual but it also is regularly combined with peni- horses in the elimination of that drug as well.”

Because of the long clearance time, this cillin to reduce the pain of its administration extensive anabolic-steroid via injection. study took more than 14 “The final result of this months to complete, and Costudy was that you cannot tell lahan believes his laboratory whether someone has used might be the only one in the procaine as a local nerve world equipped with the block or in a penicillin injecknowledgeable personnel and tion, based upon the concenfit horses to get it up and runtrations that you get from a ning quickly. nerve block versus procaine “That was no small acpenicillin,” Colahan said. complishment,” he said. “We “You can have a very effective were able to step in and do it nerve block with very low in a short period of time withconcentrations of procaine.”

Dr. Richard Sams out a lot of gearing up. I’m Colahan had hoped to be proud that we had the horses able to differentiate between the two uses, based on concentrations, to give and the people available to do that.” trainers a break who used procaine penicillin to treat wounds or abscesses in racing horses. FUNDING NEEDED “There is increased attention nationwide Unfortunately, that was not the case. to integrity, quality, and health and safety isOTHER DRUGS sues,” Sams said, “and Florida is paying atData generated by a study of the bleeder tention to those things and keeping pace medication furosemide (Salix) has yet to be with them at the Division of Pari-Mutuel formatted.

Wagering and here at the Florida Racing “There are multiple ways of administering Laboratory.” furosemide that are not always in accordance But despite the excellent data arising out with the rules that are written for its adminis- of the drug studies, obtaining funding to contration,” Colahan said, “such as 50-50 IV [in- tinue the project is difficult, Colahan said. travenous] and IM [intramuscular] or half of The project had been funded primarily it at four hours IM and half of it IV two hours by the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering later.” He said the different methods and and the Racing Medication and Testing routes of administration do cause differing re- Consortium, plus other supporters, includsults. Colahan hopes to be able to summarize ing the American Quarter Horse Associathose results soon. tion, the University of Florida, and private Colahan’s laboratory has performed exten- contributors. Continued funding is needed sive testing on four anabolic steroids—testos- for the project, which ultimately benefits terone, nandrolone, stanozolol (Winstrol), and horsemen, to survive. boldenone (Equipoise)—and the bronchodila“We want the people to know, especially tor clenbuterol hydrochloride (Ventipulmin people in Florida, that what they have insyrup), which also has anabolic effects. vested in the Racing Lab and in this pro“Information that we generated has been gram is actually doing them some good,” critical in setting the rules for anabolic Colahan said. ■

Equine Care

SOME INTERESTING RESULTS

Colahan found that the EPM treatment trimethaprim/sulfa and pyrimethamine did not affect performance, as he suspected.

“People were using it on horses that they thought were a little bit off or might be having a problem, and they were getting a lot of positives tests,” he said. One of his recommendations to the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering was to amend the rules regarding use these drugs.

Although these results were no surprise, some of his other findings were.

Colahan said he found that inhaled albuterol, a bronchodilator, administered to horses right before exercise will improve their performance. This was a surprise because a study at Tufts University in 1999 found that “aerosolized albuterol did not enhance aerobic performance in eight clinically normal Standardbreds.” Colahan said he did not expect the result he obtained because the amount of the drug administered via inhalant is minimal.

In contrast, Colahan found orally administered albuterol to be an ineffective therapy based on blood levels of the drug.

There was good news for trainers and grooms who like to treat their horses with chocolate and cola. Colahan found that even horses with high levels of caffeine did not perform better.

“So trace amounts of caffeine are not significant as far as affecting a horse’s performance,” Colahan said. “All it does is give the horse a positive test. That was the whole reason we did that study.

“You certainly can give a horse enough intravenous caffeine that it would have an effect on the horse physiologically, but that wasn’t our point. We gave horses the amount of caf48 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009

Page 48

NEWS.PageNEW.49.qx:Florida Horse_template

3/31/09

10:36 AM

Page 1

is considered by some as the best gelding to ever race, but he never was able to beat Beau Purple.

Beau Purple was the son of Hobeau stallion Beau Gar, who didn’t get a chance to race much but turned out to be a top stallion at the time.

By CARLOS E. MEDINA more than 40 years.

Beau Gar was also the inspiration for Hobeau arion County lost a pioneer of the Recent graded stakes winners include Farm’s name.

FloridaThoroughbred industry last Florida-breds Swap Fliparoo, Miss Shop and, The Beau Purple/Kelso battles were just the month when Hobeau Farm’s of course, Delightful Kiss. beginning of impressive upsets for Hobeau owner, Jack Dreyfus, passed away quietly at age The 5-year-old, gelded son of Kissin Kris was Farm runners.

95 in a New York hospital. given to 77-year-old trainer Pete Anderson as a Buckpasser, 1966 Horse of theYea, ran into The founder of the Dreyfus Mutual Fund, favor to longtime Hobeau trainer Allen Jerkens. another Beau Gar colt in 1967. His name was Dreyfus was part of a group of Thoroughbred When Anderson got him, Delightful Kiss Handsome Boy. He beat Buckpasser in the owners and breeders who brought Marion was an untested 2-year-old.

Brooklyn Handicap at AqueCounty and Florida into prominence. Always He’d been galloped a few duct. a private person, Dreyfus rarely sought the times but had never Then there were the battles spotlight, but Hobeau Farm’s accomplish- breezed. It was Anderson’s with probably the best horse ments spoke for him. only horse, so he gave him of the century: Secretariat.

“Mr. Dreyfus, when he built his farm here in all his attention.

Secretariat had it all: He Ocala in the 60s, was already a well-known fiDelightful Kiss has since was a Triple Crown winner, nancial guru. He gave the area some credibility won four graded stakes, inwinner of the Belmont when he built his farm here. He was one of the cluding the Ohio Derby (G2), Stakes by 31 lengths, a initial wealthy people who saw the benefits of and has eclipsed the $1 milHorse of theYear award winraising and training horses in Ocala,” said lion mark in career earnings. ner and millionaire.

Prove Out Michael O’Farrell of Ocala Stud Farm.

Dreyfus displayed the Ohio Derby trophy Only four horses ever beat him, and two of “His heart was here and he was a big sup- prominently in his apartment. them were from Hobeau Farm. porter of the industry, especially when it was in But winning is a tradition for Hobeau Farm.

It happened in 1973. The first time it was its infancy. For that we owe him a tremendous On New Year’s Day 1962, Dreyfus’ 5-year- Onion, out of the Beau Gar mare With a Flair. amount of gratitude. He was kind of low- key, old horse Beau Purple lined up against fellow He beat Secretariat in the Whitney Stakes (G2) but that’s OK, because his presence was felt by 5-year-old Kelso. The gelded Kelso was the at Saratoga. Later that year, Prove Out beat him many,” O’Farrell said.

1960 and 1961 Horse of the Year. in the Woodward Stakes (G1) at Belmont.

Dreyfus first came to Ocala in the early On that day, Beau Purple beat the vaunted About a decade ago, Dreyfus decided to sell 1960s on a rainy day looking to Kelso in the Man o’ War the farm, which had grown to 2,200 acres. buy a horse farm. Elmer HueStakes as a 20-1 long shot.

Roy Lerman, whose Lambholm South fabeck showed him a 1,200-acre It must have been a fluke, cility had outgrown its 420 acres, bought the cattle ranch near Reddick. cried the critics. After all, leg- land and moved his operation to the old Hobeau What came out of that meeting endary jockey Eddie Arcaro Farm site. would become the nucleus of said he has never ridden a betThe operation has only had two managers, one the area’s most storied and ter horse than Kelso.

Elmer Huebeck and Craig Wheeler, who is in successful farms. Within Ten months later, the pair his third decade with the farm. weeks, the money had been squared off in a rematch in the Hobeau’s broodmares and babies moved wired and the land bought.

1962 Suburban Handicap at to Wheeler’s farm where the Hobeau name “He was an important figBelmont. Beau Purple beat continues. ure to the Florida racing and Kelso again.

“He was one of those owners who really breeding scene. He was instruKelso was named Horse of helped mold what Florida breeding and training Jack Dreyfus mental in the concept that the Year again for 1962, but is all about. We need more owners like him to Florida-breds can go to the races and be com- NewYear’s Day 1963 rang in a familiar tone, as keep the industry strong and relevant. His inpetitive on the highest levels,” said Barry Beau Purple beat Kelso for a third time in the vestment in Ocala and Marion County saw reEisaman, owner of Eisaman Equine.

Widener Handicap. turns not only for him but for the industry in Hobeau Farm would build an operation Kelso would go on to be named Horse of the general,” said Richard E. Hancock, executive that has continued to produce winners for Year for five consecutive years (1960-1964) and vice president of the FTBOA. ■

Hobeau Farm’s Jack Dreyfus Passes Away at 95

M

THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009 49

OBS.SaleRecap.qx:Florida Horse_template

3/31/09

4:07 PM

Page 50

$450,000 El Prado Colt Tops OBS March Sale

By CARLOS E. MEDINA 2-year-old El Prado (IRE) colt named El Kingdom sold for $450,000 to top the 2009 March Ocala Breeders’ Sales juvenile sale.

The colt out of the Dynaformer mare Rabiadella was listed as Hip No. 383 and was bought by Eddie Plesa Jr. as agent for South Florida resident Steve Weizcholz.

“I liked this horse, and Mr. Weizcholz stepped up to the plate and bought him,” Plesa said.

“There is nothing not to like about him. He’s not a typical El Prado. He worked faster than he’s supposed to work. He comes from a great background from Eisaman Equine, who handled him the whole time,” he said. “He kind of reminds me of LeBron James. He looks like a horse that can pass for a horse older than he is. To me, he is the LeBron James of the sale. Hopefully, we’ll be able to say that a year from now.”

Plesa thought the horse would be the sales topper.

“The market is not as good if you are a seller, but it affords buyers the opportunity to get horses at a bit of a discounted price. I think two or three years ago, he would

50 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009

LOUISE REINAGEL PHOTO

have brought more money,” he said.

Rabiadella was purchased in foal to the colt at the 2006 Keeneland November sale for $85,000.

“He always was a very level headed, sound, wonderful mover. He displayed a real burst of speed here. We never really asked him until here (at the under-track preview). We didn’t expect him to sell that high. We always fantasize about it when you have a really nice horse, but no, we didn’t expect it,” said Barry Eisaman, who operates Eisaman Equine with wife, Shari.

The colt worked a quarter mile in 20.4, just a tick slower than the fastest quarter mile time of 20.3.

The Eisamans still own the mare. She is currently in foal to Songandaprayer and has a yearling by Badge of Silver.

Another colt, this one by Tiznow and listed as Hip No. 401, brought $410,000 from John Moynihan for Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Stables LLC. Consigned by Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds, the colt is out of the West by West mare Reverence.

“Mr. Jackson owns Tiz Wonderful. He looks like a really top Tiznow. Dean and Randy loved him and he moves beautifully on the racetrack,” Moynihan said.

Hip No. 381, an Unbridled’s Song colt out of the Deputy Minister mare Queen of Spirit, was bought for $375,000 by Silverton Hills, LLC, with Tommy Hamilton signing the ticket.

“He’s got a good pedigree and his body looked good,” Hamilton said.

The colt was consigned by Eddie Woods.

The top-selling filly was Hip No. 286, who sold for $185,000. The Candy Ride (ARG) filly out of Marine Band was bought by Patrice Miller, EQB Inc. as agent.

JOE DIORIO PHOTO

Barry Eisaman (inset) and sale topper Hip #383 (at top and below)

PAM DIORIO PHOTO

A

OBS.SaleRecap.qx:Florida Horse_template

3/27/09

3:28 PM

bidden Kiss was bought by Gabriel Duigan for a partnership between Elite Racing and Silverton Hill.

The filly was consigned by Eddie Woods and posted the co-fastest eighth-mile breeze at 9.3.

“She is a wonderful, precocious filly,” Woods said.

“She’s a good summer filly. She’s the kind that could go to Saratoga and win a stake. She’s very correct, vetted really well and was sound. I was very pleased by the price.

I thought she would sell for $250,000 or maybe a little more. With the market the way it is, I was thrilled that she went as high as she did.”

The filly was bred by Adena Springs and purchased as a yearling for $160,000 at the Fasig-Tipton August sale

by McMahon Bloodstock, agent.

For the entire sale, 215 horses grossed $20,681,000, compared with 233 horses bringing a March Sale record total of $33,380,000 last year. The average price was $96,191compared with last year’s sale record $143,262.

The median price was $70,000 compared with last year’s $100,000, also a March record. The buyback percentage was 39.9%; it was 32.4% in 2008. I

Dean De Renzo and Hip #401

PAM DIORIO PHOTO

NICK FORTUNA PHOTO

She was consigned by Ciaran Dunne’s Wavertree Stables.

An Indian Charlie filly topped the first session of the OBS March juvenile sale, bringing a winning bid of $425,000.

The filly, out the Tactical Cat mare Hollywood and Wine, was bought by John Moynihan for Jess Jackson’s Grace Stable.

“We thought she was the best filly in the sale,” Moynihan said. “We love the stallion, and she is a really great, physical filly. She’s the one we liked the most. We are primarily buying colts, but we thought we would take a chance on her. I thought the price was a lot for her, but (for) the good ones, you have to spend the money.”

The filly, hip No. 212, was consigned by locally based Jerry Bailey Sales. Gulf Coast Farm bought the filly for $200,000 at the 2008 Keeneland September sale.

The top-selling colt of the first session was by Grand Slam and brought a winning bid of $400,000 from Moynihan, again representing Jackson for Stonestreet Stables.

The colt, out of the Dixieland Band mare Cosmic Wish, was listed as hip No. 112 and worked a quarter-mile in 20.3 in the under-tack show. The bidding started fast but settled in as Moynihan and Buzz Chace traded bids in $5,000 increments.

“He was a great-looking horse and moved well on the racetrack,” Moynihan said.

“When I saw the $5,000 bids, I said, ‘That must be Chace.’ We didn’t think he would go for that much. I was about to stop, but we’re glad we got him.”

Chace, who was bidding for West Point Thoroughbreds, also suspected Moynihan was bidding against him.

“Who got it? Moynihan?” he asked as he walked to the back of the sales pavilion. The two were bidding in different areas and couldn’t see each other.

“He was a nice horse,” Chace said. “I stopped bidding for a while, but then Terry (Finley) gave me a look, and I jumped back in.”

The horse was consigned by Off The Hook LLC. “His breeze was very impressive,” said Joe Appelbaum, one of the principals in Off The Hook. “Not only was he fast, but he did it in an easy, controlled manner. The horse has a wonderful stride, and he’s just a nicely balanced colt.

If you look at his pedigree and conformation, you can see he’s going to have some flexibility surface-wise.

Off The Hook bought the colt for $80,000 at the 2008 Keeneland September sale.

The second-highest-selling filly in the first session was hip No. 174, who sold for $360,000. The Floridabred Macho Uno filly out of the Touch Gold mare For-

Page 51

THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009 51

Adena.SaleRecap.qx:Florida Horse_template

3/31/09

4:18 PM

Page 1

Ghostzapper Colt Tops Adena Springs Sale colt from first crop sells for $250,000

colt from the first crop of Ghostzapper sold for $250,000 to top the Adena Springs Twoyear-olds in training sale March 16 at Adena Springs South near Williston.

The colt out of the Grade 1-winning stakes mare Collect the Cash was bought by trainer Mike Maker as agent for Thomas Conway.

“We liked everything about him,” Maker said, “and Mr. Conway really loves the pedigree. He’s a big, athletic colt.”

The colt listed as hip No. 12 was one of several Ghostzapper progeny in the sale.

“He was a beautiful horse on the racetrack.

Physically, he was just a grand, two-turn, scopey horse, so I thought he would sell really well,” said Mark Roberts, manager atAdena Springs South.

A

There was a tie for highest-priced filly and the second-highest priced horse in the sale.The first to sell for $120,000 was another Ghostzapper, this time a Floridabred out of the Cozzene mare Herzblatt. The dam was a winner of $129,928 and has already produced a stakes winner in Awesome Hero.

The filly, listed as hip No. 26, was bought by Hidden Brook, as agent for Blue Devil Racing.

Hip No. 67, a Florida-bred Macho Uno filly out of the Touch Gold mare Vividly, also went for $120,000. The top bidder was Clyde Rice.

Overall, the sale saw 49 head change hands for a gross of $2,149,000. Last year 97 head sold for $5,283,500. The average was $44,771, down from last year’s average of $54,469.

“The RNAs were at about the 30 percent range, which is what they always tend to be.

A little toward the end, we heard the median was up a little bit, the average was down, but nothing like the 30 percent the country’s been seeing lately. We had a little stronger catalog, so I though that carried us a little bit. I thought it would have carried us a little bit more, but overall I have to be fairly pleased with the results in this economy,” Roberts said.

The buyback rate ended up at 26.2 percent and the median was $36,000, up nearly 30 percent from $28,000 last year.

“I think there were a lot of people happy that the sale was back. We’ll have to see how things go for next year,” Roberts said. ■ JOE DIORIO PHOTOS

By CARLOS E. MEDINA

Mike Maker (inset) signs the ticket for Hip #12 at Adena Springs.

52 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009

Celeb.at.OBS.qx:Florida Horse_template

3/31/09

4:22 PM

Page 1

FLORIDA NEWS

Celebrities Take Center Stage At OBS March Sale ational celebrities and athletes are no strangers to the Ocala Breeders’ Sales roster of buyers and sellers, and the March juvenile sale was no exception. County singer Toby Keith sold one of the top-selling horses of the two-day sale.

Hip No. 401 sold for $410,000 to John Moynihan, who bought the Tiznow colt for Jess Jackson’s Toby Keith Stonestreet Stables.

Keith bought the colt, out of the West by West mare Reverence, for $120,000 as a yearling in the Keeneland September sale under the name of DWF (Dream Walkin’ Farm), based in Oklahoma.

The colt was consigned to the OBS sale COURTESY TOBY KEITH

N

by Hartley/ De Renzo Thoroughbreds.

Another celebrity represented at the March sale was chef and television personality Bobby Flay. Flay has long been a fan of horseracing and owns several Thoroughbreds. In November, Flay bought My White Corvette, the dam of 2008 Eclipse juvenile filly champion Stardom Bound, for $825,000 at Keeneland.

Flay bought two horses during the March sale.

The first was bought for $120,000 and was Hip No. 344.

The Rock Hard Ten colt is out of the Storm Cat mare One Dream Bobby Cat. Hoby and Layna Kight con- Flay LISA PHOTO

By CARLOS E. MEDINA

signed the colt. Flay also purchased hip No. 514, a Florida-bred Harlan’s Holiday colt out of the Cherokee Run mare Tribal Run, for $100,000. He was consigned by Parrish Farms, as agent.

Other celebrities with recent transactions at OBS sales include former Duke University basketball standout Bobby Hurley. The owner of Devil Eleven Stable, Hurley campaigned Songandaprayer.

Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino is a partner in Ol’Memorial Stable, which routinely buys horses at OBS and Adena Springs sales.

The next sale at OBS, the spring sale of 2-year-olds in training, is slated for April 20-23.

FasigTipton.qx:Florida Horse_template

3/31/09

4:16 PM

Page 54

Florida-bred Tops Fasig-Tipton Calder Sale

By CARLOS E. MEDINA

about 30 or 45 days. The guy who deserves all the credit red Brei knew he had something special when and did the work is Fred,” he said.

Brei said he knew he had to sell Cup o’ Joe, because the Medaglia d’Oro colt he named Cup o’ Joe lorded over the other babies in the paddock at he couldn’t campaign him properly.

“I wanted to give Joey an opportunity to run at the Brei’s Jacks or Better Farm in Ocala.

The Florida-bred colt became one of the most ex- top level. We would not have been able to give Joey a pensive cups of coffee ever sold on March 3, when he chance to run at the level that any of the top bidders brought $1.6 million to top the Fasig-Tipton Calder ju- would give him. I wanted him to have every chance and now he does.” Brei said. “I foaled venile sale in South Florida. him, I raised him, and I watched The colt, out of the Bayou We were expecting him everyday along with the other Hebert mare, Bayou Plans, was the horse to be in the foals, and this is probably the bought by John Ferguson on behalf most competitive and smartest of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid top two or three, but horse I’ve ever raised. He’s got the Al Maktoum. nobody knew how much potential to be a super horse.”

“Nobody knew what to expect money that meant. We In addition to the multi-graded out of the sale. We were expecting stakes-winning prowess of his the horse to be in the top two or were pleased that we three, but nobody knew how much had good under-bidders money that meant. We had no idea. and a good winning We were pleased that we had good under-bidders and a good winning bid —Fred Brei bid,” Brei said.

Padua’s Satish Sanan and Ahmed Zayat were the immediate under bidders.

The horse was one of the most popular of the sale, getting looks from dozens of potential buyers.

“I know some of them just wanted to take a look at him up close. He was a real busy guy,” Brei said. “He’s in good hands now. I would have been happy if any of the three would have got him.”

Consigned by Ciaran Dunne’s Wavertree Stables, the horse was a rare find in a juvenile sale.

“As pinhookers, we look for the physicals and sacrifice some on the pedigree, or we go for the pedigree and sacrifice some on the physicals, but this horse had both covered,” Dunne said. “You don’t often get a horse like this at the sales. They are usually sold privately as a yearling or are heading to the track. When you do bring them, you get paid well. The other factor is he looks like he can go two turns, and that’s what everybody wants.”

“We haven’t had him very long. We only had him for

F

“

54 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009

”

JOE DI ORIO PHOTOS

Hip #94 brought $1.6 million at the Fasig-Tipton Calder juvenile sale.

FasigTipton.qx:Florida Horse_template

3/31/09

4:16 PM

sire, the colt’s dam has been almost perfect as a broodmare and was a stakes winner in her own right.

Of her five other foals of racing age, all have made it to the track and four are winners, including multiple graded stakes winners Midas Eyes and Bayou’s Lassie.

Midas Eyes, by Touch Gold, won the Grade 1 Forego Handicap, and Bayou’s Lassie, by Outflanker, was the winner of the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes (G3).

Bayou Plans also produced stakes winner Bourbon N Blues, by Lycius.

“Any mare which gives you a good racehorse is important. Bayou has produced three stakes winners, two of those graded, out of five, so that tells you how important she is,” Brei said.

The 18-year-old mare is currently in foal to Awesome Of Course and has a yearling filly by Lemon Drop Kid. The auction was the second time through the sales ring for the Sunshine State product. Brei ran him through the Keeneland September yearling sale where he brought a final bid of $325,000. The price did not meet his reserve and the horse was bought back.

The Fasig-Tipton sale also produced two other sevenfigure horses, both by Unbridled’s Song and also pur-

Page 55

chased by Ferguson. Hip No. 75, out of the High Yield mare, Amazing Buy, sold for $1.1 million. Ocala-based Leprechaun Racing, owned by Britt and Mike Mulligan, consigned the colt. Hip No. 271, out of the Woodman mare, Rubywood, sold for $1 million and was consigned by fellow Ocala consignor Scanlon Training Center.

The top-selling juvenile filly was another Unbridled’s Song, this time Hip No. 95, and sold for $700,000. The filly out of the Tale of the Cat mare Be Gentle, was pur-

pinhookers, we look for the physicals and sacri“ficeAssome on the pedigree, or we go for the pedigree and sacrifice some on the physicals, but this horse had both covered. —Ciaran Dunne

”

chased by Westrock Stables and consigned by M. W. Miller III as agent.

The second-highest selling Florida-Bred was Hip No. 63, a Trippi colt out of the Our Emblem mare Xtra Emblem. The colt, named T Tebeau, was sold for $425,000 to H. Hirai. The colt was consigned by Off The Hook LLC as agent.

The colt had the fastest half-mile work of the under tack show, posting a time of 21 2/5.

Overall, the number of head sold was up over last

THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009 55

FasigTipton.qx:Florida Horse_template

3/31/09

4:16 PM

Page 56

Fasig-Tipton Calder Sale year, but the total gross was off 25.5 percent from 2008.

This year, 111 head sold for $26,151,000 compared to 2008 when 102 head sold for $35,100,000. The median and average was also down sharply. Median dropped to $150,000 from $230,000. The average was down from last year’s $344,118 to $235,595 this year. The buy-back rate improved from 40.4 percent in 2008 to 35.5 percent this year.

“We discussed what was likely to happen before the sale went on, and the reality turned out to be on the better side of our projections. Every time you open up a paper or watch the television, it seems that there’s another piece of depressing news. We didn’t want to set that tone before the sale, so we were being

positive and trying to get everyone in the right frame of mind. It wasn’t without some sense of realism, but being positive can translate to the totals and I think it did,” said Terrence Collier, Fasig-Tipton director of marketing.

The sales company also devoted a lot of resources to make the overall sales experience more enjoyable. The changes were put in place after Synergy Investments Ltd. bought the company in 2008.

“When the company was taken over by Synergy, one of the missions was to change the experience in both selling and buying horses. We put on a lot more hospitality and everything went well. This is just a start of what we intend to go on doing,” Collier said.

“Neither of the adjustments in the average or in gross

Florida Consignors Lead the Way at Calder Sale Florida consignors were wearing the biggest smiles following the Fasig-Tipton sale of selected 2-year-olds in training at Calder Race Course on March 3, as all three million-dollar horses at the sale were consigned by Marion County horsemen.

The three juvenile colts were sold to John Ferguson, the representative for Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum, who spent $4.64 million to purchase four horses at the sale. Ciaran Dunneʼs Wavertree Stables consigned the sales topper, a Medaglia dʼOro colt named Cup oʼ Joe, who is out of the Bayou Hebert mare Bayou Plans.

The other two sale leaders were colts by Unbridledʼs Song who went for $1.1 million and $1 million. Michael and Britt Mulliganʼs Leprechaun Racing consigned the

BY NICK FORTUNA

David Scanlon and Hip No. 75 (below)

56 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009

$1.1 million juvenile, whoʼs out of the High Yield mare Amazing Buy. That mare won five races at age 3 in 2005, including the $100,000 Pennsylvania Oaks at Philadelphia Park, to finish her career with $271,267 in earnings. Mulligan had sold Amazing Buy for $350,000 at this sale in 2004.

Leprechaun had bought the colt for $275,000 at the Fasig-Tipton sale of selected yearlings at Saratoga in August. The colt covered an eighth of a mile in 10 2/5 seconds during the under-tack show at Calder. Ferguson was competing for the horse with John Moynihan, who was representing Jess Jacksonʼs Stonestreet Stables, but was able to outbid his rival and produce the dayʼs first seven-figure sale.

FasigTipton.qx:Florida Horse_template

3/31/09

4:16 PM

Page 57

JOE DIORIO PHOTOS

was unanticipated. Nobody likes to be down, but you have to be realistic,” Collier said. “We hope to associate the sales with some of the more pleasant aspects of racing and being in the business,” he said.

The changes were welcomed by many of the consignors.

“The focus on customer service has been better than ever. Fasig-Tipton’s commitment to improving the sale has really been apparent. You can tell they are making a real effort to put on a good sale,” said local consignor Niall Brennan.

Brennan’s top selling horse was Hip No. 244, an A.P. Indy colt which sold for $560,000 with the ticket signed by Ferguson. In all, Ferguson signed six tickets worth $5,195,000. ■

Fasig-Tipton increased its customer service with hospitality tents.

Scanlon, Leprechaun consign million-dollar juveniles

“Heʼs a really strong colt,” Ferguson told the Thor- at Calderʼs under-tack show. oughbred Daily News. “Everybody knows that Unbri“What better a time to be selling an Unbridledʼs Song dledʼs Song has had a really good time of it recently. He than now?” Scanlon said. “Heʼs kind of the flavor of the was a horse that showed himself on the racetrack well, moment right now because heʼs had so much success and he looks the type to get two turns. Weʼre very ex- recently and has young horses all over that look like cited to have him.” theyʼre going to be prospects. This colt is very forward Leprechaun sold six horses for $2.63 million on and very professional. He came down here and worked Tuesday, including a Friends Lake colt who sold for good and caught the attention of everybody. He has a $625,000 to Padua and Zayat stables. great overall demeanor. He showed himLeprechaun had purchased the colt, out self well and carries himself with a lot of of the Coxʼs Ridge mare Miss Coxʼs Hat, pride and confidence.” for $160,000 at the Saratoga sale.

The sale was reminiscent of last The third-highest-priced horse was the year, when Scanlon sold the sales-toplast juvenile to enter the sales ring Tuesping colt for $2.1 million to the sheikh. day and commanded a final bid of $1 milThat colt, a son of Street Cry named lion. David Scanlon of the Scanlon Desert Party, has become a top prospect Training Center consigned the horse on heading into the Kentucky Derby (G1), behalf of Robert LaPenta. having won the Sanford Stakes (G2) at David Scanlon For Scanlon, this yearʼs Calder sale Saratoga in July and the UAE 2000 shaped up much like last yearʼs, where only four of the Guineas (G3) in Dubai last month on his way to 21 horses he led through the sales ring met their re- $288,467 in earnings. serves. Only one of the first 10 horses Scanlon sent to Tuesdayʼs $1 million sale helped make up for the auctioneer Tuesday met his minimum bid, but just a disappoint Scanlon suffered earlier in the day, when a like last year, Scanlon had one horse whom buyers sim- colt by Officer failed to meet his $490,000 reserve.

“Weʼre in tough economic times, so itʼs not like ply couldnʼt refuse.

The colt is out of the Woodman mare Rubywood, we came here with rose-colored glasses on, but we who was a $1 million purchase at the Keeneland sale in were concerned because there were some really good November 2004. LaPenta had purchased the colt for horses that we thought we had action on,” Scanlon said. $450,000 at Keenelandʼs sale of yearlings last Septem- “It was disappointing, but at the same time, weʼre not ber. The juvenile covered one furlong in 10 3/5 seconds just going to give away talented horses.”

THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009 57

Fm.Serv.FreeLstng.09.Bleed.qx:keep current

3/5/09

4:07 PM

Page 1

Farm Service Directory Free Listing Please check the category/categories (maximum of 2 please) you would like listed for your farm/business in

THE FLORIDA HORSE FARM & SERVICE DIRECTORY:

. .............

MISCELLANEOUS

.............

RS

OF S E

............. .

A

E

ORIDA HO E FL RS TH YE

R

50

CE

50

VI

TH

E

............ .

L

F

ACCOUNTANTS APPRAISAL SERVICE ATTORNEYS BANKS & INSURANCE BLACKSMITHS BLOODSTOCK AGENTS EQUINE CHIROPRACTORS EQUINE DENTISTS EQUINE SERVICE EQUIPMENT FEED/TACK

NURSE MARES ORGANIZATIONS PEDIGREES PRODUCTS RACETRACKS REALTORS SALES COMPANIES SCHOOLS TRAINING CENTERS TRANSPORTATION VETERINARIANS

SE

Please identify the breed For example - QUARTER HORSE

GIFTS & COLLECTIBLES IDENTIFIERS LODGING MEDIA & DESIGN ARTISTS

R

THOROUGHBRED FARM OTHER BREED FARM

Ye ar

OR

IDA

H

O

s o f S e r vi c e

Serving Florida’s Thoroughbred Indu since 1958 stry

Please help us keep you current RESPONSE DEADLINE APRIL 17, 2009

If you would like to purchase a gray screen for $25.00 to SPOTLIGHT please check box You will be billed - payment due May 15, 2009 IS THIS A NEW FARM/BUSINESS?

your listing—

____________________________________________________________________

FARM/BUSINESS NAME: ____________________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS: ______________________________________________________________________________________ FARM/BUSINESS PHONE:

________________________ FARM/BUSINESS FAX: ________________________________

WEBSITE: ____________________________________ EMAIL: ____________________________________________ OWNER OF FARM/BUSINESS: ________________________________________________________________________ MANAGER OF FARM:

____________________________ MANAGER’S PHONE: ________________________________

BARN PHONE: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ACREAGE: ______________________________________________________________________________________ SIZE OF TRAINING TRACK: __________________________________________________________________________ SERVICES OFFERED: ________________________________________________________________________________ STALLIONS STANDING:

____________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________ VISITING POLICY: __________________________________________________________________________________ VISITORS WELCOME FROM ________________ TO ______________

VISITORS PLEASE CALL FOR APPOINTMENT NO VISITORS

RESPONSE DEADLINE April 17, 2009

DATE __________________________ SIGNATURE ________________________________________________________________________

For more information: 352-732-8858 • Fax: 352-629-3603 or 352-867-1979

RETURN TO: THE FLORIDA HORSE • 801 SW 60TH AVE., • OCALA, FL 34474 Attention: Beverly Kalberkamp

NEWS.Page59.qx:Florida Horse_template

3/27/09

3:02 PM

Page 1

FLORIDA NEWS

OBS Enforces New Policies at Previews T

By CARLOS E. MEDINA

JOE DIORIO PHOTO

wo instances of possible whip violations during the Ocala Breeders’ Sales March juvenile sale breeze show are currently under review.

“Nothing seemed flagrant about the instances. We are still reviewing them and will make a decision soon,” said Tom Ventura, OBS general manager and director of sales.

In February, OBS fined four consignors for five whip violations. It was the first sale in the country to be bound by the new rules, which also include strict steroid policies and bans of certain equipment. Each whip violation carries a fine of $500.

The guidelines state that a rider can’t strike a horse behind the girth while between the eighth pole and the finish line. Riders must also keep both hands on the reins within the same area. If needed, they can use the whip in front of the girth for safety reasons. They can’t strike the horse in any manner after crossing the finish line.

“Some of the riders do it by instinct. That’s kind of what they’ve been doing, more or less, for years. Overall, the riders have been using the whip much less, even before the institution of the policy. They know the horse just shows better that way,” Ventura said. “It’s a good policy. I don’t think they were abusing the whip before, but it’s still a matter of adapting to the new policy.”

At the March Fasig-Tipton sale at Calder, nine consignors received fines for violating the policy during the breeze show there.

Most of those violations came after riders used the whip past the finish line.

Last year, the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering announced new rules for the use of anabolic steroids and toe grabs.

The new rules were based on recommendation by state Thoroughbred groups, including the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’Association, the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association and OBS. OBS had already announced its own ban on the use of exogenous steroids within 45 days of a sale.

After the February sale, there were four requests to test for steroids. Those tests came back negative. After the March sale, 10 requests were made. Again, they all came back negative, Ventura said.

The policies, agreed to by the major sales companies in the United States, also restrict toe grabs, bends, jar calks and any other traction device worn on the front shoes. There are also restrictions on some practices used to intentionally conceal a “material defect or chronic lameness.”

THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009 59

BlackStallion2.qx:Layout 1

THE

3/31/09

12:41 PM

Page 60

Black Stallion Literacy Project

Marion County’s first-grade students experience the joys of reading, thanks to horses.

By SHANNA BELLINGHAM AND SUMMER BEST

“It looks like Little Black!” an excited little boy exclaimed. harmony of “oohs” and “ahs” from 20 first-graders filled the lobby of Hammett Bowen Jr. Elementary School the morning of March 23. It took only a few minutes for Angie Draper to have their undivided attention.

She began with a blank piece of paper and a black marker; within seconds she transformed a square into a horse.

Draper, 80, is known for her exquisite horse paintings, many of which adorn the walls of The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association building. Wellknown portraits there include Affirmed (the last horse to win the Triple Crown in 1978) Precisionist, Needles and Rough N’ Tumble. Arguably, Draper’s most recognized pieces are the book covers for the original Walter Farley novels: “The

SHANNA BELLINGHAM PHOTOS

A

60 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009

Black Stallion and The Girl,” “The Black Stallion Challenged,” “The Black Stallion’s Ghost,” and “Man O’ War.” Draper’s message to the first-graders at Hammett Bowen in March was to demonstrate how images are words, during a lesson in The Black Stallion Literacy Project.

“I like to share the common subject,” Draper said. “If they like the story and my drawings, I like to show them. Horses are magnetic…majestic. I think if illustrations in books were a magnet for me to read, it will be the same for them.”

The Black Stallion Literacy Project is a public schoolbased operation to encourage elementary students in reading by introducing horses as a learning tool. The BSLP was officially established in 1999 by Walter Farley’s son, Tim Farley, and Mark Miller, creator and owner of Arabian Nights Dinner Attraction in Kissimmee.

“The reading project is important for children. Action invites them in,” Draper said. “If they are interested in horses

BlackStallion2.qx:Layout 1

3/30/09

3:20 PM

Page 61

SHANNA BELLINGHAM PHOTOS

and can see and touch the horses, they will be interested in reading the books. The illustrations of horses are what got me involved in reading when I was a child.”

The Ocala artist has been an active enthusiast of the BSLP since it began. From her collaboration with Walter Farley many years ago, Draper remembers Farley’s excitement and dedication as he and his sons promoted literacy in schools and libraries.

She began working with Farley on his book covers while she was attending Sarasota’s Ringling College of Art and Design.

“Everyone knew I was a horse nut,” Draper recalled, “and that I did horse pictures. (Farley) had seen some of my work at the college and asked me if I would do the art work.”

The Junior League of Ocala, in partnership with FTBOA and the Public Education Foundation of Marion County, is entering its eighth year of work with the BSLP. The BSLP’s First Grade Program curriculum combines a live horse experience with readings of Walter Farley books designed for the first-grade reading level. Books are distributed by the Junior League of Ocala to the first-graders after the children spend chaperoned time with horses and learn more about equine behavior and care.

On March 3-5, Marion County’s 3,600 first-grade students experienced that first visit, called “First Touch,” when horses from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office arrived at each of their schools. Officers took time to have each student pet their horses and ask individual equine-related questions. Students then took home their own copy of Walter Farley’s “Little Black,A Pony.”

Thanks to transportation funding from another local donor, Louie F. Wise III, first-graders will also experience their “Second Touch” with a horse April 14 and 21 at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion in Ocala. After completing a full curriculum, students will receive their second

Marion Countyʼs BSLP has been active for eight years. The program is reportedly the largest in the nation and continues to grow.

Angie Draper art can be viewed at the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’Association at 801 SW 60th Ave. Ocala, 34474. For further information about The Black Stallion Literacy Project, visit www.bslp.org.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANGIE BLAIR

3,600 MARION COUNTY STUDENTS

book, “Little Black Goes to the Circus.”

Marion County’s BSLP has been active since 2001 and is reportedly the largest in the nation. Previously, the program was also offered to Marion County fourth-graders, but funding for that age group was not available this year.

“This is one of those programs that is so important for our schools,” said Carole Savage, director of the Public Education Foundation of Marion County. “The first-grade program alone will cost somewhere between $32,000-$34,000, when you consider books, transportation and the curriculum.

We would love to see the entire program remain intact.”

Other supporters and sponsors for the unique learning experience include: Seminole Feed, Panera Bread, Farriers Depot Inc., The Tack Shack of Ocala, Marion County Sheriff Department’s Mounted Police, Marion County Therapeutic Riding Association and The Corporate Office of the Black Stallion Literacy Project. I

THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009 61

NEWS.62.63.qx:Florida Horse_template

3/30/09

3:22 PM

Page 62

FLORIDA NEWS

This Ones for Phil Wins Grade 2 Swale Stakes Big Drama disqualified for interference during stretch run

eading into the March 28th, $150,000 Swale Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park, there was little doubt that the best horse in the field was a stakes-winning Florida-bred. But after a controversial and crowd-pleasing stretch duel between This Ones for Phil and Big Drama, it’s still not clear which Sunshine State product deserves to be called No. 1.

Big Drama finished half a length ahead of This Ones for Phil and stopped the clock for the seven-furlong race in 1:20.88, breaking the track record of 1:21.11 set by Exclusive Quality three years ago. But while running just ahead of This Ones for Phil during the whole stretch run, Big Drama twice drifted out toward his rival and brushed up against him, leading to a stewards’ inquiry that reversed the order of finish.

The loss snapped Big Drama’s five-racing winning streak and was his first defeat since a third-place finish in his career debut last July at Calder Race Course. Following the race, trainer David Fawkes wouldn’t complain about the ruling, though he was visibly frustrated after seeing his horse turn in a winning effort only to take home second-place prize money.

“I’m very proud of the horse – I’m just disappointed,” Fawkes said. “He set a track record, so I’d have to be an idiot not to be pleased, but he did make contact with him. He’s a nice horse. What I saw was a new track record, and I got taken down. Should he have stayed up? I don’t know. I have to watch it again.”

Big Drama was running for the first time since capturing the Delta Jackpot (G3) at Delta Downs in December. His 3-year-

H

62 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009

old debut had been delayed until Saturday because he had kicked himself in his left hind leg while in his stall in January, causing a bone bruise that required surgery.

Last year, Big Drama became the first horse to sweep the open division of the Florida Stallion Stakes at Calder since Sir Oscar in 2003, and in the Swale, he proved that he’s not a one-season wonder. Fawkes said he expected his colt to run a big race despite a layoff of almost four months, and the horse delivered, gaining a lead early in the race, with This Ones for Phil running just behind him.

This Ones for Phil made his move at the top of the stretch, but Big Drama responded the same way he did when challenged by West Side Bernie in the Delta Jackpot, digging in and never relinquishing his lead.

Garrett Gomez, who was riding This Ones for Phil for the first time, said he might have been able to overtake the leader had his

horse not been interfered with.

“The horse ran a beautiful race,” Gomez said of This Ones for Phil. “We got a good break. I was asking the horse for a little at the (half-mile) point, and we got going some.

(Big Drama) clearly bumped me. All you have to do is watch the tape. In fact, he bumped me twice. He did it at the eighth pole and again about 50 yards before the wire.”

Big Drama has now earned $890,250 from seven starts to rank second among all horses sired by Ocala Stud Farm stallion Montbrook, whose top earner is Shake You Down at $1.44 million. Fawkes said he and Ocala’s Harold Queen, who bred and owns the horse, would discuss future plans for Big Drama.

The victory was the second major score of the year for This Ones for Phil, who set a 116 Beyer Speed Figure in winning the Sunshine Millions Dash at Gulfstream Park in January, his first race for trainer Rick Dutrow. The gelding had finished fifth behind Florida Derby champion Quality Road in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Hallandale Beach last month, having tired and lost the lead in that one-mile contest.

This Ones for Phil was bred by Gilbert Campbell’s Stonehedge Farm South operation in Williston as a son of resident stallion Untuttable. He had finished fifth behind Big Drama in both the $100,000 Dr. Fager and $400,000 In Reality divisions of the Florida Stallion Stakes last year but was able to earn his first stakes victory in the $60,000 Seacliff Stakes at Calder in September.

This Ones for Phil, owned by a group that includes Paul Pompa Jr., has won four of his 11 starts This Ones for Phil and Big Drama for $325,340. I JOE DIORIO PHOTO

By NICK FORTUNA

NEWS.62.63.qx:Florida Horse_template

3/30/09

3:22 PM

Page 63

Quality Road Holds Dunkirk at Bay in Florida Derby Winner sets track record during 1¾-length triumph

By NICK FORTUNA he Florida Derby champion’s path to the Kentucky Derby certainly has been a Quality Road.

On March 28, Quality Road answered any questions about his ability to handle two turns in resounding fashion, winning the $750,000 Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park by 1 ¾ lengths over fellow Kentucky Derby prospect Dunkirk. Quality Road finished the nine-furlong test in 1:47.72 to beat the track record of 1:47.79 set by Brass Hat in the Donn Handicap (G1) in 2006.

Quality Road stamped himself as a leading contender heading into the May 2 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs by winning for the third time in four career starts. He’s now 2-for-2 as a 3-year-old, having won the Fountain ofYouth Stakes by 4 ¼ lengths with a 113 Beyer Speed Figure last month at Gulfstream.

The son of Elusive Quality ran just behind the pacesetter, Florida-bred Casey’s On Call, for much of the race before taking command near the quarter pole. Dunkirk had run about eight lengths behind the leaders early in the race, then made his move around the final turn. He went four wide to get a clear path for his stretch run and pulled just about even with Quality Road for an instant before the winner repulsed his bid.

Quality Road withstood an objection by Kent Desormeaux, the rider of third-place finisher Theregoesjojo, who had claimed interference near the top of the stretch.

Quality Road, who was making his second straight start with John Velazquez aboard, has earned $632,830.

“Today’s effort was terrific,” winning trainer James Jerkens said. “He sat nice for John, didn’t give him any trouble and rated.

When we went by the pacesetter, John gave him a breather. That was the whole thing. He didn’t open up. He had a lot left to deal with Dunkirk. As for the objection, it didn’t look

COGLIANESE PHOTO

T

like much. The other horse (Theregoesjojo) fell out of there so quick.”

Owner and breeder Edward P. Evans said he received a $2.5 million offer to sell Quality Road after his victorious career debut, a 2 ¾-length at Aqueduct in November for which the horse earned a 101 Beyer. Evans refused the offer, then watched his colt run second behind Theregoesjojo in an allowance at Gulfstream in January. But any doubt over whether he made the right decision was erased when Quality Road remained unbeaten in stakes races.

For Dunkirk, the second-place finish places him on the bubble for the Kentucky Derby. The race’s field is determined by graded stakes earnings if more than the limit of 20 runners is entered in the race. Dunkirk got $150,000 for the runner-up effort, a sum that might not be enough to get him into the starting gate. Trainer Todd Pletcher said he

Quality Road

isn’t planning to run Dunkirk again in any of the Kentucky Derby prep races that are scheduled for the coming weeks in an effort to pad his bankroll and secure a spot in the Derby.

After sitting out his juvenile season because of shin problems, Dunkirk started his career with two victories at Gulfstream, winning by a combined 10 ½ lengths in a maiden special weight race and an allowance. The son of Unbridled’s Song, out of 2000 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Secret Status, has earned $193,200. He was the most expensive yearling sold at auction in 2007, when Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier and Derrick Smith paid $3.7 million for him at the Keeneland September sale.

“Quality Road ran a big race,” Pletcher said. “He’s (Dunkirk) made huge strides. He fell back just a touch more than I would have hoped, but he made a huge move in the final THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009 63

NEWS.Page64.qx:Florida Horse_template

3/31/09

4:31 PM

Page 1

FLORIDA NEWS

Leading Florida Breeders 2009

By Earnings Name

Starts Starters Wins 2nd 3rd

Earnings SW

Name ..............Starts Starters Wins 2nd 3rd

Earnings SW

Four Horsemen’s Ranch . . .36

14

10

7

3

$2,685,497

1

Hobeau Farm Ltd. . . . . . . .40

14

9

5

7

$370,676

1

Appleton Arthur I. . . . . . . .199

75

27

25

29

$854,689

2

Joseph Barbazon & Helen Barbazon . . . . . . . . .39

12

7

6

4

$347,894

1

Padua Stables . . . . . . . . .284

106

33

44

37

$824,053

2 MGG Holdings . . . . . . . . . . .3

1

1

0

0

$344,428

1

Adena Springs . . . . . . . . .305

118

42

42

31

$795,456

2

White Cross Farm . . . . . . .25

12

5

3

4

$776,888

2

Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds . . . . . . . . . . .5

3

2

1

0

$329,070

2

Campbell Gilbert G. . . . . .205

75

33

29

19

$775,279

1

Ocala Stud Farm . . . . . . . .76

30

14

9

6

$313,639

1

Hechavarria Luis de . . . . . .46

16

10

7

5

$731,705

1

Franks Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

2

1

1

1

$311,440

1

Farnsworth Farms . . . . . .397

137

36

51

54

$703,613

1

Kinsman Farm . . . . . . . . . .83

27

18

13

10

$289,292

1

Plumley Harold J. . . . . . . . .72

28

16

13

8

$495,796

2

Frazier D. W. Dr. . . . . . . . . .86

31

11

7

10

$468,061

0

Carol Hershe & Marty Hershe . . . . . . . . . . . .5

2

1

2

0

$271,210

0

Kosanovich Milan . . . . . . . .22

8

5

5

4

$439,702

2

Clover Leaf Farms II, Inc. . .96

37

14

10

14

$247,214

0

Live Oak Stud . . . . . . . . . . .76

35

5

7

9

$236,693

0

Melnyk Eugene . . . . . . . .111

39

17

13

13

$229,777

0

J D Farms . . . . . . . . . . . .157

60

16

14

15

$222,051

0

Rolando Rodriguez & Rolbea Stables . . . . . . . . . . .5

1

0

2

0

$210,000

0

Ming Donald L. . . . . . . . . . .12

4

2

5

0

$195,856

0

Mount Joy Stables . . . . . . . .2

1

1

1

0

$195,000

1

Jacks or Better Farm Inc. . .98

36

8

8

9

$194,585

1

Robert A, Murphy & Dr. Sandy L. Price-Murphy .16

5

3

2

5

$194,190

1

McDonnell Francis . . . . . . .52

16

16

3

3

$192,381

0

Glen Hill Farm . . . . . . . . . .53

21

8

9

7

$175,254

0

Haras Santa Maria de Araras S.A. . . . . . . . . . .63

25

5

8

11

$174,527

1

Ersoff Stanley M. . . . . . . . .62

21

9

7

4

$171,967

0

Steve Tucker & Bryan Tucker . . . . . . . . . . . .2

2

1

0

0

$165,000

1

Dizney Donald R. . . . . . . . .36

14

4

2

5

$161,824

1

Hidden Point Farm Inc. . . . .98

32

8

19

11

$139,297

0

64 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009

Classifieds.April.qx:Layout 1

3/31/09

5:15 PM

Page 1

Classified ADS Call (352) 732-8858 FARM SERVICES

INSURANCE

Fred Burton

Tom Williams INSURANCE, Inc.

PAVI NG • 800.709.1 903

Farmowners & Livestock Mortality Insurance

Specializes in Farm Paving ASPHALT HAULING • PAVING PARKING LOTS SEAL COATING • FARM LANES SMALL DRIVEWAYS • ROAD GRADING

Located in Ocala

REAL ESTATE

352-873-3435 www.tomwmsins.com

Eleanor M. Hancock Eleanor M. Hancock Freelance Photographer Eleanor M. Hancock Photographer Freelance Freelance Photography, People,Photographer Pets, Events and More Photography,People, People, Pets, and More On Location Photography, Pets,Events Events and More On Location On Location Memory Videos

Memory Videos

Memory Capture your pastVideos and present Capture your past and present with photgraphs, music and text.

Capture your past andand present with photgraphs, music text.

Call for with photgraphs, music and text. fordetails details 352-572-7917 352-572-7917 Call emhphotography@aol.com Callemhphotography@aol.com for details 352-572-7917 emhphotography@aol.com

PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOGRAPHY BY

JOSEPH DIORIO Cell 352-427-9502

WeCreate Equine Photography & Video

(904) 294-4393 Beverly Harrison Campbell on the web at www.WeCreate.tv

www.winningimages.biz

EQUINE

Louise E. Reinagel

BARN FOR RENT

HORSE PHOTOGRAPHER Visit me at www.horsesites.com/r E-Mail: limelightf@mfi.net

(352) 237-3809

12 stall concrete barn with 2 apts/feed/tack room.

Wash rack. 20 acres fenced.

7 paddocks with water.

Located near Morriston.

352-207-1494 or 352-624-3030

ADVERTISER’S INDEX ADENA SPRINGS FARM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

MARTIN STABLES SOUTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

BRIDLEWOOD FARM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9, 10, 13, 29, 45

MCKATHAN FARM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

DANDY PRODUCTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

NTRA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12, 14

DOUBLE DIAMOND FARM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

OCALA BREEDERS SALES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE . . . . . . . . 24, 25 OCALA STUD FARM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 FTBOA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33, 37 OCD EQUINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 FLORIDA HORSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 PENROD LUMBER AND FENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 HARTLEY/DERENZO THOROUGHBREDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 JERRY PARKS INSURANCE GROUP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

SIGNATURE STALLIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

JOURNEYMAN STUD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

STONEHEDGE FARM SOUTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

KUBOTA TRACTOR CORP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

THE SANCTUARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

LOSSING STRICKLAND INSURANCE GROUP . . . . . . . . . 44

VINERY LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

PlayersPage.qx:Florida Horse_template

3/27/09

3:34 PM

Page 1

PLAYER’S PAGE

Not Much Has Changed

by Paul Moran

It is sobering that what Dr. Montgomery observed in his study of the sport as shortcomings and problems remain so in the 21st Century.

66 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2009

here is a book store in Saratoga Springs, familiar to many summer visitors, that specializes in used and collectable tomes and inside of which there is a corner of shelves that contain books on racing. Often, an hour or so spent rummaging there on a summer dark day will result in finding things that make you smile; sometimes things that will make you shake your head.

E.S. Montgomery, a physician and author, an authority on dogs and a breeder and owner of thoroughbreds, undertook an exhaustive, 582-page study of the sport and all its various aspects called simply “The Thoroughbred,” which was published in 1971 and found for sale last summer at the Lyrical Ballad bookstore.

At the end of a work that dealt with many topics, Montgomery offered in summary a chapter titled, “Author’s Conclusions,” reflections and recommendations on what he saw as the major issues of the day – 28 years ago. It is astounding how little ground has been covered in that time. Many things have changed little, if at all, in the racing game over the last three decades.

“Racing should have a commissioner or a court of commissioners who would rule on disputes among racing participants in much the same way as the commissioners of professional baseball and professional football,” Montgomery wrote. “The formation of the court would be a giant step in producing increased public confidence in the sport of racing and cementing a feeling of stability and cooperation among racing participants and racing organizations.”

That’s still on the to-do list.

Montgomery: “I have often wondered if bettors — $2 or $100 bettors – ever pause to think how their horse came into existence, was reared and trained, and how he came to be running in the race. This is the story Thoroughbred racing must tell. It must educate the public about horses as animals of breeding, beauty and business as distinguished from a mere number on the program. It must acquaint the public with racing as a sport and a business rather than just a form of gambling.”

This was written in which the print media was actively involved in racing coverage and well before the advent of simulcasting and off-track wagering beyond NewYork

T

OTB, which was in its nascent days. This was written when all the legal casino gambling was in Nevada; when state lottery had something to do with the draft.

“Today, there is a scarcity of good stable help,” Montgomery observed 28 years ago. “The reasons are many, but the most-significant are: the lack of interest in working 12 hours a day seven days a week and living in the ‘home’ conditions that exist on the backstretch of almost every race track.”

Despite some spotty progress in the area of housing, not much has changed there.

“Each year for the past decade, all the Thoroughbred racing organizations have discussed long and hard the problems of racing,” Montgomery wrote. “… Drugs and masking drugs, uniform rules and cooperation among racing associations.Yes, the talk is loud, sometimes heated and always long; yet no one or no one group ofThoroughbred organizations and associations has made a determined giant step to move forward. Each organization has a definite interest of its own, which it defends from all outsiders.”

Sound familiar?

“The man who pays the bills is the $2 bettor,” Montgomery said. “He must be considered in every department of racing.”

There has been no meaningful progress there, though $2 in 1971, adjusted for inflation, is more than $10 today.

“Racing secretaries for the most part are a little odd in many ways, but especially in the way they write races,” Montgomery noted. “They write 10 races daily for the horses they wish were on the grounds instead of the horses that are there.”

This remains a common complaint in an age when it not unusual to see an overnight with 10 extras for the horses that may or may not be there.

It is sobering that what Dr. Montgomery observed in his study of the sport as shortcomings and problems remain so in the 21st Century. Secretariat was a yearling when “The Thoroughbred” was published.There was no such thing as a personal computer. The exacta had not yet been invented and it was way before Lasix and cobra venom.

Still, as in Montgomery’s day, the talk remains loud, sometimes heated and always long.

AD bleed check.qx:Layout 1

3/27/09

1:35 PM

Page 1

AD bleed check.qx:Layout 1

3/27/09

1:01 PM

Page 1

Indian Charlie - Shahalo, by Halo | $5,000

A.P. Indy - Zagora, by Kingmambo | $2,500

Thunder Gulch - Circle of Life, by Belong to Me | $7,500

Touch Gold – Sultry Allure, by Forty Niner | $3,000

Distorted Humor - Tom’s Cat, by Storm Cat | $5,000

A.P. Indy - Adoradancer, by Danzig Connection | $4,500

Deputy Commander - Glitters, by Glitterman | $2,500

Elmaamul - Sweet Revival (GB), by Claude Monet | $5,000

Elusive Quality - First Glimmer, by Glitterman | $4,000

Forest Wildcat - Penniless Heiress, by Pentelicus | $6,500

Maria’s Mon - Ionlyhaveeyesforu, by Tunerup | $2,500

All fees Live Foal/Stands and Nurses Stallions nominated to Breeders’ Cup, FSS & FTCS

Brent & Crystal Fernung, Owners | Ken Breitenbecker, General Manager 5571 NW 100th Street, Ocala, FL 34482 | Office: 352.629.1200 | Fax: 352.629.1201 Brent@JourneymanStud.com | www.JourneymanStud.com