April/May 2012 Florida Horse

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Experience the thrilling sport of Florida's Thoroughbred industry.

To learn more about breeding and owning racehorses in the Sunshine State, call us today or visit us on the web at www.ftboa.com

FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’

Lonny T. Powell, CEO and Executive Vice President www.facebook.com/thefloridahorse 352-629-2160 • Fax: 352-629-3603

AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION 801 SW 60th Ave. • Ocala, FL 34474 www.ftboa.com • info@ftboa.com

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April/May • 2012/ VO L 5 5 / I S S U E 4

FEATURES 16 LITTLE MIKE WINS FIRST GRADE 1 20 FLORIDA CUP Florida-bred It’s Me Mom sets track record at six furlongs

By Doug McCoy

30 JACKSON “DOESN’T” BEND 32 NORTHWEST STUD Quality over quantity

By Michael Compton

38 LYNNE BOUTTE Lynne Martin Boutte sells her first million-dollar horse.

By Jo Ann Guidry

44 SARATOGA RUSSELL Florida-bred Saratoga Russell became much more than a thoroughbred racehorse By

50 EQUINE CARE: DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING

By Heather Thomas

53 SMOOTH TRANSITION Tod Wojciechowski, Director of Sales at OBS, has a long history with the sales company and the Ocala community

By Michael Compton

DEPARTMENTS/COLUMNS 6 THE BROCK TALK 8 FLORIDA FOCUS 18 FLORIDA-NEWS: DERBY WINNER HAS FLORIDA CONNECTIONS 28 CHASE TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP 48 FLORIDA-NEWS: FASIG-TIPTON FLORIDA SALE RECAP

By Michael Compton

49 LEADING FLORIDA SIRES 54 OBS MARCH 2-YEAR-OLD IN TRAINING SALE RECAP 58 FARM MANAGEMENT

By Jamie Cohen

59 YOUR FLORIDA HORSE PARK

By Connie Duff Wise

60 PRACTICALLY SPEAKING: GOPHER MOUNDS

By Mark Shuffitt

62 PLAYER’S PAGE: DANGEROUS REACTION?

By Paul Moran 4 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL/MAY 2012

COVER PHOTO OF LITTLE MIKE: REED PALMER CONTENTS (NORTHWEST STUD): SERITA HULT

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

Brock Sheridan BUSINESS MANAGER

Patrick Vinzant ART DIRECTOR

John Filer CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

JoAnn Guidry ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Beverly Kalberkamp CORRESPONDENTS

Jay Friedman, Doug McCoy, Cynthia McFarland, Mark Shuffitt, Michael Compton

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 Phil Matthews, President/Board Chairman Brent Fernung, 1st Vice President Francis Vanlangendonck, 2nd Vice President Sheila DiMare, Secretary Bonnie M. Heath III, Treasurer CEO & EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Lonny T. Powell CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Caroline T. Davis

© 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.

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FTBOA OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS Phil Matthews, President Brent Fernung, First Vice President Francis Vanlangendonck, SecondVice President Sheila DiMare, Secretary Bonnie M. Heath III, Treasurer

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CEO & EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

Lonny T. Powell THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL/MAY 2012 5

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Brock Sheridan • Editor-in-Chief Florida Equine Publications

Florida Finger Prints Cover Kentucky Derby

By BROCK SHERIDAN

pany Spring April Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training for $35,000. (See lthough there were no Florida-breds in the Kentucky Derby story on page 54). If you’re keeping score, that is $24,000 in profit that presented byYum! Brands this year, there were plenty of Mar- hit the Marion County and Florida economies. Add to that the feed, emion County finger prints all around Churchill Downs on the ployees, veterinary care and supplies, land, barns, race track maintenance, first Saturday in May. As many as 11 of the Derby starters had connec- transportation and tack spent on I’ll HaveAnother during his stay here in tions to the Ocala area, including the top three finishers.

Marion County, and one can begin to calculate the impact As many as 11 of Winner I’ll HaveAnother was purchased out of the 2010 one young thoroughbred has on the area and Florida econthe Derby starters omy. According to one Ocala-area farm manager, the cost Keeneland September Yearling Sale by Victor Avilia of Ocala, who works as an exercise rider at Dr. Barry had connections to train a yearling into his 2-year-old year and up to the date Eisaman’s Eisaman Equine in Williston, Fla. Avilia pur- to the Ocala area, of his sale, hovers around $90 per day. So for a horse like I’ll chased the son of Flower Alley for $11,000 before return- including the top Have Another who was brought to Marion County in Septhree finishers. tember of 2010 and sold in April of 2011, that roughly ing to Ocala to train the colt with the assistance of Eisaman.

Derby runner-up Bodemeister received his early training from J.B. equates to nearly $19,000. With several thousand yearlings coming to and Kevin McKathan at their training Center in Citra and third-place Marion County, Florida each year, their total impact on the economy is finisher Dullahan spent time at Gold Mark Training Center in Ocala. hundreds of millions. If one uses the horses that pass through just the After six months of training I’ll Have Another, Avilia sold the colt four two-year-old in training sales conducted in Florida this year, they under Eisaman’s consignment at the 2011 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Com- alone generate some $40,000,000 in economic impact before there is ever a hand raised to bid on them. A conservative estimate is that these two-year-olds will generate some additional $85,000,000 in gross receipts at these four auctions.

It wasn’t just Derby horses at Churchill Downs that day that received their early training in Ocala. Little Mike, winner of the $500,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic received his early training from James Crupi and his team at New Castle Farm in Ocala. Bred in Florida by Carlo Vaccarezza of Parkland and owned by his wife Priscilla, Little Mike is trained by Dale Romans. But Vaccarezza is quick to point out that Crupi deserves much of the credit for the success of the 5-year-old gelding.

“I want to give a lot of credit to Jimmy Crupi,” Vaccarezza said Owner after the Turf Classic. “He’s had the horse since he was a baby. He Priscilla Vaccarezza took his time, never rushed it with the horse and broke him the right Breeder way. And like he tells me, a strong foundation goes a long way.”

Carlo Vaccarezza The Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G3) run at Churchill on Derby day, was Trainer also won by a Florida-bred in Great Attack. Bred by Edward Seltzer of Dale Romans Williston and Murray Durst of Hollywood, Great Attack is also by the Stonewall Farm Ocala stallion Greatness. In winning the $125,000 Turf Sprint, Great Attack was just ahead of Bridgetown in second, who is yet another local product. Bridgetown is owned by Melnyk Racing Stables and bred by Eugene Melnyck, owner of Winding Oaks Farm in Ocala.

So don‘t be misled when the Kentucky Derby does not feature a regisNew Castle Farm tered Florida-bred. At one time or another, most of them have considered Marion County home.A closer look at the other stakes at Churchill Downs There’s no hastle at the Castle 4625 N.W. 110th Ave., Ocala, Florida 34482-1833 • Contact J. J. Crupi that day, and there is little doubt the major impact Florida breeding and 1-866-313-5400 • 352-427-1600 (cell) • www.newcastlefarm.com training continues to have on thoroughbred racing on a national scale. ■

A

Congratulations

to all the connections of Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Winner Little Mike

CRUPI’S

6 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL/MAY 2012

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Florida FOCUS

Master Rick Takes Northern Spur Stakes The results of the $100,000 Northern Spur StakesApril 14 at Oaklawn Park answer the age old question as to why they run horse races.

Before the race, it was difficult to see how Drill could be beat. He was a Southern California-based multiple stakes winner of the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity and the Grade 2 San Vincente. He came from the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who had won his fifth and sixth consecutive stakes at the Arkansas track later in the day when Alternation won the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) and Bodemeister took the Arkansas Derby (G1).

Drill was by far the richest competitor in the Northern Spur with $339,710 and the only one with even a six figures bankroll. His pilot

was Rafael Bejarano, the second leading rider at the current Santa Anita meeting. Obviously the wagering public thought the same as they made Drill the odds-on favorite at 3-5.

But none of that mattered to Florida-bred Master Rick.

During the early stages of the race, jockey Corey Nakatani had Master Rick placed behind the moderate pace of leader Double Rah Rah, who ran the first quarter of a mile in :24 seconds and the half in an even slower :48.40.

Around the far turn, Master Rick came from between horses to get to the front while Drill raced four-wide to get to even terms with the leader and the two began their battle. They bobbed heads until just inside the eighth pole

when Master Rick pulled away, winning by 1¼ legnths. Master Rick completed the one mile Northern Spur in 1:36.73.

Master Rick gave his supporters $12.60 for their $2 win tickets and gave trainer Steve Asmussen and Nakatani their fifth win together on the day.

Asmussen began the final two days of the Oaklawn meeting one race behind Allen Milligan, who had led the standings for most of the meeting. But Asmussen won three races on April 13 to Milligan’s one, then pulled ahead for the title with the big final day concluding the “Fifth Season” with 36 wins to Milligan’s 31.

“It’s a great day for Steve [Asmussen] and

Jackson Bend Takes Grade 1 Carter in New York With an aggressive move at the five-sixteenths pole off the rail and to the outside, jockey Corey Nakatani positioned Floridabred Jackson Bend for an epic confrontation with front-running Shackleford in the Grade 1, $400,000 Carter Handicap. After matching strides to the top of the stretch, Jackson Bend finally willed his way to the lead only to have 2011 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Caleb’s Posse close in on him with every stride.

At the wire, Jackson Bend remained in

DAVID ALCOSSER PHOTO

Florida-bred Jackson Bend

front, by a nose, to win an electrifying 112th edition of the Carter on April 7 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The five-horse field assembled the cream of the middle-distance runners in the country, and the matchup more than lived up to its billing. The 5-year-old Jackson Bend, owned by Robert LaPenta and Fred Brei and trained by Hall of Famer Nick Zito, won the Carter, one of the prized sprints in racing, in 1:22.32 for seven furlongs.

Shackleford, the 2011 Preakness (G1) winner, finished 1½ lengths behind Caleb’s Posse in third, followed by Emcee and Tahitian Warrior.

Calibrachoa was scratched.

While the Carter didn’t definitively settle who the best middle-distance runner in the country is, it showed Jackson Bend is an ace at seven furlongs, running his record to a perfect 4-for-4 at the distance.

8 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL/MAY 2012

“The way he was moving, I felt I’d get next to Shackleford, let Shackleford do a little of the dirty work and go …,” said Nakatani, who won four races on the Resorts World Casino New York City Wood Memorial card. “…once I got around the turn, I was going to see where I was at. When Caleb’s Posse started coming at me … this horse has so much heart. It brings a tear to my eye. He’s Mighty Mouse. He’s so little, 15 hands, but he’s got so much heart.”

Zito said he, too, teared up watching the race.

“That was some thrill, I’ll tell you,” he said. “It’s amazing, this business. You know, as a groom, I grew up around here, and I watched [the race] from right over there, where I used to watch it when I rubbed horses.

I put my foot under a lucky spot from when I used to rub horses. It’s just a great feeling.”

The Carter presented a fascinating handicapping puzzle, and the lightly campaigned but torridly fast Emcee figured to make the pace.

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and I’m really happy to be part of his team,” Nakatani said after winning on Master Rick. “And I’m very [happy] for owner [Richard L. Davis.]” Despite all the success the jockey and Asmussen had earlier, like those who bet Drill and 9-5 second choice Explain, even Nakatani was taken aback by Master Rick’s performance in the Northern Spur. “It shaped up a little better than I thought it would,” he continued. “I was biding my time and about the half-mile pole, I let him out a little bit and when Drill came to me, I opened up a little bit on him. Hoping it would work and it did.”

It was only the second win for Master Rick who had just broke his maiden at Oaklawn Mar. 17 after four tries in previous

races. Bred by English Ranch Farms, Master Rick earned $60,000 for the win and increased his earnings to $94,930.

Master Rick is a graduate of last year’s Ocala Breeders’Sales Company Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training where he sold for $47,000.

“It was a good opportunity for [Master Rick] today,” Asmussen said. “But we’re going to find more big races for him.”

Drill, who was bred in Kentucky by Stonewall Farm which is now located in Ocala, hung on for second and finished eight lengths ahead of third-place finisher Explain. Drill, a son of the late stallion Lawyer Ron, only returned $2.20 for a $2 place ticket but the $2 exacta with Master Rick on top paid a nice $26.00.

Eclipse Award winner and Florida-bred Horse of the Year Musical Romance rebounded from her disappointing 2012 debut in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Sprint to register a three-quarter-length victory over the 45-1 Hot Summer in the Mar. 17 $150,000 Inside Information at Gulfstream Park.

Musical Romance grabbed a quarter and tore her shoe half off leaving the starting gate in the Sunshine Millions, doing well to finish fourth in her first appearance since sewing up an Eclipse Award with a 11⁄4-length victory over Switch in the Breeders’Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. But she had no such issues at the start of the Grade 2 Inside Information, breaking alertly and racing well placed a couple of lengths behind the pacesetters.

Musical Romance appeared to be in some trouble when she lacked racing room near the inside through early stretch. But Leyva remained patient and found a seam near midstretch, at which point Musical Romance burst through the opening to run down leader Hot Summer.

Florida-bred Musical Romance

Correction

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In an article entitled Elite Eleven published in the February issue of The Florida Horse, we inadvertently omitted Toby’s Corner as a Florida-bred Grade 1 stakes race winner in 2011.

Owned and bred in Florida by Dianne D. Cotter, Toby’s Corner won the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Wood Memorial at Aquduct Racetrack on April 9, 2011. A son of Bellamy Road, who was also a Wood Memorial winner bred by Cotter, Toby’s Corner was trained by Graham Motion and ridden in the Wood by Eddie Castro.

Prior to winning the $1,020,000 Wood Memorial at 1 1/8 miles, Toby’s Corner had won the $100,000 Whirlaway Stakes and was third in the $250,000 Gotham Stakes (G3), both at Aqueduct in 2011.

After winning the Wood Memorial, deFlorida-bred Toby’s Corner feating 1-10 favorite and champion Uncle Mo, Toby’s Corner was being trained to start in the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (G1) when he suffered an injury to his left hind leg and was forced to miss the Triple Crown races.

Toby’s Corner has resumed his racing career in 2012, finishing third in both the General George Handicap Feb. 20 at Luarel Race Course in Maryland and again third in the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds April 1.

COGLIANESE PHOTO

Florida-bred Master Rick #5

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Musical Romance Gets Up To win Inside Information

Musical Romance, who had not hit the board in five previous starts at Gulfstream, completed seven furlongs in 1:21.88 and returned a generous $11.20 considering she is the reigning Filly and Mare Sprint champ.

“I’m so proud of this filly, she’s really remarkable,” said trainer Bill Kaplan, who also owns Musical Romance in partnership with Pinnacle Racing Stable. “She got hurt pretty bad in her last start - she had an infection in that heal and missed three weeks of training. But she told me she was ready the way she’d been training, and Juan is the Ice Man. He stayed in that pocket, waited and waited, and then got through. I was afraid it wasn’t going to open up, and then she came through there.”

THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL/MAY 2012 9

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Take Charge Indy puts Borel in his comfort zone for Florida Derby win

Florida FOCUS

‘TAKE CHARGE’

South Florida racing fans don’t get to over Reveron in second and the heavily fa- after Union Rags lost his right hind shoe in the paddock and had to have it tacked back on. see jockey Calvin Borel much. During the vored Union Rags in third.

“Julien said Javier was on him the whole While Reveron stalked Take Charge Indy Spring and Summer Borel rides primarily at Churchill Downs and the three-time Ken- throughout the entire race, he could not main- time down the backside, but that’s just racetucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (G1) tain his brief lead in the far turn and was just riding. He said he should have been closer the way the track has been right now.” Matz said. winner spends the winter months riding at second best in the Florida Derby.

Union Rags, on the other hand, had more “Horses aren’t coming back. Pat’s [Byrne Oaklawn Park in Arkansas and Fair Grounds trainer of Take Charge Indy] horse got an easy to deal with during the race. in New Orleans.

Around the clubhouse turn, it appeared lead and he got a head start on me, and we Just in case anybody watching the Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream didn’t know what jockey Julien Leparoux had Union Rags in just couldn’t get him.”

Byrne had a slightly different perspective makes the cajun rider so special, Borel good position on the inside in fifth, some three showed them how he likes to ride (and win) and-a-half lengths off of Take Charge Indy and on the race. “I didn’t feel there was any pressure on me going in. I was a race. Aboard Take Charge Indy, Borel just behind Neck ‘n Neck, broke the 7-1 choice from the three post just who also running on the I appreciate owners seven, 8-1. Mike [Matz] was slower than Reveron, Union Rags and Neck rail in third. But down the like Chuck and Maribeth [2-5]. It’s nice to be [2-5] because it usually means you ‘n Neck, all of which started to his outside. backstretch, jockey Javier Sandford for giving me an have the best horse on that But Borel used his inside post to get the lead Castellano on El Padrino and he wasn’t about to give up the rail. rushed up just to the out- opportunity. I’m blessed day. But I wouldn’t trade Breaking from the eight hole on Reveron, side of Union Rags, and to have a horse like Take places with him. This was a jockey Elvis Trujillo tried the hardest, but suddenly Leparoux found Charge Indy. —Pat Byrne solid race today,” Byrne said.

“I appreciate owners like Borel quickly had Take Charge Indy on the himself in a box with no Chuck and Maribeth Sandford for giving me lead and on the rail-just where he feels most way to move closer to the leader.

That box stayed closed on Union Rags an opportunity. I’m blessed to have a horse comfortable. And from where Borel is also down the backstretch and all the way around like Take Charge Indy.” most dangerous.

Take Charge Indy covered the 11⁄8 miles of As those who watch Borel regularly know, the far turn and into the stretch, when by that when he begins his relaxing rocking chair time, Take Charge Indy was long gone. the Florida Derby in 1:48.79 and returned motion while racing in front, he can be down Reveron was still lengths ahead also, but Union $17.40 for a $2 win ticket. Reveron paid Rags put in a valiant effort to fall just a neck $18.40 to place while Union Rags returned right deadly.

Although Reveron took the lead from the short of catching Reveron and wound up third. $2.10 to show. The Take Charge IndyMichael Matz, the trainer of Union Rags, Reveron $2 exacta paid $252.40.

Take Charge Indy momentarily around the far turn, Borel bounded along on Take admitted that he didn’t expect the result even The $600,000 first place check is more Charge Indy on the rail than enough to qualify Take Charge Indy for as cool as an Atlantic the Kentucky Derby to be run May 5. Reveron breeze, unfazed by the added $200,000 to his graded earnings move by Trujillo and bankroll and may have enough for a ticket to Reveron. Then just beKentucky, now having $220,000 in graded fore they turned for earnings. Union Rags had enough graded home, Borel said “go” earnings to qualify for the Run for the Roses and Take Charge Indy before the Florida Derby and his $100,000 went-sprinting away third-place check took his graded earnings from their Florida total to $1,170,000. Fourth-place finisher El Derby rivals with apPadrino should also have enough to get to parent ease on their Kentucky, earning $50,000 for $250,000 in way to a length victory total graded earnings.

Take Charge Indy winning the Florida Derby

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COGLIANESE PHOTO

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10 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL/MAY 2012

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Florida FOCUS

Benny the Bull to Shuttle to Brazil

Beat the Blues Returns to Winning Ways in Carousel Stakes

COADY PHOTO

Florida-bred Beat The Blues

Florida-bred Beat the Blues took the 33rd running of the $75,000 Carousel Stakes at Oaklawn Park April 12 giving the bay mare her third win in her last four starts and her first stakes win since taking the Saylorville Stakes at Prairie Meadows last June.

The 5-year-old daughter of Great Pyramid (IRE), rated comfortably on the inside off a pace set by Mysterious Chimes, who led the field through an opening quarter in 21.88.

Jockey Miguel Mena kept the Bret Calhoun trainee just off a tier that included Omi’s Vindication and stablemate Gleaming as the frontrunner went the half in :45.42, then advanced to second when the rail opened up off the turn. They went five-eighths in :57.57 as Beat

the Blues surged to a 13⁄4-length advantage.

Final time for six furlongs was 1:09.67.

Beat the Blues was bred by Edward Pendray, B.K. Pendray and William F. andAnnabel Murphy giving Murphy his second Carousel as a breeder. In 2006 Murphy along with his wife Annabel bred Carousel winner Graeme Six. After the race Calhoun commented that he has been patient in returning Beat the Blues to the track since coming to Oaklawn Park from Florida, where she finished sixth, beaten 13 lengths at Gulfstream Park in her last race.

“The first thing we wanted to do was get some weight back on her” Calhoun said. “She had really gotten excited [in Florida] and we wanted to get her back and let her regroup.

We got her here pretty early and just let her take herself along [and] get her confidence back and it worked out nicely for her.”

“Everything went the right way for us today,” Mena remarked. “We had a good break and a good run, second position in the turn and the rail opened up perfect for us. I asked her to run and she did. She was the best horse in the race today.”

Sent off at odds of 4-1, Beat the Blues returned $10.60, $6.20, and $4. Mysterious Chimes paid $10.20 and $4.60, and Gleaming brought $2.40.

Honor Glide Dead at 18

12 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL/MAY 2012

LOUISE REINAGEL PHOTO

Turf Triple Crown winner of $1.4 million, Florida-bred Honor Glide, died April 4, of a heart attack.

Winner of both the Secretariat (G1) at Arlington, and the Sword Dancer (G1) at Saratoga, Honor Glide won or placed in 12 graded stakes, including a track record at Belmont, stakes records at Arlington and Woodbine, spanning a 6 year racing career. He is the only horse since Buckpasser in 1966 to win the Turf Triple Crown.

Honor Glide was bred in Florida by Bonnie Heath Farm and raced by Rob Schaedle and Bonnie Heath Farm. He was trained by Jim Day and Christophe Clement. He began his stud career in Florida before moving to Fanlew Farms, where he now has his first crop of Louisiana two-year-olds. He has progeny Florida-bred Honor Glide earnings in excess of $3.5 million.

International bloodstock agent Renato Gameiro (Albatroz Bloodstock) and owner Greg James reached an agreement to shuttle 2008 Eclipse Champion Sprinter Floridabred Benny the Bull to Brazil for the 2012 and 2013 Southern Hemisphere breeding seasons . Winner of the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash Stakes (G1) and the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1), Benny the Bull will stand at Haras Santa Tereza do Bom Retiro (Jose Adriano Quadros), located at Julio de Castilhos, Rio Grande de Sul. Benny the Bull will return to Vinery at Ocala for Northern Hemisphere duties.

“From my point of view, if you lose an Eclipse Award winner, you need to replace him with another Eclipse Award winner,” said Renato Gameiro. “Benny the Bull is

Florida-bred Benny The Bull

LOUISE REINAGEL PHOTO

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going to replace Artax. Traditionally Brazil has been looking for stamina, but we are looking to infuse the breed with speed, and I believe Benny the Bull’s brilliance and acceleration can translate to our market.”

“It is very exciting and rewarding to see Benny the Bull going to Brazil for Southern Hemisphere duties. I had received several offers last year, but none that I felt as confident and comfortable in as Haras Santa Tereza. It is a great opportunity, with great tradition and high quality mares. With the quality of his foals, the future of Benny the Bull is very exciting,” said Greg James.

Benny the Bull, an 8-year-old horse by Lucky Lionel – Comet Cat, by Birdonthewire, retired with a record of 9-3-2 from 20 starts and earnings of $2,353,430. He was bred in Florida by Tomoka Farms, Inc.

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Florida FOCUS

Florida-bred Imperial Czar Capitalizes on Rain storms covered southern Florida April 21 forcing the Grade 3 Miami Mile to come off the turf course and onto a sealed and sloppy main track, allowing for six scratches from the $125,000 race. That was all fine with trainer Saul Matos as his Imperial Czar drew into the body of the one mile race from the also eligible list, then promptly won against the abbreviated field of eight.

Ridden by jockey Jesus Rios, Imperial Czar broke from post seven then settled nicely mid-pack in fourth around the first turn, five lengths behind pacesetter Ducduc. But down the backstretch and three wide around the far turn, Rios allowed Imperial Czar to creep ever closer to the front then took the lead at the top of the stretch. Ducduc was not finished and fought Imperial Czar from the rail and from further back, Numb Lips was rolling too. It was still anybody’s race with a furlong to run but Imperial Czar would not give up the lead and went on to a three-quarter length victory over Numb Lips who had just passed the stubborn Ducduc for second. The speedy Ducduc was still safe in third place.

“The race went just like I anticipated it would,” Rios said after dis-

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Florida-bred Imperial Czar

COADY PHOTO

Miami Mile Opportunity

mounting in the winners’ circle. “There was a lot of speed and I wanted to sit off it; not too far back, but far enough that when I asked him, he would just go on. And he did. He loved the track, and he just went on when I asked.”

That strategy also met the approval of Matos, who saddled Imperial Czar for owner Jessica Colon. “It’s the jockey,” Matos said. “In Puerto Rico, I won over 125 races with [Rios]. And all of my stakes races that I won in Puerto Rico were with this jockey. I have very good luck with him. I just put him on the horse and tell him to do whatever he wants. I have nothing but confidence in him.”

It was just the second time Rios had ridden Imperial Czar after taking over for jockey Orlando Bocachica during the winter. Jockey Rios and the Florida-bred hit it off right away though, winning a $25,000 starter allowance over Gulfstream Park’s main track Apr. 5, the first win for Imperial Czar in seven starts since taking the American Dreamer Stakes at Calder last summer. The Miami Mile was the seventh career win in 28 races for the 4-year-old Imperial Czar, who was bred by R.C. Voorhees and Elizabeth A. Steinbach. Imperial Czar is by Imperialism, who stands in Florida at Get Away Farm in Lowell. Imperial Czar is also a graduate of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company 2008 October Sale where he sold for the bargain price of $2,000.

Imperial Czar covered the mile in 1:39.86 and earned $75,000 for the win bringing his career bankroll to $269,786. The victory was a bit of a surprise to Calder punters who let Imperial Czar break from the post as the sixth choice at nearly 9-1 odds. But those who supported him were rewarded with $19.80 for a $2 win ticket with the Imperial Czar-Numb Lips exacta returning a healthy $124.40. With favorite Decisive Moment finishing fifth, the trifecta paid $738.60 and the superfecta price flashed $2,719.20 on the Calder tote board.

Completing the order of finish wasYummy with Butter in fourth then Decisive Moment, Tannersville, It’s Never to Late and Sette E Mezzo.

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In winning his first Grade 1 victory, Little Mike outlasts

The victory was extra special for trainer Dale Romans, who noted that Little Mike was sidelined for much of last year due to a condylar fracture. “A pretty sweet victory for Mike,” he said. “He’s a super horse.”

16 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL/MAY 2012

Bred in Florida by Carlo E.Vaccarezza, owned by PriscillaVaccarezza, Little Mike increased his career earnings to $830,412.

REED PALMER PHOTO

a quality field going wire to wire in winning the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic by 21⁄2 lengths at Churchill Downs.

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THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL/MAY 2012 17

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FLORIDA NEWS from the Derby

Graduate of Barry Eisaman’s early

training program takes the 138th Run for the Roses

Derby Celebration Quiet for Eisaman

By BROCK SHERIDAN

$11,000. He’s done that for a few years now, so fter watching I’ll Have Another win the Ken- we’ve always helped him.”

Eisaman also consigned the chestnut colt to tucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (G1), one would expect Dr. Barry Eisaman to be the 2011 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company Spring enjoying the victory with notable celebration. After Sale of Two-Year-Olds In Training last April where all, the winner of 138th running of the American he was purchased by Dennis O’Neill for $35,000. sports classic was a graduate of Eisaman’s early O’Neill frequents OBS to buy prospective runners training program and consignment at Eisaman for his brother, trainer Doug O’Neill and their Equine in Williston, Fla. But it was quite the contrary clients.When Dennis signed the ticket to purchase I’ll Have Another last year, he was acting as an for the Marion County horseman.

“I didn’t get to see the much of the [Kentucky agent for J. Paul Reddam and his Reddam Racing Derby] program,” Eisaman said from his consign- LLC. And it was Reddam in the Churchill Downs ment barn at the Fasig-Tipton Sale in Timonium, winner’s circle Saturday hoisting the golden KenMaryland. “I was at the Atlanta airport watching tucky Derby trophy.

“I’m very happy for Dennis and Doug [O’Neill] the race on a television monitor about ten people deep. I had loaded [horse transportation] vans all and Mr. Reddam,” Eisaman said.“Mr. Reddam has afternoon on Saturday then I flew out that evening been such an immense supporter of this sport. He to meet the vans in Maryland Sunday morning.” didn’t have to go to a yearling sale and give a milAnd although Eisaman had achieved a mile- lion dollars for this horse. They got themselves to stone in the thoroughbred racing world, he was far the big dance for a very inexpensive investment.

Now they’ve won $2 milfrom instant celebrity lion and I imagine the status. “Nobody [at the horse is now worth conairport] knew anything siderably more than that. about me or my affiliaIt couldn’t happen to a tion with the Kentucky better guy. It’s nice to see Derby winner,”Eisaman him standing with all of said with humility. “I that celebration around mean I was jumping him. around a little, but It is also a tribute to everybody is jumping Dennis [O’Neill]. I think up and down watching an event like that. I Iʼll Have Another takes charge in the stretch of many buying systems get the 138th Kentucky Derby. encumbered with team wasn’t any different buying and force a horse to pass the criteria of three, than any other racing fan at the airport.”

Not even in the enclosure of the commercial four or more people.Dennis just kind of eases around flight did Eisaman achieve recognition. “There the [OBS Sale] barns by himself.He uses a vet,but it’s was nobody in the seat next to me so I just tried good old fashioned horsemanship that he used to buy to relax and get some rest. When I got to Mary- this horse and that Doug uses to train.”

After leaving the Ocala April OBS sale, I’ll Have land, I had a late dinner and went to bed.”

Even when asked, Eisaman was quick to pass Another was shipped to Doug O’Neill’s barn at around credit for his affiliation with the Derby win- Santa Anita in Arcadia, Ca. The colt quickly began ner. “Actually it was an exercise rider at our farm returning on Reddam’s investment, winning a Holthat bought the colt [Kentucky Derby winner I’ll lywood Park maiden special weight race in July, Have Another]. Victor Davila bought the colt as a earning $33,000 in his first race. In his next start yearling [at the Keeneland September Sale] for I’ll Have Another finished second in the Grade 2 REED PALMER PHOTO

A

18 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL/MAY 2012

Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar Racetrack near San Diego, beaten 1¾ lengths by Creative Cause, who was fifth in the Kentucky Derby Saturday. O’Neill then shipped I’ll Have Another, named for when Reddam often asks his wife for another cookie, to New York where he finished sixth, beaten 19 lengths by Florida-bred Currency Swap in the Grade 1 Hopeful at Saratoga.

O’Neill then gave the Flower Alley colt five months of vacation before returning him in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G2) in February at Santa Anita, where he won at odds of 43-1.Two months later he won the Santa Anita Derby (G1), this time defeating Creative Cause by a nose.

Saturday, the wagering public let I’ll Have Another go off at 15-1 odds but the colt and young jockey Mario Gutierrez responded with a trouble free race and a late rally to catch front runner Bodemeister and win the Derby by 1½ lengths.

Bodemeister, another product of Marion County training having graduated from the training center of J.B. and Kevin McKathan in Cirtra, Fla., hung on for second with Dullahan rallying to get up for third. Final time for the 1¼ miles was 2:01.83.

Reddam’s winner’s check was $1,459,600 and pushed the career earnings of I’ll Have Another to $2,093,600. Bred in Kentucky by New Jersey real estate businessman Harvey Clarke, I’ll Have Another is by Flower Alley and out of Clarke’s broodmare Arch’s Gal Edith, by Arch.

Doug O’Neill said shortly after the race on the NBC telecast of the Derby that they expect to take the Derby winner to Pimlico for the Preakness Stakes (G1) May 19. I’ll Have Another now tries to become the first horse since the Florida-bred Affirmed in 1978 to win theTriple Crown consisting of the Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes (G1) June 9.

While it is the first Derby winner to graduate from Eisaman Equine, Dr. Eisaman has been on a yearlong run of producing notable winners. 2011 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Plum Pretty and 2011 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Ruler On Ice are all products of the center’s training.AfleetAgain,winner of the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Marathon (G2) was also trained by Eisaman and his training center team. ■

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It’s Me Mom Florida-bred It’s Me Mom sets track record at six furlongs

By DOUG MCCOY

Florida-bred It’s Me Mom answers by holding off My Charming Clyde while setting a track record for six furlongs at Tampa Bay Downs.

20 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL/MAY 2012

or the most part runners from South Florida have usually been the horses to beat on most previous Florida Cup days. But on April 7 when Tampa Bay Downs and the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owner’s Associaton teamed up to honor runners bred in the Sunshine State, it was a locally based runner who attracted the bulk of the attention.

F

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Highlights Florida Cup Merlot when tried at six and a half furlongs, a race that snapped a four race win streak.

Then there was the presence of Tommy’s Memory in the field. If It’s Me Mom was the fastest sprinter on the grounds, Tommy’s Memory had to be in the top three along with Action Andy. In previous races, Tommy’s Memory had been shooting to the front at the start and cutting out some blistering fractions. Even though he hadn’t been able to handle Action Andy

THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL/MAY 2012 21

COOLEY PHOTOS

It’s Me Mom, bred by 87-year-old Thomas Bosch and wife Jean, was the morning line favorite for the $75,000 Hilton Garden Inn Sprint on Cup day and was the horse many local fans had come out to see.

But while she was the early favorite, there were still questions looming as they went to the post in the Sprint. For starters this was to be It’s Me Mom’s first test against male rivals. And she came into the Sprint off a stunning loss to White

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Florida-bred Roman Tiger won the Turf Classic

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in three starts locally this meeting, Tommy’s Memory had, nevertheless, been in front into the stretch of those races and in the six and a half furlong overnight handicap the race previous, had flirted with the track record of 1:08.69 while heading into the final sixteenth on the lead.

So the big question was: Would Tommy’s Memory and It’s Me Mom hook up in a suicidal speed duel that would severely compromise the chances for both runners?

It didn’t take long for that question to be answered.

When the field broke from the chute, It’s Me Mom shot to the front, as usual, but Tommy’s Memory was not, as many expected, right at her flank from his outside post as jockey David Amiss was content to allow his mount to lay off the pace along the outside and watch It’s Me Mom. So with no pressure early, It’s Me Mom, with Jorge Vargas substituting for regular rider Willie Martinez who was in New York to pilot Trinniberg to victory in the Grade 3 Bay Shore, was able to cut out a relatively soft opening quarter of :22.49 and half of :44.24 while racing off the inner rail.

Out of the turn Vargas asked It’s Me Mom a bit and the filly kicked in, opening up a bit past the furlong marker then having more than enough left to hold a safe

I just let him settle, and he began to pick up the field “getting to the far turn and I hadn’t even asked him. ” —jockey Angel Serpa

22 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL/MAY 2012

margin over My Charming Clyde. It’s Me Mom covered the six furlongs in 1:08.67 which set a new six furlong track record.

“I thought there might be an early challenge but we outbroke the field and were out on our own going easily,” Vargas said after, “I let her know it was time out of the turn and she came away nicely.”

Jackfrost Ofcourse was three lengths back in third with Quiz Whiz fourth. The win was the 10th from 16 lifetime starts and the $45,000 winner’s share ran her career earnings to $475,600.

Lynn Scace trains It’s Me Mom, who will now be pointed for the Grade 2 $400,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters this summer.

It’s Me Mom was bred in Florida by Thomas and Jean M. Bosch and is by the Bridlewood Farm stallion Put It Back.

TURF CLASSIC

The nine furlong Turf Classic produced the closest finish of the afternoon as Roman Tiger swept by a host of runners in the final 40 yards to post a three quarter length victory, his second straight win over the Tampa Bay Downs course.

Bred in Florida by Bowling and Dodd, Roman Tiger, who had stunned the players in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes in his last race by slipping through

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along the rail to capture that race at 28-to-1, showed the horse was a buyback at a 2-year-old sale at Timothat win was no fluke as he took the overland route in nium in Maryland. He bought him for a client, but when the Classic. Roman Tiger swung to the far outside for the client declined, Manning decided to keep Roman racing room a furlong out then roared past Vanquisher, Tiger for himself. who had stuck a nose in front from between rivals, faAlthough he has won only four of 25 starts, the vetvored Slews Answer and Bwana Brave, to be up in eran stakes campaigner’s earnings are now $456,470. time. The winning jockey on Roman Tiger was Angel He covered the nine furlongs in 1:48.10.

Serpa.

“This guy (Roman Tiger) is all race horse,” Serpa FIRST DUDE TURF DISTAFF STAKE said.” The last time, we stayed inside every step and he Hooh Why is a horse who’s story is bittersweet to say ran them all down late. Today he broke wide and I had the least. And the 6-year-old mare added another chapto straighten him out and we were well back. But I have ter to that tale in the Turf Distaff when she came away so much confidence in him. I just let him settle, and he with a head decision over favored Unbridled Humor in began to pick up the field getting to the far turn and I that 11⁄16-mile test on turf. The final time was 1:41.46. hadn’t even asked him.

Gail Gee, owned Derby Daze Farm but she passed 3 “I asked him about the ⁄8-mile pole and he really re- away suddenly a year and a half ago. Her boyfriend sponded. At that point, I knew I had a ton of horse and all Mark Hoffman owns Hooh Why with E.B. Gee Jr. and I had to do was keep him out of traffic to win. We hit the his wife Rosemary and Earl Trostrud Jr. lead in midstretch and he still had run and I just gave him “It’s very emotional every time this mare runs” Hoffhis head and that was that.”

Owner/trainer Dennis J. I didn’t ask her until entering the stretch. She was Manning purchased Roman Tiger for $20,000 from blood- getting a little tired at the end and we were in tight, but stock agent Glenn Brok after she had just enough. —jockey Rosemary Homeister Jr.

24 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL/MAY 2012

“

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man admitted, “She was on her game today. Our strategy was to sit third but she just dragged [jockey] Rosemary [Homeister Jr] up there, she couldn’t take her back.”

Homeister referred to the ride as a “dream trip” and said she didn’t ask Hooh Why for much until entering the stretch.

“I figured we’d sit third and follow the speed, but the pace was so slow and she wanted to get up there,” Homeister said. “She relaxed well just off the leader (Speak Easy Gal) and I didn’t ask her until entering the stretch. She was getting a little tired at the end and we were in tight, but she had just enough.”

The win and $45,000 winner’s share of the Distaff raised Hooh Why’s career earnings to $988,172. Another Smokey turned in another good effort for trainer Joyce Kielty to be third.

OCALA BREEDERS SALES SOPHOMORE STAKES

Mike Tarp is one of those “snowbirds” as the Calgary, Alberta car dealer spends his winters in Spring Hill. But he has investments in the Sunshine State of a four-legged variety. Tarp bought the 2-year-old High Cotton colt out of the Fasig-Tipton 2-year-old in training

Page 25

I’m just looking forward to the rest of the year with “him.

I think we will be pointing at stakes races, most likely at Churchill Downs. ” —Mike Tarp

sale for $70,000 and got a good bit of that investment back when the late running Dale Romans trainee passed the leaders of the seven furlong Sophomore Stakes.

Tarpy’s Goal then turned back a late rally from Midnight Serenade for a length victory that was worth $45,000.

Indirectly A.P. finished third.

Tarp, who owns a Chrysler dealership in Calgary, has several horses with Romans, all with the prefix “Tarpy’s” in their name.

Bred by Chad R. Schumer and Nancy Sexton, Tarpy’s Goal won for the third time in nine lifetime starts. Last July, he finished third in the Grade 2 Futurity at Belmont. By Ocala Stud stallion High Cotton out of Terre des Hommes, he was his sire’s first winner last May at Churchill Downs.

Tarpy’s Goal paid $8.60 as the third betting choice in the field of eight.

Tampa Bay leading rider Leandro Goncalves rode

Florida-bred Tarpyʼs Gold won the Sophomore Stakes

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Tarpy’s Goal and said he rode him per instructions.

“They told me he would put in a late run and he sure did,” Goncalves said. “There were a bunch of them going quick up front so I was glad to be behind the lead group.

I asked for run going into the turn, but a horse came up outside and I had to wait and then we got pushed wide entering the stretch. But as soon as we had a clear run, he just fired up and was really moving at the end.

“He had to be dead fit to run that kind of race.”

“He has done very well for us,” Tarp said. “He had plenty of run, and it is doubly exciting when you are the owner. He had a couple of bum races as a 2-year-old, but he is a pretty fine colt.

“He has some big races ahead of him. I’m just looking forward to the rest of the year with him; it will be Dale’s decision where he goes next, but he is looking really good right now. I think we will be pointing at stakes races, most likely at Churchill Downs.”

FloridaCup

STONEHEDGE SOPHOMORE FILLY SPRINT

Florida-bred Xunlei prevaled in the Ocala Breedersʼ Sales Sophomore

Trainer Dale Romans made it 2-for-2 on the Florida Cup Day card when 3-year-old filly Xunlei wore down favored pace-setter Citizen Advocate and rolled to a four-length victory under Tampa Bay Downs leading

Any time we ship them out of town, we think they’re “ doing good.”

—Terry Oliver

26 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL/MAY 2012

jockey Leandro Goncalves, who had ridden the Romans-trained Tarpy’s Goal to victory in the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sophomore.

Xunlei, a daughter of Vinery Florida stallion D’wildcat, was bred by Rustlewood Farm, Inc. and is owned by Paul Bulmahn’s Gold Mark Farm LLC. Romans’ assistant, Terry Oliver, saddled both horses with his boss in NewYork to attend to Shackleford in the Grade 1 Carter.

Xunlei sped the seven furlongs in 1:23.17 – .35 seconds faster than Tarpy’s Goal’s winning time. It was her third lifetime victory in seven starts.

Xunlei had also been entered at Gulfstream, but Oliver said the connections were looking for a stakes score and felt she was ready to handle the assignment.

“Any time we ship them out of town, we think they’re doing good,” Oliver said. “She didn’t really get along with the polytrack (surface) at Ocala (a fourthplace finish in the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sprint on March 12), but we thought she was doing well enough to bring her here.”

Oliver left Gulfstream at 4:30 a.m. Saturday with both horses, arrived at Tampa Bay Downs at 9 a.m. and six-and-a-half hours later had two Florida Cup Day winners and a combined $90,000 in earnings.

Goncalves kept her in fifth place early before asking Xunlei for her best at the ¼-mile pole, and she responded quickly and professionally, leaving the others to vie for second.

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“They told me she could come from off the pace and we actually out-broke the field,” Goncalves said. “I let her settle off the lead group, but when I asked for run we got up in behind four horses and I decided to wait again rather than go too wide.

“When one of the leaders tired, we got the lane I wanted entering the stretch and she put in a big run getting to the lead,” he added.

Like her stablemate Tarpy’s Goal, Xunlei had been working at Gulfstream in preparation for the Florida Cup. DAYTON DODGE SOPHOMORE TURF

After finishing 11th in his career debut last fall at Belmont Park, blinkers were added to Star Channel’s equipment line-up and in the Daytona Dodge Sophomore Turf, the Todd Pletcher trainee proved the change made a world of difference. Star Channel overcame having his jockey, Pedro Cotto Jr., lose his irons at the break to sweep past pacesetter Didn’t Take It in mid-stretch and go on for a popular two and three-quarter length win, his third in a row.

“It wasn’t the plan to be that far back early,” Cotto admitted when asked about his horse being next to last in the early going. “But I lost my irons momentarily at the break and by the time I got them back, we were well back. When I asked him for run he picked it up inside the lead group. Then I swung outside and got clear. He

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drifted out a bit so I stayed after him but after a nightmare start, it was a dream trip.

Star Channel covered the mile and a sixteenth in 1:41.20. Didn’t Take It was easily second, more than three lengths clear of Crafty Unicorn in third.

Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Rogers Jr. bred the English Channel colt who is owned by GDS Racing Stable.

The partners in GDS Racing Stable, who own the 3year-old colt, turned down $220,000 for the son of English Channel-Reach the Top at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale at Palm Meadows. After his victory in the Sophomore Turf, it was looking like a wise decision.

“We didn’t get as much as we thought we could, so we decided to keep him and run him,” said 23-year-old co-owner Gustavo Delgado Jr., the son of Venezuelan champion trainer Gustavo Delgado Sr. “So far, we are very proud of our decision.” Delgado also said he and co-owners Antoine Douaihy and Alejandro Cervallos were nervous early after Star Channel dropped far back.

It was the third victory in four lifetime starts for Star Channel, who won two earlier turf races at Gulfstream Park earlier in the year. Star Channel was bred in Florida

by Mr. & Mrs. Samuel H. Rogers Jr. ■

Florida-bred Star Channel winning the Daytona Dodge Sophomore Turf

I asked him for run he picked it up inside the “When lead group. Then I swung outside and got clear. ” —jockey Pedro Cotto Jr.

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Following are the “FTBOA Chase to the Championship ” Point Standings through April 25, 2012.

Three-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Crafty Unicorn (Friends Lake) - 3 Star Channel (English Channel) - 3 Tarpy's Goal (High Cotton) - 3

Breeder

Owner

Trainer

Sabrina Plumley & Harold J. Plumley Mr. & Mrs. Samuel H. Rogers Jr. Chad R. Schumer & Nancy Sexton

Dennis Manning GDS Racing Stable Mike Tarp

Dennis Manning Todd Pletcher Dale Romans

Bridlewood Farm Brambly Lane Farm & Steve Dwoskin Sienna Farms LLC Juvenile Diaz Rustlewood Farm, Inc.

Kaleem Shah Inc. Peras International Copper Penny Stables Steven Ciccarone Gold Mark Farm LLC

Bob Baffert Jose Garoffalo James Kasparoff Michelle Nihei Dale Romans

Robert V. LaPenta & Fred J. Brei Brous Stable, Wachtel Stable & Jack T. Hammer WinStar Farm LLC Reeves Thoroughbred Racing & Dream Team One Racing Stable

Nicholas Zito William Mott Todd Pletcher Katherine Ritvo

Robert Smithen Eric Fein Rosemont Stud Syndicate Estate of Gail Gee, Mark Hoffman & Earl Trostrud, Jr. Thomas Bosch & Jean M. Bosch

Brian Lynch Richard Dutrow, Jr Jerry Fanning Shirley K. Girten-Drake Lynne Scace

Three-Year-Old Filly Eden's Moon (Malibu Moon) - 15 Yara (Put It Back) - 5 Made to Love Her (Stevie Wonderboy) - 3 Regalo Mia (Sligo Bay) - 3 Xunlei (D'Wildcat) - 3

Older Male (Four-Year-Olds and up Colt/Gelding) Jackson Bend (Hear No Evil) - 20 Ron the Greek (Full Mandate) - 20 Doubles Partner (Rock Hard Ten) - 8 Mucho Macho Man (Mucho Uno) - 8

Jacks or Better Farm Inc. Jack T. Hammer Arthur I. Appleton John D Rio & Carole A Rio

Older Female (Four-Year-Olds and up Filly/Mare) Bay to Bay (Sligo Bay) - 13 C C's Pal (Alex's Pal) - 7 Wild Mia (Wildcat Heir) - 7 Hooh Why (Cloud Hopping) - 6 It's Me Mom (Put It Back) - 6

Adena Springs Beth Bayer Montgomery Farm Gail Gee Thomas Bosch & Jean M. Bosch

Male Sprint (Three-Year-Olds and up, Colt/Gelding race distances one mile and less) Jackson Bend (Hear No Evil) - 20 Doubles Partner (Rock Hard Ten) - 8 Mucho Macho Man (Mucho Uno) - 5

Jacks or Better Farm Inc. Arthur I. Appleton John D Rio & Carole A Rio

Robert V. LaPenta & Fred J. Brei WinStar Farm LLC Reeves Thoroughbred Racing & Dream Team One Racing Stable

Nicholas Zito Todd Pletcher Katherine Ritvo

Female Sprint (Three-Year-Olds and up, Filly/Mare, race distances one mile and less) Eden's Moon (Malibu Moon) - 15 It's Me Mom (Put It Back) - 6

Bridlewood Farm Thomas Bosch & Jean M. Bosch

Kaleem Shah Inc. Thomas Bosch & Jean M. Bosch

Male Turf (Three-Year-Olds and up, Colt/Gelding, races run on the turf) Doubles Partner (Rock Hard Ten) - 8 Roman Tiger (Tiger Ridge) - 6

Arthur I. Appleton Bowling & Dodd

Adena Springs Montgomery Farm Gail Gee

Breeder WinStar Farm LLC Dennis Manning

Female Turf (Three-Year-Olds and up, Filly/Mare, races run on the turf) Bay to Bay (Sligo Bay) - 13 Wild Mia (Wildcat Heir) - 7 Hooh Why (Cloud Hopping) - 6

Bob Baffert Lynne Scace

Todd Pletcher Dennis Manning

Breeder Robert Smithen Rosemont Stud Syndicate Estate of Gail Gee, Mark Hoffman & Earl Trostrud, Jr.

Brian Lynch Jerry Fanning Shirley K. Girten-Drake

■ Selection Criteria for Florida-bred champions Year-end divisional champions will be determined using the “FTBOA Chase to the Championship” point system, a ranking that awards points for success in stakes races.

The “FTBOA Chase to the Championship” allocates points for stakes wins in graded races, open-company stakes and Florida’s signature racing days, with the number of points awarded based upon the classification of the race. International stakes race status is governed by the International Cataloguing Standards Committee. The first three finishers in all Group/Graded and listed races appearing in Part I of the International Cataloguing Standards and International Statistics Book printed by The Jockey Club receive “black-type” designation. Ten point bonus to be awarded to any 2-year-old colt or filly sweeping all three legs of the Florida Stallion Stakes in determining the Champion 2-year-old Florida-bred.

The Florida-bred with the most points in each division on December 31 is deemed champion of that division. Horse of the Year, Broodmare of the Year and Breeder of the Year will be voted on by the FTBOA Board of Directors and announced at the FTBOA’s annual awards dinner.

In the case of a year-end tie in points in any division, earnings will be used to decide the tiebreaker. — Points are assigned as follows: 28 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL/MAY 2012

■ World Thoroughbred Championship ■ Sunshine Millions (equivalent to a Grade 2 Stakes Race): Breeders’ Cup Race: Win: 20 points Place: 15 points Show: 10 points

■ Grade 1 Stakes Race: Win: 15 points Place: 10 points Show: 5 points

■ Grade 2 Stakes Race: Win: 5 points Place: 3 points Show: 2 points

■ Grade 3 Stakes Race: Win: 3 points Place: 2 points Show: 1 point

Win: 5 points Place: 3 points Show: 2 points

■ Other Florida-bred Signature Race Days (equivalent to a Grade 3 Stakes Race):

(The Florida Million, Florida Cup, Florida Stallion Stakes Series): Win: 3 points Place: 2 points Show: 1 point

■ Open-Company Stakes ($50,000 + Purse) Points for WIN ONLY: Win: 2 points

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Alfredo Lichoa and his team are aspiring to enhance Northwest Stud

By MICHAEL COMPTON

elson Jones Training Center, once part of the legendary Fred Hooper’s Hooper Farm, has long been a prominent training facility in Ocala, Fl. Alfredo Lichoa and his team at Northwest Stud are aspiring to enhance Nelson Jones Training Center’s already lofty reputation as a preeminent complex known for producing some of the industry’s leading racehorses by building Northwest Stud into a distinguishable, full-service stallion farm that does the same.

Among the Grade 1-winning graduates developed at Nel32 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL/MAY 2012

SERITA HULT PHOTOS

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by building it into a distinguishable, full-service stallion farm.

son Jones in recent years include the likes of Florida-breds Jackson Bend and Awesome Feather, Hard Spun, and Midnight Lute, just to name a few. Back in Hooper’s day, the ground that houses the training center and next door neighbor Amy Tarrant’s Hardacre Farm, produced celebrated homebred champions Susan’s Girl and Precisionist, as well as countless others who carried Hooper’s famed red, white and blue silks to glory on the racetrack.

Lichoa, stallion director at Northwest Stud, has respect for

the history and the land. He has defined a direction for Northwest Stud and shared the farm’s philosophy on a recent spring morning.

“Our goal is to establish the best breeding operation we can for Florida’s breeders,” Lichoa said. “Breeders are relying on the stud farms to offer quality stallions. We want to find the best horses and stallions for Florida. We’re committed to the Florida program and we want to be here for Florida breeders and help improve the industry.”

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Originally from Venezuela, Lichoa is no stranger to Ocala. He went to work for John Franks at Franks Farms as resident veterinarian in 2001. Franks, a multiple Eclipse Award-winning owner, passed away in 2003, and Lichoa then moved to Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds in the role of stallion manager.

“I learned a lot from working at both of those farms,” Lichoa said. “At Franks Farms, I learned how to handle and manage a large number of horses.You can’t do anything by yourself, especially in the horse business. It takes a team to get things done right, and I worked with a lot of talented people there. You must have a responsible team around you that you can trust and bank on to work together to achieve success.

34 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL/MAY 2012

“A good team is a necessity,” he added, “and we had a great team at Hartley/De Renzo. I spent five breeding seasons there and Dean (DeRenzo) and Randy (Hartley) were great to work for. Working for them also allowed me to forge strong relationships with a lot of Florida breeders.”

It is the trust Lichoa has earned with the Ocala community that he hopes to parlay into success with Northwest Stud.

“This is such a competitive business that you have to do things right,” Lichoa said. “You have to be knowledgeable about what you do, but you also have to care about the breeders. “I’ve been fortunate to have established trust in working with many breeders in Ocala for years.”

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Lichoa broke ground on Northwest’s stallion barn and main office in December of last year. Arthur Rutenberg Homes designed and built the structure in 65 days.

“We had a Feb. 15 deadline to coincide with the start of breeding season,” Lichoa said. “The builders and their crew didn’t stop until it was ready for us. I can’t say enough about them.”

Among the amenities in the stallion barn is cushioned Polylast flooring in the stalls. Made with recycled rubber with a combination of binders, the Polylast flooring increases comfort and safety and reduces odor.

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“It’s great flooring,” Lichoa said. “It’s safe and is more comfortable to stand on.”

Nestled on 120 acres, Northwest Stud is home to stallions Gone Astray, Flashstorm, United States and Pleasant Strike. Northwest Stud owns all but Pleasant Strike, who stands as the property of Mighty White Stallions.

The farm held its first ever stallion show in January, and Lichoa was encouraged by the turnout and response he received from breeders who attended the show.

“You have to have the horse,” Lichoa said. “That’s No. 1. Our stallions have been very well received this year. I’m happy and pleased with our first breeding season. The support we received for our stallions shows me that Florida is the best place to base a breeding operation.”

Gone Astray is a millionaire son of Dixie Union—Illicit, by Mr. Prospector. His dam is a half-sister to champion Smuggler and his secThis is such a competi- ond dam, Inside Information, also tive business that you have was a champion and a winner of six Grade 1 races. Gone Astray captured to do things right.You the 2009 Pennsylvania Derby (G2) have to be knowledgeable and Ohio Derby (G2), as well as the about what you do, but you Salvator Mile (G3) the following also have to care about the season at age four. An earner of breeders. I’ve been fortu- more than $1.1 million in his career, Gone Astray stood his first season at nate to have established stud this year for a $4,500 fee. trust in working with many “We closed his book at 120 mares,” Lichoa said. “I believe that’s breeders in Ocala for the best number to work with. We years. —Alfredo Lichoa want to focus on quality not quantity here. We want people to fight over his babies at the sales.

“Gone Astray has fantastic conformation, a strong body and he is an excellent breeder,” he added. “He’s a very laid back horse, unbelievably quiet, actually.

He’s very smart. He learned his new role as a stallion very quickly, and I’m glad breeders have been receptive to him.”

Flashstorm is a 2004 son of Storm Cat—Kristi, by St. Jovite. He placed in the Iowa Derby and the Indiana Derby (G2) en route to career earnings of $261,819. His dam is a half-sister to millionaires Geri and A.P. Arrow and his third dam, Far Flying, is a half-sister to champion Sacahuista.

“He is one of the best looking Storm Cat’s around,” Lichoa said of Flashstorm. “When Overbrook dispersed

Alfred Lichoa (inset) let Gone Astray frolic during the early morning hours.

“

”

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their stock, they kept this one. That says a lot about the promise he had as a racehorse.

“Flashstorm has good conformation,” he added. “His babies are well behaved, which is really good for Storm Cat blood. We’re excited about him.”

United States is a 2006 son of A.P. Indy—Blithe, by Unbridled. The stallion’s second dam is Angel Fever, a sister to Pine Bluff and dam of Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Fusaichi Pegasus.

“United States is the most enthusiastic breeder of the bunch, but not in an aggressive way,” Lichoa related, “more like showing off. We bought him privately from Coolmore.”

Pleasant Strike rounds out the stallion battery. A son of Smart Strike—Colonella, by Pleasant Colony, Pleasant Strike won the Arlington Classic Stakes (G3) as a 3year-old in 2007 and was multiple graded stakes-placed throughout his career to age six. All told, he won six of 36 and earned $455,203.

“He is a nice horse and we’re proud to stand him here,” Lichoa said.

Some key members of Lichoa’s team are consultants David Seguias, Alex Rendon and Nerio Vargas.

“We go to sales, divide horses up by groups and at the end of the day we compile our short lists and discuss,” said Lichoa. “When we put everything together, we check the individuals again together and then decide what to buy. It’s always a team effort.

We are looking forward to breeding quality Florida-breds here and supporting “ Florida’s breeders. We are continuously on the lookout for stallions and mares that fit our program and will improve the industry. ” —Alfredo Lichoa

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“In fact, it was David who turned us on to Gone Astray as a stallion prospect,” Lichoa added.

Northwest’s broodmare population currently stands at 40. Lichoa says he wants to have 50 mares in the program and ideally, six stallions.

“When we look for broodmare prospects we pay attention to produce records and then look at families that will fit our breeding program,” Lichoa said.

With paddocks still being put together and work continuing on a driveway to the main office, Lichoa is looking forward to building on the history of winners the property is known for and establishing Northwest Stud’s own, unique legacy of producing Florida-bred winners

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at the highest levels of the industry.

“We are looking forward to breeding quality Floridabreds here and supporting Florida’s breeders,” Lichoa said.

“We are continuously on the lookout for stallions and mares that fit our program and will improve the industry.”

Northwest Stud may be the new kid on a well-established block, but led by Lichoa’s commitment and a focus on quality not quantity, the farm is certain to drive home its branding message in the coming years.

“We want to offer Florida’s breeders the best breeding operation we can,” Lichoa said. “We will always focus on quality not quantity. Believe me, we are going to be around for awhile.” ■

Foals and mares enjoy their surroundings at Northwest Stud

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Million-Dollar At the Fasig-Tipton Florida juvenile sale, Ocala-based horsewoman sells her first million-dollar horse.

Lynne Martin Boutte

By JOANN GUIDRY

Out-of-body experience.

hat’s how Lynne Martin Boutte described what she felt as she watched the Distorted Humor colt from her consignment sell for $1.2 million.

“I’ve been in the Thoroughbred business a long time.

I’ve bred, broken, trained and sold a lot of nice horses,” said Boutte. “But that colt selling for what he did was an incredible experience. It was like being up in the clouds and having an out-of-body experience. It was surreal.”

But the reality was that the chestnut colt by Distorted Humor out of the unraced Storm Cat mare Secret Thyme sold for $1.2 million to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum. Aptly named Price Is Truth, the colt was the secondhighest priced horse at the Fasig-Tipton Florida selected two-year-olds in training sale on March 26 at Palm Meadows Training Center.

For Boutte, who hadn’t been to the Fasig-Tipton sale in 10 years, the colt was the highest-priced horse that she had ever sold. Boutte sold the Disnot only met, but exceeded. torted Humor colt as agent for for “Of course now it’ll be fun Barry K. Schwartz, co-founder what he did was an incredible to watch him and hope he goes of Calvin Klein and former chairman of the NewYork Rac- experience. It was like being up on to be a good racehorse,” said in the clouds and having an Boutte. “For me, that’s the best ing Association. Schwartz part of being in this business.” bought the colt for $180,000 at out-of-body experience.

Boutte, a native NewYorker, the 2011 Keeneland September It was surreal. —Lynne Boutte had an unlikely introduction at yearling sale and he was then shipped, along with several other Schwartz yearling pur- a very early age to Thoroughbred racing.

“My elementary school was right behind Belmont chases, to Boutte’s Ocala-based Eagle View Farm for Park,” said Boutte. “Some of us kids were always getbreaking and training.

“John DeStefano, who manages Black Swan Stable ting in trouble because we’d crawl under the fence to and who is a client of mine, connected me with Mr. get closer to the horses.”

T

JOE DIORIO PHOTO

Lynne Boutteʼs Distorted Humor Colt that sold for $1.2 millionat the Fasig-Tipton Florida Two-Year-OId in Training Sale.

Schwartz,” said Boutte, who runs the operation with husband Chris. “He bought seven or eight yearlings at Keeneland. The Distorted Humor colt was one picked to pinhook in an early sale.”

The choice proved to be a prescient one. Boutte described the Distorted Humor colt as “a stunning colt with a great mind that did everything right from the beginning.” Given his forward progression through the training process and his good looks, Boutte noted that “we expected him to sell well, very well.” Expectations were

“That colt selling ”

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he Florida Thoroughbred Breedersʼ and Ownersʼ Association announced this month an agreement with Calder/Churchill Downs Inc. and the Florida Horsemenʼs Benevolent and Protective Association for this yearʼs Florida Stallion Stakes Series at Calder.

The lucrative series for two-year-olds was created in 1982 to benefit the Florida Thoroughbred Breeding industry. The popular series features three legs—an open division and a fillies division—run in July, August and concluding in October for juveniles by Florida stallions registered with the FTBOA. The initial legs carry purses of $75,000 each for a total of $150,000. Purses are increased to $125,000 for the second legs, totaling $250,000. Purses for the series fi-

Rewarding Excellence The Florida Stallion Stakes at Calder Keeps on Rolling nale swell to $300,000 each for a $600,000 total. Including Nominator Awards and $5,000 FSS Supplements for fillies (15) and colts (15) totaling an estimated $85,000, the estimated purse payments total $1,160,000.

“

The FTBOA, FHBPA and Calder each contributed to the program.

I believe all parties involved recognize the importance of the Florida Stallion Stakes to Floridaʼs owners and breeders,” said Lonny Powell, FTBOA CEO and executive vice president. “The juvenile program at Calder is one of the strongest in the country year in and year out, and weʼre looking forward with great anticipation to this summerʼs renewal of the Florida Stallion Stakes Series.

Iʼd like to thank the FHBPA, Calder and the members of my Racing Advisory Committee for assisting us in bringing some continuity and stability to the program.

“The Florida Stallion Stakes have long been a tradition here at Calder that showcases our two-year-olds for the whole country,” FHBPA president Phil Combest said.

“Many champions have come out of the series and we at the FHBPA are pleased that the track, breeders and horsemen came together to support an important cornerstone of South Florida racing.”

The first legs of the series are slated for July 28. The two $75,000 races are the Desert Vixen Division for fillies and the Dr. Fager Division for colts. Both races will be run at six furlongs. The second legs—the $125,000 Susanʼs Girl Di40 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL/MAY 2012

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vision and the Affirmed Divisions will be run Aug. 25 during Calderʼs Juvenile Showcase program. The races will be contested at seven furlongs. The FSS finales are set for the Festival of the Sun card on Oct. 13. The series concludes with the $300,000 My Dear Girl Division and the $300,000 In Reality Division. Both races are at 1 1/16 miles.

2012 FLORIDA STALLION STAKES SERIES SCHEDULE JULY 28

Florida Stallion Stakes-$75,000 estimated Desert Vixen Division Florida Stallion Stakes-$75,000 estimated Dr. Fager Division

Florida Stallion Stakes $125,000 estimated Susanʼs Girl Division

AUG. 25

Florida Stallion Stakes $125,000 estimated Affirmed Division Florida Stallion Stakes $300,000 estimated My Dear Girl Division

OCT. 13

Florida Stallion Stakes $300,000 estimated In Reality Division

In recent years, Fred and Jane Breiʼs Jacks or Better Farm has dominated FSS proceedings. Fort Loudon capped off a three-race win streak last year when he won the In Reality Division while stablemate Awesome Belle won the My Dear Girl Division the same day. Both of those runners are sired by Journeyman Stud stallion Awesome of Course, as is Redbud Road, who annexed the Desert Vixen Division last year.

The 2011 Florida Stallion Series also marked the third consecutive year that Jacks or Better Farm and trainer Stanley Gold swept either the open or fillies division of the series. They combined to win the fillies series in 2010 with Awesome Feather, also by Awesome of Course, and swept the open division in 2009 with Jackson Bend.

Another recent notable sweep was Harold Queenʼs Big Drama, who swept the 2008 Florida Stallion Stakes Series. Big Drama was conditioned by David Fawkes.

In addition to the FSS and the lucrative purses for Florida-bred juveniles, there are plenty of other substantial earning opportunities for Florida-breds during the Calder meet which runs through Aug. 31. The Tropical continued on page 43

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FTBOA: THE VOICE OF FLORIDA’S THOROUGHBRED INDUSTRY

Since its inception, the Florida Thoroughbred Breedersʼ and Ownersʼ Association has been responsible for Florida-bred registration and administration and distribution of the industryʼs incentive awards program, which encourages individuals to breed, train and race Thoroughbreds in Florida.

The FTBOA is dedicated to ensuring a prosperous business climate for the industry. With Floridaʼs low taxes and smart growth policies, basing a Thoroughbred operation in the Sunshine State makes perfect business sense. For more information, contact the FTBOA at (352) 629-2160.

2012 FLORIDA-BRED STAKES PROGRAM AT CALDER Date 5/12 5/12

SEX Fillies Open

AGE 3 Yo’s 3 Yo’s

DISTANCE 6 fur.

6 fur.

SURFACE PURSE Dirt 75,000 Dirt 75,000

RACE French Village In Summation

6 fur.

6 fur.

6 fur.

6 fur.

5 1/2 fur.

5 1/2 fur.

5 fur.

1m 70 yds.

1m 70 yds.

6Fur 6Fur 7 1/2 fur.

7 1/2 fur.

Dirt Dirt Dirt Dirt Dirt Dirt Turf Dirt Dirt Dirt Dirt Turf Turf

75,000 75,000 75,000 75,000 100,000 100,000 75,000 75,000 75,000 E. 75,000 E. 75,000 75,000 75,000

Unbridled Ponche Hdcp.

U Can Do It H. Leave Me Alone J J’s Dream Frank Gomez Mem. Bob Umphrey (T) Sprint Three Ring El Kaiser Desert Vixen Dr. Fager Crystal Rail Naked Greed

7 fur.

7 fur.

1 mile 1 mile 5 fur.

5 fur.

Dirt Dirt Dirt Dirt Turf Turf

E.125,000 E.125,000 75,000 75,000 75,000 75,000

Definition FTBOA Supplement FSS 20,000 FTBOA FSS 20,000 FTBOA

Preview Summit of Speed 6/9 6/9 6/9 6/9 6/30 6/30 7/7 7/21 7/21 7/28 7/28 8/18 8/18

Open Open F&M Fillies Fillies Open Open Fillies Open Fillies Open Fillies Open

3 Yo’s 3 & Up 3 & Up 3 yo’s 2 Yo’s 2 Yo’s 3 & Up 3 Yo’s 3 Yo’s 2 Yo’s 2Yo’s 3 Yo’s 3 Yo’s

FS Pref FS Pref FSS FSS FSS FSS FSS FSS

10,000 FTBOA 10,000 FTBOA 10,000 FTBOA 10,000 FTBOA 45,000 FTBOA 45,000 FTBOA 20,000 FTBOA 20,000 FTBOA 20,000 FTBOA 20,000 FTBOA

Juvenile Showcase 8/25 8/25 8/25 8/25 8/25 8/25

Fillies Open Fillies Open Fillies Open

2 Yo’s 2 Yo’s 2 Yo’s 2 Yo’s 2 Yo’s 2 Yo’s

42 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL/MAY 2012

Susan’s Girl Affirmed Lindsay Frolic Seacliff Catcharisingstar Fasig Tipton (T) Dash

FSS FSS FS Pref FS Pref

20,000 FTBOA 20,000 FTBOA 20,000 FTBOA 20,000 FTBOA

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meet begins Sept. 1 and runs through Nov. 30 this year.

New at Calder this year is a Starter Series, which offers a combined $200,000 in purse money along with a $5,000 bonus to the trainer of the points-leader at the completion of the series. The four-race series began in April and runs through May 26. It attracted a total of 74 nominations.

“The Starter Series has generated a great deal of interest from our horsemen and weʼre thrilled with the positive response we have received,” Racing Secretary Mike Anifantis said. “We expect large and competitive fields for each of the four races.”

The four-race series is restricted to 4-year-olds and up that have started for $20,000 or less in 2011 or 2012 and will be run at progressively longer distances while alternating between the main track and the turf course.

Bisnath Parbhoo, the top trainer at the 2010-2011 Tropical Meet, leads the way with seven horses nominated to the Starter Series, six of which run in the silks of the 2011 Calder Meet leading owner Sherry Parbhoo. Two-time leading owner Frank C. Calabrese, winner of the 2011 and the 2010-11 Tropical titles, has five horses nominated to the Starter Series, three for trainer Kirk Ziadie and two for Nick Canani.

Other trainers of note that have horses nominated to the Date

SEX

AGE

DISTANCE

Calder Starter Series include the northern-based outfits of Vickie Foley, Jamie Ness, Jason Servis, and Peter Walder, along with longtime Calder stalwarts Dave Fawkes, Bill Kaplan, and Stanley Gold.

A $5,000 bonus will be awarded to the trainer of the horse that accumulates the most points throughout the series, with points allocated to the first six finishers in each race.

THE CALDER STARTER SERIES SCHEDULE:

Seven Furlongs—Dirt

APRIL 14

One Mile—Turf

APRIL 28

One Mile and Seventy Yards—Dirt

MAY 12

One and One-Sixteenth Miles—Turf

MAY 26

FTBOA Racing/Stakes Committee: Brent Fernung, Chair, Phil Matthews, George Russell, Fred Brei, Lonny Powell

SURFACEPURSE

RACE

Definition

FTBOA Supplement

1 1/16 m.

1 1/16 m.

1m 70 yds.

1m 70 yds.

6 fur.

6 fur.

Turf Turf Dirt Dirt Dirt Dirt

Judy’s Red Shoes S. Needles Stakes Brave Raj Stakes Foolish Pleasure Stakes Cassidy S. Birdonthewire S.

FSS FSS FSS Pref FSS Pref FS Pref FS Pref

20,000 FTBOA 20,000 FTBOA 35,000 FTBOA 35,000 FTBOA 35,000 FTBOA 35,000 FTBOA

3 Yo’s 3 Yo’s 2 Yo’s 2 Yo’s

1 1/8 m.

1 m.

1 1/16 m.

1 1/16 m.

Turf 75,000 Turf 75,000 Dirt E.350,000 Dirt E.350,000

Tropical Derby Francis A. Genter My Dear Girl In Reality

FSS FSS

2 Yo’s 2 Yo’s 2 Yo’s 2 Yo’s 3 & Up 3 & Up 3 & Up 3 & Up

1 1/16 m.

1 1/16 m.

7 fur.

7 fur.

6 fur.

1 1/8 m.

1 1/16 m.

1 1/8 m.

Turf Turf Dirt Dirt Dirt Turf Dirt Dirt

John Franks Juvenile Fillies Turf Arthur I. Appleton Juvenile Turf Joe O Farrell Juvenile Fillies Jack Price Juvenile Jack Dudley Sprint H. Bonnie Heath Turf Cup Elmer Heubeck Distaff H. Carl G. Rose Classic

State State State State State State State State

Preview Festival of the Sun 9/15 9/15 9/15 9/15 9/29 9/29

Fillies Open Fillies Open Fillies Open

3 Yo’s 3 Yo’s 2 Yo’s 2 Yo’s 2 Yo’s 2 Yo’s

75,000 75,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000

Festival of the Sun 10/13 10/13 10/13 10/13

Open Fillies Fillies Open

10,000 FTBOA 10,000 FTBOA

Florida Million 11/10 11/10 11/10 11/10 11/10 11/10 11/10 11/10

Fillies Open Fillies Open Open Open F&M Open

100,000 100,000 125,000 125,000 125,000 125,000 150,000 150,000

FLORIDA DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES Adam Putnam, Commissioner 850-921-7916 • Fax 850-922-0374 e-mail: michael.ryshouwer@freshfromflorida.com 407 S. Calhoun • 427-A Mayo Building, Tallahassee, FL 32399

50,000 FTBOA 50,000 FTBOA 50,000 FTBOA 50,000 FTBOA 50,000 FTBOA 50,000 FTBOA 50,000 FTBOA 50,000 FTBOA

www.facebook.com/thefloridahorse

FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’ AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION Lonny T. Powell, CEO and Executive Vice President 801 SW 60th Ave. • Ocala, FL 34474 • 352-629-2160 Fax: 352-629-3603 • www.ftboa.com • info@ftboa.com THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL/MAY 2012 43

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To one family, Saratoga Russell, a Florida-bred son of Trippi, became much more than a thoroughbred racehorse.

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years, the delay due in big part to her illness.

“Once I started working, I started looking for a horse every weekend. We spent most of the spring and summer of 2011 looking, but I just couldn’t find that bond with any horse that we looked at,” she said.

Then someone told her about Pure Thoughts Horse Rescue, in Loxahatchee, Florida, not far from Wellington. “I went to their website,” said RoBefore Toga, I had never worked with a Thoroughbred. Now, I wouldn’t driguez, “and there was his picture. My heart popped out want to work with any other breed. They’re so willing to work with you. of my chest.”

He’s one of the best horses I’ve ever worked with.

—Kristen Dyrdal The horse was Saratoga Russell, a Florida-bred son of “One day he said that he wanted riding lessons for his birth- Trippi, bred by Briggs and Cromartie and John Lankshear. He day. My husband and I said OK, and we leased a horse for had been purchased by West PointThoroughbreds at the Ocala Breeders’Sales March 2007 Selected Two-Year-Olds in Trainhim,” she said.

Through that experience, Rodriguez met Carolina Collado, ing Sale for $170,000 and given to Kiaran McLaughlin to train.

He made his first start in November 2007 at Aqueduct, sizwho began riding when she was 12. “Caro started teaching my kids to ride, and I told her, ‘I’m going to get a horse eventu- zling through early fractions before yielding in deep stretch to finish second. He won his next two starts, including one at ally.’”

Rodriguez and her husband have recently separated, and Gulfstream Park, by a combined margin of more than 18 she suffers from Crohn’s disease, a debilitating, often acute, ill- lengths, before heading back north for the Gotham.

Displacing a palate in that race, he was away from the track ness exacerbated by stress. She said that being around the horse for more than a year, returning in June of 2008 to finish second had reduced the intensity of her bouts with it.

“Once I started interacting with the horse,” she said, “I got at Monmouth before heading to the town for which he was named. better. It was really helping me, so I said, ‘I need to do this.’”

The “Russell” in the horse’s name comes from Russell HorRodriguez graduated from college in 2010; she had gone back to school when her youngest child started kindergarten. vat, a former West Point owner who was a partner in Saratoga Studying interior design, she completed her degree in seven View, a colt who won his first start at Saratoga. Terry Finley,

Sara “toga”

Russell

The donkey became a joke between them, but she didn’t give up. “I told him, ‘Someday, you’re going to get me my horse.’”

Rodriguez’s grandfather passed away 10 years ago, at age 94. By that time, she was living in Florida, married with three children; owning a horse wasn’t a priority. But a couple of years ago, her son Justin nudged her to fulfill her old dream.

“

”

Johanna with Saratoga Russell

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president of West Point, liked Saratoga View and his dam, Prologue, so much that he purchased Saratoga View’s half-brother

by Trippi, who became Saratoga Russell.

Horvat was diagnosed with cancer and died in April of 2007, shortly after West Point purchased the secondTrippi-Prologue colt; to honor his memory, friends and members of his family became part owners of Saratoga Russell and named the colt in his honor.

Saratoga Russell made his first Spa start when he was four.

On a wet opening day in 2009, he led every step of the way, winning decisively in front of dozens of emotional West Point partners and friends.

When I got his He would go on to race four more times, winning once, before being retired in January Coggins I noticed of 2010 after cracking a sesamoid while at the his birthday: Palm Meadows training facility in Boynton March 23, the Beach.

When they arrived, Gaver showed them same as my As he rehabbed at a farm in Ocala, West several horses, none of them Saratoga Russell. grandfather. And “We just kept saying no,” said Rodriguez.

PointThoroughbreds contacted PureThoughts. that’s when I West Point’s director of communications, Erin “They weren’t right.” knew it. This is Finley, recalled telling the farm, “’We’ve got Finally, Gaver relented, letting Collado get on Saratoga Russell. “Johanna really wanted this big, beautiful horse with a serious injury; what he wanted him and she loved him; she came here several he’ll need time from whoever adopts him,’and me to do. He got times,” he said. “That makes a big difference, Pure Thoughts agreed to take him.” me my horse. and I knew that she was going to have trainers Pure Thoughts began as an equine therapy —Johanna Rodriguez around her.” and education center; now, it functions prima“She was very responsible,” added Swanson. “She had a rily as a horse rescue and re-training facility. Saratoga Russell trainer, the kids were taking lessons, and she didn’t let the kids was there for nearly a year before Rodriguez saw him.

“He was kind of phenomenal looking,” recalled Brad Gaver, on him until he was ready, and they were ready; she was very who along with Jennifer Swanson founded PureThoughts. “He respectful of his needs.

“The more we got to know her, the more we knew it was a was not an average horse.”

Saratoga Russell needed about six months of rehabilitation very good match.”

Now, Saratoga Russell lives at a stable in West Kendall, before retraining could begin. “His rehab up until then had been perfect,” said Swanson. “If West Point hadn’t handled things Florida, just six minutes from Rodriguez’s home. He’s ridden as well as they had, he wouldn’t be the horse he is today. They and trained by Kristen Dyrdal, who says that he’s come a long genuinely cared about him.” way in a short amount of time. She expects that he’ll be ready As did the West Point partners who had owned him, several to show in about a year. Rodriguez’s two younger child, Kyara, of whom came to visit him at Pure Thoughts. One woman, said 16, and Justin, 13, both ride him regularly.

“Before Toga,” said Dyrdal, referring to him by his nickSwanson, stayed and watched a lesson as he was retrained. Several of his former owners donated to PureThoughts for his care. name, “I had never worked with a Thoroughbred. Now, I Characterizing him as a “strong but polite horse,” Gaver wouldn’t want to work with any other breed. They’re so willsaid that the big horse learned quickly. “He picked up being an ing to work with you. He’s one of the best horses I’ve ever worked with.”

English pleasure/hunter type horse really well.”

Still, he cautioned, “He wasn’t a kid’s horse. He needed an Since adopting Saratoga Russell, Rodriguez has gained experienced rider.” about 25 pounds, weight she had lost battling Crohn’s disease.

So when Rodriguez and Collado drove up from Miami to She adores him, lavishing him with attention and communicatsee him, Gaver and Swanson at first rebuffed her interest, con- ing regularly with Gaver and Swanson at Pure Thoughts. She cerned about her lack of experience. But she wouldn’t take “no” knows that waiting for the right horse was the right thing to do.

“When I got his Coggins,” she remembered, “I noticed his for an answer.

“There was something about his eyes and his face,” she said, birthday: March 23, the same as my grandfather.

“And that’s when I knew it.This is what he wanted me to do. “and even though Brad told me that he wasn’t the right horse for us, I asked if I could come up and see him, and he said yes.” He got me my horse.” ■

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Kristen Dyrdal aboard Saratoga Russell

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THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL/MAY 2012 47

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Son of Big Brown Tops at $1.3 Million

By MICHAEL COMPTON he momentum in the juvenile sale ranks continued at Fasig-Tipton’s Florida sale at Palm Meadows.

Three juveniles brought $1 million or more, and all told, 60 head sold for $19,215,000, down slightly from last year’s gross of $20,685,000 on 87 head. The average price Monday was $320,250, an increase of more than 34 percent over last year’s average of $237,759. A total of 24 did not sell this year compared to 56 last year, and this year’s median was $227,500, up from $200,000 at last year’s sale.

Topping the session offering at $1.3 million was hip No. 149. Demi O’Byrne signed the ticket on the strapping son of Big Brown, and reported that the sale topper will be raced by John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor.

Consigned by Wavertree Stables (Ciaran Dunne), agent, the colt worked an eighth at the under tack preview in :101⁄5.

He is produced from the Silver Ghost mare Cool Ghoul, and is a half-brother to multiple stakes winner Dagnabit and stakes-placed Bad Boy Rising. He is from the family of Florida-bred graded stakes winner Comeonmom, a winner of the Remsen Stakes (G2).

“He’s always been a special horse,” said Dunne of the sale topper outside barn 20 following the sale. “He did everything right every step of the way. With a horse like him, we’re just fortunate he ended up in our barn.

The ones like him don’t come

around very often. He’s special.” lion to Nick Sallusto, Hanzly Albina for The colt is from Big Brown’s first Steven Marshall’s Black Rock Thoroughcrop. Big Brown won the Kentucky breds. The son of Tapit worked an eighth Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) in in :103⁄5 at the preview.

2008, as well as that year’s Florida Derby Consigned by Stephens Thoroughbreds, (G1), Haskell Invitational (G1) and Mon- agent, the colt is out of the Kingmambo mouth Stakes. He earned more than $3.6 mare Liberty Flag and he is from the fammillion in a stellar career. ily of champion Sacahuista.

Hip No. 96 brought the second-highest Three Florida-breds changed hands at price of the day when the hammer fell at $1.2 million. David Loder signed the ticket on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed’s bloodstock manager, John Ferguson, for the son of Distorted Humor—Secret Thyme, by Storm Cat. Consigned by Lynne Boutte, agent, the chestnut colt worked an Hip No. 149, a son of Big Brown, topped Mondays session eighth in :101⁄5 at the at $1.3 million preview. He is from the family of Grade 1 winner Forest Secrets the sale. The Sunshine State products and champion Silverbulletday. The latter an were led by hip No. 40 at $875,000. Conearner of more than $3 million. signed by Hartley/De Renzo Thorough“We’re very happy,” said Boutte. “It breds, agent, the son of Bernardini—Jolie was fun. The whole experience with this Boutique, by Northern Jove, went to Ferhorse has been great. We haven’t been guson, who was the sale’s leading buyer. down to this sale in 10 years. The colt is a half-brother to stakes winner Mr. (Barry) Schwartz said ‘let’s Millennium Storm and stakes-placed go to the yearling sales and pick Merrill Gold.

Hip No. 67 was the second-highest out a couple of pinhooks’ He is a serious horseman. And this is priced Florida-bred, bringing $625,000 a serious horse. It’s worked out from Mark Casse, agent. Consigned by great for all of us.”

Eddie Woods, agent, the colt is by Lion Hip No. 51 sold for $1 mil- Heart out of the Valley Crossing mare Obligation North. The colt is from the family of Florida-bred millionaire Wegelia and He’s always been a special horse. He did everything right champion Davona Dale.

Additional prominent buyers at the every step of the way. With a horse like him, we’re just fortusale included D. Wayne Lukas, Stonnate he ended up in our barn. The ones like him don’t come estreet Stables, Fox Hill Farm, Lane’s around very often. He’s special. —Ciaran Dunne End, John Kimmel and Todd Pletcher. ■

LOUISE REINAGEL PHOTO

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48 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL/MAY 2012

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Florida Sires The following list includes currently active, deceased, and pensioned stallions, with racing results updated through April 29, 2012. Statistics provided by The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc.

PUT IT BACK

WILDCAT HEIR

FULL MANDATE

Name

Sire Name

Farm Name

NA Stk Gr Earnings Strtrs Wnrs SW's Wins SW's Earnings

Leading Earner

Leading Earnings

Yrlg Sold

Yrlg Avg

2yo Sold

2yo Avg

Wildcat Heir

Forest Wildcat

Journeyman Stud

$1,165,685 114

42

0

0

0

$1,251,559

Wild Mia

$74,710

24

$26,458

12

$55,250

Put It Back

Honour and Glory Bridlewood Farm

$1,156,564 100

29

3

4

1

$1,192,892

Yara

$269,000

32

$17,556

22

$46,636

Full Mandate

A.P. Indy

Hartley/De Renzo

$1,020,032

65

21

1

1

1

$1,049,889

Ron the Greek

$610,000

2

$1,600

Chapel Royal

Montbrook

Signature Stallions

$887,758

133

37

2

2

0

$887,758

Dolly Peach

$72,875

17

$14,629

5

$15,200

With Distinction

Storm Cat

Hartley/De Renzo

$848,463

97

33

0

0

0

$852,139

Too Clever by Half

$46,300

21

$26,200

17

$26,735

Repent

Louis Quatorze

CloverLeaf Farms II

$793,983

109

30

1

2

0

$789,714

Lotta Lovin

$64,830

9

$16,078

6

$20,450

D’wildcat

Forest Wildcat

Vinery Florida

$723,443

73

28

1

1

0

$712,900

Xunlei

$79,775

19

$18,142

10

$23,700

Graeme Hall

Dehere

Winding Oaks

$673,688

65

20

0

0

0

$673,820

Duke of Mischief

$212,000

12

$19,342

9

$37,778

Value Plus

Unbridled’s Song Stonewall Farm Ocala

$584,010

70

29

0

0

0

$667,946

Sweet Jody

$36,468

22

$10,582

3

$49,000

Leroidesanimaux (BRZ) Candy Stripes

Stonewall Farm Ocala

$563,134

58

17

1

1

0

$658,877

Aquitania

$74,500

21

$37,293

2

$266,000

A. P. Warrior

A.P. Indy

Stonewall Farm Ocala

$449,874

48

17

1

1

1

$450,965

Thunder Moccasin

$90,000

6

$13,083

1

$15,000

Halo’s Image

Halo

Deceased

$436,782

44

15

0

0

0

$436,782

Turbo Compressor

$86,565

4

$5,675

2

$13,500

City Place

Storm Cat

Hartley/De Renzo

$421,730

52

20

2

2

0

$430,997

City Sage

$70,200

6

$9,583

3

$32,333

Pomeroy

Boundary

Vinery Florida

$415,794

51

13

0

0

0

$415,917

Love My Way

$53,600

13

$28,423

8

$41,500

Greatness

Mr. Prospector

Stonewall Farm Ocala

$397,669

45

14

2

2

0

$397,669

Lady of Greatness

$63,592

1

$1,000

1

$15,500

West Acre

Forty Niner

Stonehedge Farm South $385,783

29

12

0

0

0

$385,783

Western Prospector

$76,223

1

$2,500

1

$12,000

Teuflesberg

Johannesburg

Journeyman Stud

$382,470

16

5

1

2

1

$384,572

Trinniberg

$240,000

5

$22,000

2

$10,600

Saint Anddan

A.P. Indy

Journeyman Stud

$377,803

39

11

1

1

0

$377,803

Bleu Darling

$82,850

3

$12,667

2

$19,250

Concorde’s Tune

Concorde Bound Deceased

$366,161

47

10

1

1

1

$370,555

Musical Romance

$112,500

3

$47,000

Hear No Evil

Carson City

Journeyman Stud

$352,184

8

2

1

2

1

$352,184

Jackson Bend

$330,000

Three Wonders

Storm Cat

Deceased

$344,772

58

16

0

0

0

$347,245

Threetimesawonder

Montbrook

Buckaroo

Ocala Stud

$347,452

36

8

0

0

0

$345,652

Tackleberry

Exclusive Quality

Elusive Quality

Journeyman Stud

$341,087

41

13

0

0

0

$341,087

Christopher’s Joy

Imperialism

Langfuhr

Get Away Farm

$333,253

41

9

1

1

0

$334,308

Imperial Czar

It’s No Joke

Distorted Humor Stonewall Farm Ocala

$330,370

21

10

1

2

0

$330,370

Victory for V L Ts

$41,430 $108,000

4

$16,500

9

$102,111

$31,200

14

$8,307

10

$27,870

$115,160

7

$9,929

5

$21,100

$72,300 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL/MAY 2012 49

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Pinpointing Foot Diagnostic Imaging can produce important information that the veterinarian and farrier can use to work together for the benefit of the horse

Equine Care

By HEATHER THOMAS

any new diagnostic techniques and imaging modalities have come into use and it can often be challenging to understand which ones might be best suited for a given lameness problem.

M

The horse must be completely still to get a good image in the standing MRI (right)

50 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL/MAY 2012

It is also important to know when to use these tools.

Often the farrier and veterinarian should work together to determine which structures of the foot are involved. As a team, they can pinpoint the problem and then devise a treatment plan for how to shoe the horse for best results. On occasion the best way to locate and

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Prob define the problem is to use diagnostic imaging, and usually the first choice is radiographs.

Dr. David McCarroll, Interstate Equine Services in Goldsby, Oklahoma, says that more than 90 percent of foot problems can be diagnosed with radiographs.

“X-rays are usually the best tool. They are simple to obtain and can be very valuable. It’s always a good idea to have cooperation between the farrier and the veterinarian,” he says. Farriers can benefit greatly by having this information available to them before trying to shoe the horse therapeutically to address the lameness. Then the farrier and veterinarian can work together for the benefit of the horse.

“There are some techniques or guidelines, to ensure that you get a useful set of images. I’ve found that there are two views that are most important for determining hoof balance. These are a lateral (side) view of the foot, and a front to back view—with the entire foot being viewed. It is important that the images are not over or under exposed. This is less of an issue now that digital radiographs are commonly used, but a good view can still be accomplished with film radiography, providing the proper techniques are used,” says McCarroll.

“One other crucial detail is to make sure that the radiograph is taken parallel to the foot, on the weight bearing surface,” he says. You don’t want a distorted perception of foot balance by having the radiograph slightly angled. You want an accurate view of the coffin bone angle and coffin joint.

“Radiographs are the most important imaging technique that the veterinarian can routinely provide.

Other types of imaging include ultrasound, but this modality is generally not as helpful in dealing with foot problems because the solid hoof wall and sole don’t allow the sound waves to penetrate to the internal structures. You can use ultrasound, however, through the frog—if the frog is properly prepared. It

If anesthesia is used to immobilize the horse then an MRI should be used.

has to be trimmed flat and must be moistened by letting it sit in a water-tight bandage for awhile,” explains McCarroll. If the frog has absorbed water and become soft, the ultrasound can penetrate through it.

VENOGRAM

The venogram is a radiographic procedure that allows us to see the veins in the hoof capsule, which canʼt be seen on a normal radiograph. It shows venous blood supply to the foot, which can be helpful in evaluating a laminitis case, for instance. If there is any swelling within the hoof capsule or the coffin bone is displaced (rotated or sinking) the blood vessels (arteries and veins), can become occluded or damaged—leaking serum or blood.

Dr. Bryan Fraley (veterinarian and podiatrist in Paris, Kentucky) says that where there is blood there is life, and a venogram can show this. “If there is an area with no blood, or diminished blood flow, then we need to find a way to improve the blood flow with shoeing mechanics and/or possibly even surgery—such as a deep digital flexor tenotomy,” he says.

“A venogram is accomplished with these steps: 1. blocking the leg from the fetlock down with a temporary numbing agent so the horse will tolerate a tourniquet. 2. A good tight tourniquet is applied at the level of the fetlock.

3. A small catheter is introduced into one of the palmer veins at the pastern level. 4. An appropriate amount of contrast material (the amount depending on the horseʼs size) is injected into the catheter. This material is radioopaque, meaning that it shows up white on an x-ray. 5. A series of x-rays is quickly taken, ideally within about 45 seconds,” says Fraley. These x-rays give a good picture of the blood vessels that are functional within the foot.

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MRI’s are not commonly done on the foot unless there is an obscure lameness problem that cannot be diagnosed by other methods.

“If everything has been done to balance the foot and the lameness From this view, ultrasound allows you to visualize the deep still persists, that’s when MRI might be an option. This method has flexor tendon, the ligaments of the bottom of the foot and the dig- become very popular in the last 5 years,” he says.

There are two different ways to obtain an MRI, depending on ital cushion, aiming the ultrasound through the bottom of the frog— if it is properly prepared. If it is hard and dry and irregular (rather the type of equipment available. The horse’s feet can be viewed in a standing MRI or in a circular than pared flat) it won’t magnet where the horse is lying work very well. This is one down, anesthetized, with his feet reason ultrasound is not in the machine. “Each method used very often for viewing has its advantages. The advaninternal structures of the tage of the standing MRI is that foot. it is less expensive and can proOther imaging modalivide a pretty good image, most ties include the use of CT of the time. But it can be diffiscan (computerized tonogcult to get a good image because raphy) and MRI (magnetic you must have the horse comresonance imaging). “The pletely motionless during this CT scan will give views of Foot axial proton density showing DDF lesion (left) Foot sagittal proton density showing DDF lesion (right) procedure. You don’t have as the foot, primarily the bony good a control over this when the structure, in different layers.

It can be done on several different planes. This is not commonly horse is standing, as compared to having the horse anesthetized,” he done, however, because if a person is going to go to that much trou- says.

The size of the magnet also influences the quality of the image. ble (using anesthesia to make sure the horse is immobilized), you might as well do an MRI which can also give you views of the soft “Magnets are measured in tesla units. Most of the standing magnets are 1/4 to 1/2 tesla. Most of the larger MRI units that require tissue structures and not just the bones,” says McCarroll. anesthesia are 1 to 1.5 tesla. They are stronger magnets and the quality of the imaging is significantly different. Image quality is still very much determined by skill of the operator, and the interpreter of the image. This is something that requires a considerable amount of experience to obtain the image. You also need a leadlined room, and no metal at all in the room. Special air conditioning is required, to control the temperature and the heat the magnet produces. Certain environmental criteria are crucial, such as humidity and temperature, so the room to house the magnet can be very expensive,” says McCarroll. This is why there are still just a few facilities around the country that offer this imaging.

Nuclear scintigraphy (bone scan) can also be helpful in some instances, when trying to diagnose a foot problem. “The bone scan uses the horse as the x-ray generator, by injecting a special dye—a radioactive isotope. Then the horse emits the radiation. If there are areas of inflammation in bone or the structures around the bone, this causes the dye to concentrate in those areas. Then a gammacounter camera outside the horse will show that this is where the strongest source of radiation is, and is a good indication of where the lameness is. It gives very poor detail, but it does tell you where the inflammation is located.”

If the veterinarian has not been able to figure it out with x-rays or ultrasound, a bone scan might be helpful. “Probably the best thing to do is to combine the use of scintigraphy and MRI. The bone scan can localize it and the MRI can tell you which structure is involved,” he says. ■

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SmoothTransition od Wojciechowski assumed his new position as director of sales at OBS earlier this year, but the Florida horseman has had a long history with the sales company and the Ocala community.

“I’m really excited about the position,” Wojciechowski said. “I’ve worked part time with OBS for about 10 years. “This is a wonderful opportunity.”

When it was announced late last year that Wojiechowski was named director of sales, OBS Chairman J. Michael O’Farrell Jr. said: “We are pleased to add Tod to our management team on a permanent basis. His previous experience at OBS assures a smooth transition when Tom Ventura takes over for Tom Chiota. Tod is a good horseman with a unique combination of an Ivy League education and practical experience as both a buyer and consignor. He brings a valuable perspective to OBS.” Wojciechowski has extensive experience in many facets of the industry and has worked with OBS in various capacities for the last 10 years.

“I was asked years ago to help look at horses for the yearling selection process,” he added. “That kind of morphed into the 2-year-old sales as well. I also spearheaded some efforts to promote the yearling sales and did some horsemen’s relations at the racetracks to help stimulate interest in the OBS sales.”

A Cornell University graduate, Wojciechowski was born in Okeechobee, Fl. and moved to Ocala with his family in the early 1980s.

“My parents had a farm in Ocala, so I would always come home on breaks and work on the farm,” he said.

After college, he worked at a few different racetracks, serving as claims clerk at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., and as publicity director at Tampa Bay Downs for the 1990-1991 meet.

“I enjoyed working on the front side,” Wojciechowski said. “But when my folks sent some horses to Trinity Meadows in Texas I went along with the string and it proved to be a fortuitous trip for me because I met my wife, Cindy, there.”

Tod and Cindy have five children—Ashlee, Clay, Tyler, and twins Austin and Katie Jo—ranging in age from 28 to 18.

T

“They all know the horse business because they all had to do it,” Wojciechowski said. “They’ve all been ‘help’ in this family. Tyler is involved in rodeo, so he is really the only one working with horses.”

As someone who closely monitors the auction market, Wojciechowski is encouraged by the results of this year’s select sales.

Well-known in the Ocala area, Wojciechowski has bought and sold horses in the past, and brings a wealth of industry experience to his post.

“I think it’s definitely a benefit to have been involved in pinhooking in the past,” he said. “I also believe the relationships I have made are important. I’m excited to have been given this opportunity.” ■

“All of the major players will be here

or will be represented at the sale,” he added. “And the Korean buyers are here. In recent years, they have played an important role in the April sale. They have had a lot of success out of the sale, and we are glad they are back.

”

—Tod Wojciechowski, Director of Sales at OBS

LOUISE REINAGEL PHOTO

By MICHAEL COMPTON

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SPRING TWO-YEAR-OLD IN TRAINING SALE

Setting

OBS April Spring Sale enjoys record run

By MICHAEL COMPTON he OBS April Spring Sale has a welldeserved reputation for producing topclass racehorses. The April offering is deserving of its acclaim. Two weeks following this year’s record-breaking sale, I’ll Have Another promptly joined Lil E. Tee and Florida-bred Silver Charm as Kentucky Derby (G1)-winning OBS April graduates.

“The April sale has been a very good sale through the years,” said Tom Ventura, OBS general manager. “Whether buyers are looking based on price, pedigree or workouts, they have plenty of choices at the April sale.

The bottom line is that the horses have to produce on the racetrack.”

Some of the industry’s most prominent buyers and agents showed their collective approval of this year’s quality offering by driving sale receipts to new highs across the board. The April Spring Sale, which was held April 23-26, established new records for gross, average and median price. All told, 760 juveniles brought a gross of $33,706,400, compared to last year’s previous record gross of $25,980,200 on 830 head sold. The average price for the entire sale was $44,351, up 41.7 percent from last year’s average of $31,301 and surpassing the previous record of $32,494 set in 2006. The median price was $27,000, breaking the $20,000 previous high from both the 2010 and 2011 April Sales. The buy-back percentage was 17.6 percent; it was 24.3 percent last year. A total of 73 horses for $100,000 or more, compared to 52 last year.

“The sale finished as strong as it started,” said Tom Ventura, OBS general manager.

54 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL/MAY 2012

Hip No. 731, a son of Orientate out of Mir Cat, sold for $450,000.

“We couldn’t be more pleased. The sale was strong at all levels. I also liked the activity for the moderately-priced horses. The participation from all segments was proof that there was a horse for everyone at this sale.”

Topping this year’s sale was hip No. 929, a First Samurai filly consigned by Eddie Woods, agent and purchased by The Three Amigos on the sale’s last day. Produced from the stakes-placed Unaccounted For mare Refugee, the filly worked a quarter in :21 at the under tack preview. The filly, a $23,000 pinhook, is from the family of champion Davona Dale and is a half-sister to stakesplaced Profit.

“She’s a beautiful filly,” said Eddie

LOUISE REINAGEL PHOTOS

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Woods. “She’s elegant. She’s made well and is easy on the eye.

“The sale just got better and better as the week went on,” Woods added. “The select market can be a little tricky, but things were very good all week. “ Hip No. 967, a son of Broken Vow, brought the second-highest price of the sale at $475,000. Mark Casse, agent, signed the ticket. Consigned by Halcyon Hammock Farm, agent, the colt worked a co-bullet eighth in :9 4/5 at the under track preview.

The colt was a $32,000 pinhook.

Hernan Parra, an exercise rider at Live Oak Plantation, brought one horse to OBS April, a Florida-bred Keyed Entry filly he

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SStandard

acquired last year for $5,700 from Bridlewood Farm at the OBS August Sale. On day two of the sale, he sold the filly as hip No. 363 for $260,000 to John Fort. The filly led all Florida-breds in the April catalog.

“I have always dreamed of doing this,” said Parra, a jockey before he became an exercise rider, “but I didn’t have enough money. Last year a horse owned by my wife won a race and we had enough money to go the August sale at OBS and I picked out this filly. She wasn’t perfect. She was very small, but I liked her. When I got her home I could tell she had a lot of class. I thought she would do well, but I never thought she would bring this kind of money.”

Produced from the Halo’s Image mare Dixie Image, a full sister to millionaire Southern Image, the filly worked a cofastest quarter in :20 4/5 at the under tack preview. She was bred in the Sunshine State

by Bridlewood Farm.

The second-highest priced Florida-bred of the sale was hip No. 28, who was purchased by Steven Young, agent, for $180,000. The daughter of Bridlewood Farm stallion Put It Back was consigned by Blue River Bloodstock, agent. Bred by Circle S Ranch, the filly is produced from the stakeswinning Jungle Express mare Wabash Gal and is a half-sister to stakes winner Sheza Pretty Gal, an earner of $112,592.

The highest priced Florida-bred colt was hip No. 415, a son of Harlan’s Holiday purchased by Bear Stables for $175,000. Consigned by de Meric Sales, agent, the colt was bred by Farm III Enterprises and Off The Hook Partners. From the family of stakes

winners Colony Band and Colizeo, the colt was a $65,000 buy-back at the 2011 Keeneland September Sale.

As anticipated, Ocala/Marion County consignors topped the consignor rankings for the four-day sale.

Nick de Meric’s De Meric Sales led all consignors, selling 52 head for $2,465,000.

“You don’t have to worry about bringing a select horse to this sale,” said Niall Brennan. “They will get noticed. The better horses sell well here. People are starting to pay attention to the April Sale.”

The leading buyer at $1,157,000 for 12 purchases was Klaravich Stable. Narvick International, agent, ranked second, buying four juveniles for $1,090,000.

Ocala’s Mark Casse, agent, bought four head for —Nick de Meric $1,090,000 and Zayat Stables took home seven for $1 million.

The next sale on the OBS Calendar is the “It was a phenomenal sale,” de Meric June Sale of Two-Year-Olds and Horses of said. “There was strength at every level.”

Eddie Woods followed de Meric with Racing Age slated for June 19-20, with $2,427,000 on 27 sold. Niall Brennan sold under tack shows scheduled for June 15-17 33 for $2,106,500 to round out the top three. at 7:30 a.m. ■

It was a phenomenal sale. There was “strength at every level.”

Hernan Parra (Hilfiger shirt), wife Norma, partner Jesus Solis (far right), handler Ernisto Villarrael THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL/MAY 2012 55

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FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’ AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION Lonny T. Powell, CEO and Executive Vice President 801 SW 60th Ave. • Ocala, FL 34474 • 352-629-2160 Fax: 352-629-3603 • www.ftboa.com • info@ftboa.com

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FLORIDA DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES Adam Putnam, Commissioner 850-921-7916 • Fax 850-922-0374 e-mail: michael.ryshouwer@freshfromflorida.com 407 S. Calhoun • 427-A Mayo Building, Tallahassee, FL 32399

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Florida... the Best State for Business

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FARM MANAGEMENT

Create and Converse Diverse Wildlife Habits on the Farm

ello to all! Spring is now underway and some rains have begun, buds are sprouting and the foal crop is really getting into full swing, showing the renewal that spring gives to the farms. Although beautiful, farms are normally kept much like golf courses; they’re beautiful to look at, but not very friendly towards wildlife. Many people say they don’t want to encourage raccoons and opossums onto their property and in the barns, but many bird varieties, good insects, and other critters can coexist happily with horses. Over 1200 species of native wildlife exist in Florida, and that doesn’t even count the insects and other invertebrates! So this year, consider balancing out the horses and what lives on the farm naturally; walk around the farm to become a road engineer for wildlife.

Ponds and marshy areas are good places to start.

Often times, racetracks are placed around wet, unsuitable areas for horses, but these areas can be a tremendous home and breeding ground for birds and wildlife.

Some farms dig out ponds themselves, just because they are pretty, but these areas can still be hugely beneficial.

Food, water, cover and space are essential ingredients needed to be a desirable habitat for wildlife. By establishing native Florida freshwater wetland plants into these marshy areas or ponds, not only can water quality be improved by the plants ability to filter and/or remove fertilizers, like nitrogen and phosphorous, but they also provide the best overall food sources for wildlife. Planting native trees or shrubs (if not already inside the track), give nesting sites and escape cover for many birds, not to mention how attractive all of that beautiful and beneficial vegetation will look! Next, add some native fish, like bluegill, bass and catfish and then just watch the birds flock to their newly created haven. Don’t forget that these wet and marshy areas may be anywhere on the property, not only on the inside of the track.

Winding Oaks Farm, in Ocala, FL, is a perfect example of how fantastic management of the ponds has greatly benefitted wildlife. Operations Manager, Mike Dixon, stated that they take great care to protect and enhance the three ponds on their 1,100 acre farm. Ponds

H

58 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL/MAY 2012

not already having fish were stocked with bluegill and catfish. About two years later, bass were also added.

Mike can’t say enough about how the fish, water and native plants have attracted several different breeds of migratory and year-round birds to the ponds. He said Egrets, Canadian Geese, ducks, hawks and Bald Eagles all use the pond to their benefit. “The ponds attract a lot of interesting creatures”, Mike says, proving that not only the birds benefit from good conservation practices.

Talk with neighbors, too. Perhaps the median between farms, where traffic may be low, can be utilized to promote wildlife. Several farms working together can be hugely beneficial in creating cost-effective areas that also help to create larger habitat wildlife patches. If you live in an equine subdivision that shares a track, this may be something that could become part of the association “code”, where all in the community participate a bit in the promotion of wildlife on the inside of the track.

Again, there is power in numbers. If you have an inter-

Remember, it is possible to have wildlife and horses living together in a positive, beautiful and environmentally friendly way. Be sure to contact me, your local Extension agent, or a Fish and Wildlife representative to get the ball rolling. est in helping wildlife in your ponds, or on your land, but lack funding, go to: http://myfwc.com/conservation/special-initiatives/lap/hcss, to learn about Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission Financial Assistance Programs and learn about possibilities for assistance with restoration and conservation plans.

Remember, it is possible to have wildlife and horses living together in a positive, beautiful and environmentally friendly way. Be sure to contact me, your local Extension agent, or a Fish and Wildlife representative to get the ball rolling. As always, keep up the good management practices! ■

Schedule a Farm Call: Jamie A. Cohen Farm Outreach Coordinator UF IFAS/Marion County Extension Service 352-671-8792 • jamiecohen@ufl.edu

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FLORIDA HORSE PARK

Warm spring greetings from the Florida Agriculture Center and Horse Park!

May is in Motion

Motion ’d like to extend a sincere thank you to all who have continued investing your valuable time and dollars in the future of this 500acre unique outdoor venue. Each month, the Park’s event schedule grows with another great project.

We have already scheduled more than 200 event days for 2012, including horse shows, dog shows, professional BBQ competitions, trail rides, triathlons and more. We recently confirmed a brand new contract with the Ocala Scottish Highland Games for this fall – a festival expected to attract several thousand visitors.

The Foundation for the Florida Horse Park is also producing ongoing fundraising for the Park’s development. Our popular farm tour, typically held in the fall, will be repeated this May, with a lineup of beautiful and varied horse farms throughout Marion County. In addition, we’ve increased our outreach by partnering with new friends…producing pony rides at community festivals, presenting our message at dozens of civic organizations, and increasing our social media presence.

These efforts are being recognized by those both inside and outside the agriculture industry.

In January, Mr. Whit Palmer, longtime supporter and visionary for the Park, was recognized as

I

Ocala Magazine’s Person of the Year, thanks in large part to his role in creating the Foundation for the Florida Horse Park. Whit has been an amazing leader and a mentor to me – congratulations, Whit!

Last month, the Florida Agriculture Center and Horse Park was recognized by the Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce as Marion County’s Ag/Equine Business of the Year.

We are grateful for this truly special designation!

Our board of directors comprise a stellar group of men and women dedicated to the Park’s success, and our donors and sponsors continue to inspire us to keep working hard. We look forward to a continual partnership with you all. ■

We have already scheduled more than 200 event days for 2012, including horse shows, dog shows, professional BBQ competitions, trail rides, triathlons and more. We recently confirmed a brand new contract with the Ocala Scottish Highland Games for this fall – a festival expected to attract several thousand visitors.

Most sincerely, Connie Duff Wise President, Foundation for the Florida Horse Park

THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL/MAYY 2012 59

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PRACTICALLY SPEAKING

Mounds and Mounds “ W

by UF/IFAS Marion CountyLivestock Agent Mark Shuffitt

The most important part of trapping a gopher is locating an active tunnel. Look for the freshest mound you can find, push the dirt back and probe the area with a trowel or rod.

hat is causing these large mounds of dirt in my pasture and how do I get rid of them?

One of my yearlings stepped in one of the holes and twisted her ankle. I’ve tried dragging the pasture, but the mounds seem to come back overnight and I never see anything making them. Is there anything I can do to get rid of these annoying piles of dirt and holes in my pasture?” The farm owner explained to me, she had been dealing with this problem for two or three years and had been unsuccessful in her pasture of these troublesome mounds. Her frustration had recently reached its peak when one of her “best” yearlings had to be scratched from a sale because it now had a swollen ankle as a result of stepping in one of the holes. So began our discussion of the cause and control of this pasture problem.

The southeastern pocket gopher (Geomys pinetis) is also known as “sandy-mounder” or “salamander”. It’s known as a pocket gopher because of the fur-lined cheek pouches the gopher uses to carry food. Tan to grayishbrown with light colored feet and hairless tail, pocket gophers range in size of 9-12 inches from nose to tail.

Gophers dig extensive tunnel systems and are usually not seen on the surface. They are active year round and may burrow at any time of day. However, gophers are most active in the spring when they may construct up to three mounds a day. Additionally, they seem to be more active around dusk and at night.

Gopher tunnels are slightly smaller than an average person’s forearm and run parallel to the surface. Most tunnels run between 2 inches to 2 feet in depth with some lateral extensions for food storage and nesting reaching more than 5 feet below the surface.Average tunnel length is 145 feet and at least one tunnel was followed for 525 feet.

As it digs, the gopher pushes the loose soil behind itself and then turns around and pushes the soil up a tunnel terminating at the surface. (This process produces the mound in the pasture.) Once the main tunnel extends past the first tunnel, another lateral tunnel is dug to the surface and the first lateral tunnel is backfilled to block it off from the surface. (This process results in the rows of gopher mounds on the surface.) Just because there are numerous mounds in a pasture doesn’t mean there are the same number of gophers. Remember, a single gopher can build up to three mounds a day. The backfilling of the tunnel is the gopher’s primary defense

60 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL/MAY 2012

against its main predator, the Florida pine snake.

Gophers reach sexual maturity at about 6 months of age. They usually have one or two litters per year with one to three young per litter. Breeding is most common in March, July or August. Gopher nests of shredded grass are located in the deepest part of the tunnel system, 2-5 feet below the surface. Their underground lifestyle and lack of natural predators allows the gophers’ relatively low reproductive rate to sustain gopher populations.

The soil gophers bring to the surface contains nutrients leached from surface soils. This natural fertilizer helps to maintain the sandhill ecosystem. The mounds of loose soil provide needed germination sites for some native plant seeds. Many amphibians and reptiles use pocket gopher mounds as homes, including Florida’s unique mole skinks. The pocket gopher tunnels themselves serve as habitat for many unique invertebrates found nowhere else. Gophers should be maintained in natural areas as well as other non-livestock areas such as rights-of-way for power lines and roads.

When southeastern pocket gophers damage pastures,

lawns or gardens it may become necessary eliminate them.

Gopher traps are effective and several types are available commercially. Like I told the farm owner that called me, the most important part of trapping a gopher is locating an active tunnel. Look for the freshest mound you can find, push the dirt back and probe the area with a trowel or rod.

Once the tunnel is located, dig it out with something like a serving spoon until all the dirt is removed. You may have to go as far as your elbow or deeper to open up the tunnel. After the tunnel is dug out, insert the trap and check it later the same day or first thing the next morning. If an active tunnel is cleaned out, the theory is the gopher will come back to refill the tunnel and in so doing be caught in the trap. Successful trapping of just one gopher can make a significant difference in the amount of mounds you see your pasture.

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A Dangerous Reaction?

T

here are few things in life more dangerous than the tion -- effectively end racing as we know it.

True, any study of the issue concludes that the inciknee-jerk reaction.

It is often violently damaging, sometimes in a way dent of serious injury of horses has increased in recent that is embarrassing and painfully irreversible. It always decades. The Times study dutifully overstates the increase happens within a vacuum of thoughtful consideration, among thoroughbreds by folding quarter-horse data into the larger study. Others, including one funded by the with neither due diligence nor rational thought.

There are also few things as fallacious among Amer- Jockey Club, suggest increases less stark but there is no icans as the belief that if something – anything – exists solid evidence that Lasix is the root cause of anything exin Europe, it is better than the practice here. This is the cept control of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage, great American inferiority complex, based on evidence the purpose for which it is designed. Economically, soby Paul Moran neither historic nor current but nevertheless evident in cially, in racing terms and in every other respect, Europe is in the steepest stage of decline, but the overarching deerroneous hair-shirt, apologetic self flagellation.

So, a widely-criticized and undoubtedly dubious exam- sire of the Times and Jockey Club is to bring the Ameriination of racing’s issues regarding medication and injury can Industry in line with the rest of the racing world.

It is time for racing to begin a process solving its problems published recently by the New York Times – a purported news agency that routinely declines to cover most of the while avoiding becoming victim of misdirected reform.

The medication discussion has become a smorgasmost-important races run in its home metropolis – has ignited great whimpering and breast beating in racing’s most bord of misconception.

The days before Lasix were by no stretch of the hallowed halls. Based upon data that was at best profoundly flawed and at worse thinly veiled fabrication, the Times, imagination drug-free. Silent Tom Smith himself, the with narrative couched in the New Mexican quarter-horse storied, stoic horse-whisperer who trained Seabiscuit, served a year’s suspension in New York industry, portrayed the sport as little more than a money-churning grind that consumes It is time for racing for use of ephedrine after taking over horses and humans without regard for the to begin a process horses owned by Elizabeth Arden. Think well being of either and points to the admit- solving its problems Seabiscuit got some of that? Cocaine and heroin were at one time commonly tedly incongruous array of local medication while avoiding regulations as the source of all things wrong becoming victim of used to affect performance. Those of with the sport, pointing fawningly to Europe misdirected reform. sufficient vintage recall Sublimaze and etorphine. The use of cobra venom was and other nations in which race-day medicafirst rumored in the late 1970s and still defies testing. tion is officially banned as a standard of purity.

It is unlikely that any horse has ever suffered a fatal Reconsideration of medication regulation is not in itself a bad idea but it must be thoughtful and approached with a breakdown because it wasn’t bleeding internally.

“Performance enhancing drugs” are and have always high degree of caution. Common regulation adopted on a national scale, however, is probably no closer at hand than been illegal if often difficult to detect.

Once upon a time, racing was seasonal with less presthe abolition of income tax – a nice thought far-fetched.

First, it is important to identify the problem and the sure put upon the horse population. It was also the realm knee-jerk reactionaries appear to be gathering in a knot of of the severely wealthy who bred to race. How many support for the elimination of Lasix, the almost universally major farms and stables prominent in the ‘70s remain acdiuretic commonly legal in every racing jurisdiction. The tive? Nowadays, horsemen are usually concerned with Jockey Club, though impotent in the regulatory sense, sup- maintaining the solvency of clients and breeding for the ports elimination of the use of Lasix on race day. The Ken- marketplace is too often accomplished at the expense of tucky Racing Commission, playing with fire while facing sound genetic bloodlines.

Many issues in this milieu persist and demand study. into the wind, is considering a more impactful measure.

But no organization of horsemen or women has lent sup- But overreach for the obviously low-hanging fruit, in this port to a measure that would – since slightly less than 100 case Lasix, never results in solution. Viewed from any percent of horses are treated with Lasix prior to competi- angle, not bleeding can only be a good thing. ■

62 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL/MAY 2012

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