FH April May 2025

Horse of the Year

MYSTIC LAKE

1ST, FTBOA DR. FAGER S. 3RD, FTBOA AFFIRMED S. (16-4-4-3, $237,710)

SW AT 2 & 3 AT GULFSTREAM PARK SP AT 2, 4 & 5 AT TAMPA & MONMOUTH (41-9-4-7, $353,737)

1ST, FTBOA DR. FAGER S. FTBOA AFFIRMED S. 2ND, FTBOA IN REALITY S. (7-3-1-0, $303,900)

GRADED SW AT GP, G1SP AT SARATOGA, G3SP AT BELMONT IN 2024. 2ND, FTBOA DR. FAGER S. (27-9-8-3, $819,910)

AT 2, WON FIRST TIME OUT AT GP, SW IN SOPHOMORE DEBUT, MULTIPLE SW AT TAMPA (20-4-3-4, $276,990)

UNDEFEATED IN FIRST THREE STARTS AT 3, MULTIPLE SP, INCL. 2ND IN THE GALLANT BOB S-G2 (109 E-SPEED FIGURE) (6-3-1-1, $198,830)

SW AT 2 IN 2024, DEBUT MSW WINNER AT GULFSTREAM PARK, RUNNER-UP IN THE HOLLYWOOD BEACH S. IN 3RD START

$69,324 Avg. Earnings Per Runner 127 Runners / 18 Blacktype including six FTBOA F.S.S. performers

CAJUN BREEZE

Congrats / Cajun Dawn, by Awesome Again

FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’ AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION

PRESIDENT

George Isaacs

CEO & EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

Lonny Taylor Powell

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT

Valerie Dailey

SECOND VICE PRESIDENT

Francis Vanlangendonck

TREASURER

Joseph M. O’Farrell III

SECRETARY

Beckie Cantrell

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

Valerie Dailey

DIRECTORS

Tiffany Atteberry, DVM, Beth Bayer, Colin Brennan, Jerry D. Campbell, Marilyn Campbell, Brent Fernung, Mike Hall, Richard Heysek, Milan Kosanovich, Mary Lightner

PAST PRESIDENTS

Phil Matthews, DVM, Greg Wheeler, Don Dizney, John C. Weber, MD

ADMINISTRATIVE VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER & ASSISTANT TREASURER

Peggy Yost

ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENTMEMBER SERVICES & EVENTS

Tammy A. Gantt

ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENTOPERATIONS

Steve Koch

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT & OFFICE MANAGER & ASSISTANT SECRETARY

Elaine K. Ansbacher

REGISTRATIONS & PAYMENTS COORDINATOR

Sheila Budden

STAFF ACCOUNTANT

Kerrie Riber

ACCOUNTING CLERK

Faith Davis

ADMINISTRATIVE/MEMBERSHIP ASSISTANT Vicki Davis

Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association

Executive Office – 801 SW 60th Avenue Ocala, Florida 34474 (352) 629-2160 • info@ftboa.com • www.ftboa.com

Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. Closed 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm & Federal Holidays

FLORIDA EQUINE COMMUNICATIONS

PRESIDENT/BOARD CHAIR

George Isaacs

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT

Valerie Dailey

SECOND VICE PRESIDENT

Francis Vanlangendonck

TREASURER

Joseph M. O’Farrell III

SECRETARY

Beckie Cantrell

CEO & PUBLISHER

Lonny Taylor Powell

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Peggy Yost

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Brock Sheridan

ASSISTANT EDITOROPERATIONS & DEVELOPMENT

Steve Koch

CONTRIBUTING EDITORSALES & INDUSTRY AFFAIRS

Tammy A. Gantt

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT/ADVERTISING

Vicki Davis

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Nancy Moffatt

The Kentucky Derby: An American Dream Made Possible in Florida

What a ride. What a feeling. What an unbelievable journey to play a part in Florida’s racing legacy. I couldn’t be more proud of Bridlewood graduates finishing 1-2 in the 2025 Kentucky Derby — and another in the top 10 with East Avenue. Now that I’ve had a moment to reflect, I can say with certainty: this finish wasn’t luck. It was a testament to Florida’s standing as a hub for racing excellence.

Florida, and particularly Ocala, has long been a cradle for champions. With abundant sunshine, ideal soil, mineral-rich spring water, and an unmatched concentration of top-tier trainers and horsemen, Central Florida offers the perfect environment to develop elite Thoroughbreds. These conditions — combined with generations of expertise — form a recipe for success that’s as consistent as it is extraordinary.

Bridlewood Farm has worked hard to become a nationally premier destination for breaking and training the best young horses each fall. This year’s Derby results endorse that effort. Sovereignty and East Avenue are Kentucky horses from Godolphin – a global racing empire – that came to Bridlewood for one reason: the global industry knows Florida produces results. I could not be more proud of our farm trainer, Meda Murphy, and her team for producing great results for our clients each and every year.

This year, 13 of the 19 Kentucky Derby contenders had Florida ties — whether trained, raced, or raised here. Florida’s nationally competitive racetracks, renowned competition such as the Florida Derby, and robust infrastructure built by multigenerational family farms make this possible. Thanks to this foundation, Florida’s Thoroughbred industry contributes $3.24 billion to the state’s economy annually, including over $180 million of commerce through the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company alone.

For me, Florida has always represented my American Dream. As General Manager of Bridlewood Farm, I’ve built a life here doing what I love — and long have planned for the day my son Blaine will continue the legacy. But our story is just one of many. Florida’s strength lies in its community of horsemen and women, farms big and small, all contributing to a shared future.

The key to continued success? Work hard and double down on what makes Florida Thoroughbreds great. With the right resources and support, tomorrow’s national champions will forever emerge from the Sunshine State. TFH

GEORGE ISAACS

General Manager

Bridlewood Farm

Sovereignty (left) and Journalism (right) in the 2025 Kentucky Derby

Lauren Givhan

Photo

FLORIDA FOCUS

Compiled by Brock Sheridan

Third Straight Stakes Victory for Florida-bred Nic’s Style in Minaret

Nic’s Style got up in the final jump to win the $92,500 Minaret at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 8 for her third consecutive stakes victory and sixth win in seven career starts. Ridden to victory by regular rider Junior Alvarado, the 5-year-old Florida-bred mare was the best of eight fillies and mares as the 3-5 favorite in the six-furlong affair.

In addition to earning the $45,000 winner’s check, Nic’s Style took down $17,500 in Florida-bred bonus money presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.

Away evenly from post four, Alvarado allowed Nic’s Style to settle several lengths off the pace set by 2-1 second choice Dazzling Blue and jockey Edwin Gonzalez as they sprinted down the backstretch a length-and-a-half clear of Florida-bred R Harper Rose in second.

After quick quarter-mile fractions of :21.88 and :44.71, longshot Ruthless Rua tried to challenge Dazzling Blue coming out of the turn as Nic’s Style began making up ground with a four-wide move with four lengths to make up.

Dazzling Blue was still two lengths clear past the furlong marker as Nic’s Style continued to close in while wrestling second from Ruthless Rua. Dazzling Blue continued to lead by a length at the sixteenth pole before Nic’s Style drew even in the shadow of the wire to win by a nose in 1:09.16 on the fast track. Dazzling Blue finished two-and-a-half lengths in front of Ruthless Rua in third followed by Broken Hearts, Miuccia, Sing a Little Song, R Harper Rose and Opus Forty Two.

Nic’s Style paid $3.20 to win.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott for Stephen Rousseau,

Nic’s Style began her win streak with two seven-furlong victories including a three-and-a-quarter-length triumph in the $150,000 Pumpkin Pie (Listed) during the Belmont at Big A meet on Nov. 3. She finished her year at Tampa Bay Downs by taking the $98,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes City of Ocala by two-and-a-half lengths on Dec. 14 in her last out.

Nic’s Style began her career winning a maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park in 2022 before being sidelined for 19 months. She returned with a vengeance in December of 2023, winning a first level, $20,000 optional claiming by more than 10 lengths at Gulfstream but it was another eight months before making her first start for Mott at Saratoga in August of last year. She won a first level allowance by nearly six lengths then suffered her only defeat when second to Ways and Means in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom over a sloppy six-and-a-half furlongs during the Belmont at Big A meet in September.

An earner of $328,400, Nic’s Style was a $25,000 purchase by Rousseau out of Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck’s Summerfield consignment at the 2021 Ocala Breeders’ Sales October Yearling Sale.

Nic’s Style is by Uncaptured and is the only stakes winner from five foals out of the Street Sense mare Sense When. All bred by Kenneth D’Oyen of Carson, Calif., Sense When has three Floridabred starters, all winners, with an unnamed 2-year-old colt by Higher Power and a yearling colt by Mo Town. She was bred to Mandaloun in 2024. n

Epona’s Hope Wires Ladies Turf Sprint for First Stakes Win at Gulfstream Park

Jockey Joel Rosario and Epona’s Hope went right to the front from the start then held off odds-on favorite Just a Care (Ire) for her first career stakes victory in the $135,000 Ladie’s Turf Sprint at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 8. Florida-bred Epona’s Hope bested eight other fillies and mares, 4-years-old and older going five furlongs on the turf. Her $82,400 payday included $8,000 in Florida-bred bonus money presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owner’s Association and third-place finisher Karaya picked up a $2,000 Florida-bred bonus.

Epona’s Hope shot out of post eight to put a quick length on Shoshanah in second as Blind Spot moved into third from the inside post. Epona’s Hope stretched her lead to two lengths around the turn after a blazing :21.10 quarter mile as Just a Care began making her move while circling four-wide.

Epona’s Hope was still three lengths clear at the top of the stretch as Just a Care moved into second with a fast-closing run. Just a

Florida-bred Nic’s Style | Photo by SV Photography

Care converged rapidly in the final strides but missed by head as Epona’s Hope hit the wire in :55.02 on the firm turf. Just a Care was a length ahead of Florida-bred Karaya in third. Weekend Rags, Sinead, Freedom Sparks, Florida-bred Beauty of the Sea, Shoshanah and Blind Spot completed the order of finish.

Trained by Eddie Plesa Jr., Epona’s Hope paid $11.60 to win.

“She ran a big race, didn’t she?” Plesa said. “I think Joel rode an outstanding race on her. She was the controlling speed in the race. I liked the way he got her to relax. He rode her so confidently. Coming into this race she was just doing fantastic. The guys at the barn did a great job. It’s not a big surprise to me the way she ran. I thought she’d be right there.”

Epona’s Hope was the fourth Florida-bred winner in the last five runnings of the Ladies Turf Sprint and sixth overall. Previous Florida-bred winners were Believe in Charlie (2014), Jewel of a Cat (2015), Lady’s Island (2021), Miss Auramet (2022) and Stone Silent (2023).

The 4-year-old daughter of Ocala Stud stallion Adios Charlie has now won four of her last six races including a second condition, $62,500 optional claiming going five furlongs on Jan. 12. She is also three for four with a third on the Gulfstream Park turf including a neck victory against first condition, $75,000 optional claiming fillies in April.

“She just won her two-other-than allowance, and after that there are no other races for her,” Plesa said. “[The Ladies’ Turf Sprint] was on our radar even before she won her last race. Coming into her last race she was training excellent and we felt confident in her, and she just boosted our confidence in this race.”

Out of Alotofappeal, by Trippi, Epona’s Hope has now won five of 11 career starts with a second and three thirds while banking $294,738 for owners Leon Ellman, Glassman Racing LLC and Laurie Plesa. She was bred in Florida by Ocala Stud, Edward Wiest and William J. Terrill.

She was purchased by her current owners for $295,000 out of the 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale where she was consigned by Ocala Stud.

Epona’s Hope is the third Florida-bred stakes winner out of Alotofappeal, who also produced 2022 OBS Sophomore-winner King Cab with Noble Bird and 2011 Blue Mountain-winner B C’s Train, by Silver Train. Alotofappeal produced graded stakes-placed Schivarelli, by Montbrook; graded stakes-placed Talk Logistics and stakes-placed Sonoma Crush, both by High Cotton; and stakes-placed Big Rings, by The Big Beast. Among her 13 foals are 10 winners from 12 starters. She has an unnamed yearling filly by Ocala Stud stallion Roadster, to whom she was bred back to in 2024. n

Roll On Big Joe Cruises to Win Palos Verdes

Florida-bred Roll On Big Joe jumped out on top then led at every pole on his way to a four-length victory in the $100,000 Palos Verdes (Grade 3) at Santa Anita on Feb. 15. It was the first career stakes victory for the Bob Hess Jr. trainee, who had finished second to Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1)-winner Straight No Chaser in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship in his only other start against added-money horses.

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Florida-bred Roll On Big Joe | Photo by Benoit

Florida-bred Epona’s Hope | Photo by Coglianese

FLORIDA FOCUS

Ridden to victory by regular rider Umberto Rispoli, Roll On Big Joe was momentarily passed by For All Man Kind to his outside early but regained the lead before passing the three-eighths pole. With little urging from Rispoli, Roll On Big Joe was a half-length in front after a quarter mile in :22.40 then extended his lead to a length turning for home after a half-mile in :44.16. Rispoli only had to shake the reins at Roll on Big Joe at the top of the stretch as the 5-year-old gelding eagerly pulled away from his rivals and won with ease. For All Man Kind was second, three-quarters of a length faster than Bartholdy in third. Mbagnick (Chi) was fourth with Anarchist last. Big City Lights was scratched.

Roll On Big Joe was timed in 1:08.60 on the fast track, equating to a 102 Beyer Speed Figure. As of Feb. 16, the Beyer number ranks among the top six in North America this year for races at a mile or less according to Daily Racing Form.

“He broke sharp like he does always and the key with him is to not fight him. Once you fight him, he gets upset and likes to drift out.” Rispoli said. “But today he was really relaxed with me. At the

THE ART OF REMI

three-eighths pole, he pointed his ears and I said ‘okay we look in good shape.’ For All Man Kind tried to go with him on the outside, but if I can get him to relax on the lead on the dirt, it changes a lot of things.

“He’s improving with every race and Bob [Hess] is doing a great job with him. Who knows how good he can be.”

Roll On Big Joe paid $6 to win.

It was the second consecutive win for Roll On Big Joe after taking a second condition, $80,000 optional claiming going six-and-a-half furlongs at Santa Anita on Jan. 3. He had two solid races sprinting against higher condition optional claimers after the Santa Anita Sprint Championship in September, finishing third behind winner Manitowish at the $80,000 level going six-and-a-half furlongs on Oct. 27 and second to Fort Bragg going six furlongs on Dec. 1, both at Santa Anita.

Roll On Big Joe improved to five wins in 15 starts with five seconds and a third and the $60,000 first-place check increased his career earnings to $298,580 for owner Tim Cohen’s Rancho Temescal LLC,

David Marabella’s White Fence LLC and Richard Hale Jr.

“The owners were patient with [Roll On Big Joe] when he was young and allowed him to go through some growing pains,” Hess said. “I think he’s improving.

“Rancho Temescal and the Cohen family has been great for the industry for 50 years. Then we brought in Dick Hale, who I’ve worked for for 35 years, and David Marabella, who I’ve worked for for 30 years. It’s very satisfying for me, more for the people involved.”

Rancho Temescal purchased Roll On Big Joe for $90,000 out of the Gayle Woods consignment at Ocala Breeders’ Sales during the 2022 June Sale.

Roll On Big Joe is by Prospective out of Nina’s Gift, by Victory Gallop and was bred in Florida by Max Ubide. He is the first stakes winner for Nina’s Gift, who has five winners from five starters and six foals. n

Rouki Rolls to Win Turf Dash at Odds of 20-1

Discounted by the wagering public, Tropic Lightning Racing LLC’s longshot Rouki wore down fellow Florida-bred Souper Quest in deep stretch for a persistent win in the $117,500 Turf Dash at five furlongs at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 22. Although a winner of four of his last six, Rouki was let go at odds of 20-1 before winning his first career stakes while taking down a $60,000 first prize and a $17,500 Florida-bred bonus presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.

The field of nine 4-year-olds and older broke in line before sorting out after a sixteenth of a mile when Souper Quest took a half-length advantage on 70-1 longshot Thealligatorhunter. Rouki

and jockey Samy Camacho tracked from a length-and-a-half back in third. Souper Quest and Thealligatorhunter went at each other through quarter-mile fractions of :21.13 and :43.99 before Souper Quest shook free coming out of the turn. Rouki was quickly up to his outside as they straightened up for home and was even with that rival passing the eighth-pole before Souper Quest surrendered. Rouki was clear in the final sixteenth but had to hold off Horsepower to win by a half-length in :55.47. Horsepower was a neck in front of Isivunguvungu (Saf) in third followed by Florida-bred Reef Runner, Our Shot, Souper Quest, Smithwick’s Spice, American Monarch, Thealligatorhunter and Going Up. Florida-bred Chess Master and Super Chow were scratched while Cotton and Honeyquist failed to drawn in off the list of also eligibles.

“I had no pressure from the outside and none from the inside, and there were just two horses in front of me,” Camacho said. “I knew if I just sat behind them, my horse would go when the time came. When I asked him he gave me a big kick. He showed that he is a very nice horse.”

Trained by Gerald Bennett, Rouki paid $42.20 to win and finished off a $97,994 Pick 6 Jackpot for one winner.

Bennett, who has been battling colon, liver and lung cancer this season, expressed how special the victory was to him and as a longtime member of the Tampa Bay Downs community of horsemen.

“We all love each other back there,” he said. “All these guys, we’ve been together a long time and it feels really good to have them congratulating me.”

“Gerry Bennett is so strong,” Camacho said. “I’m very proud to win this race for him.”

Rouki is now undefeated in two starts on the Tampa Bay Downs turf after winning a second condition, $32,000 optional claiming going five furlongs on Nov. 27. He was then seventh under the same conditions going six furlongs on the main track on Dec. 14 but bounced back on Feb. 2 to win under those terms at six furlongs last out on Feb. 2.

“You have to be patient with them and give them time to learn what they like,” Bennet said of Rouki. “I didn’t work this horse for 21 days this winter, just left him alone.

“Samy knows him really well, and he’s not afraid to sit, sit, sit a little longer on him. I told him don’t rush him—he’s capable of going out in [fractions of] 21 and 43 seconds. But he loves it outside of horses and he’ll run at them.”

Rouki has now won half of his 10 career starts while banking $198,405. Bred in Florida by Bonnie J. Thompson and Edward Seltzer, Rouki is by Solera Farm stallion Rogueish out of Kizuna, by Harlington. Rouki is the first stakes winner for Kizuna, who has two winners from four starters. She also has an unnamed 2-year-old colt by Take Charge Indy. n

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Florida-bred Rouki | Photo by SV Photography

FLORIDA FOCUS

Great Venezuela Rallies to Win First Stakes in Lightning City

Great Venezuela had four horses beat turning for home then rallied on the outside to win going away in the $125,000 Lightning City at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 22. It was the first career stakes victory for the 4-year-old daughter of Pleasant Acres Stallions’ Neolithic, as she bested 11 other fillies and mares over five furlongs on the turf.

Sent to the post as the slight 2-1 favorite, Great Venezuela and regular rider Leonel Reyes were in no hurry to keep up with 41-1 longshot Florida-bred Talkin Tipsy, who jumped out to an early lead from post five with New York invader Risk Threshold (Ire) applying pressure on the outside in second. Talkin Tipsy stretched her lead to a length-and-a-half into the turn after a :21.65 quarter mile as Great Venezuela shifted to the four-path from four lengths back in fifth.

Talkin Tipsy continued to lead by a length turning for home with Florida-breds Beauty of the Sea, Admiral Hopper and Bahamian Moon chasing in a joint second when Great Venezuela began rolling on the far outside.

Great Venezuela hit the front inside the sixteenth pole and jumped away to a two-length victory ahead of Talkin Tipsy in second with Bahamian Moon third in a final time of :55.75 on the firm turf. Visby was fourth followed by Beauty of the Sea, Florida-bred Sol Hope, Admiral Hopper, Florida-bred Musical Design, Bunny Hop, Sara Mia, Risk Threshold (Ire) and Drum Roll. Mendy’s Honey was scratched and Theodora Grace did not draw in off the list of also eligibles.

Great Venezuela banked $77,500 for the victory including

$17,500 in Florida-bred bonus money presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association. Talkin Tipsy earned $25,000, including $5,000 in Florida-bred bonuses while Bahamian Moon took down $2,500 in Florida-bred bonus money to increase her third-place check to $12,500.

Great Venezuela paid $6.20 to win.

After Great Venezuela finished second to Florida-bred Ashima in the $75,000 Sunshine Filly and Mare turf going a mile at Gulfstream Park in her last race on Jan. 11, trainer Victor Barboza Jr. sent her against sprinters in the Lightening City.

“I’ve ridden her so many times, and she is a very smart filly who knows where the wire is,” Reyes said. “She has improved every race, so I stayed confident and she kept going. I think the short distance is better for [Great Venezuela].”

Barboza agreed.

“She runs very well every time at that distance, on turf and synthetic,” he said.

The dependable Great Venezuela improved her career record to seven wins in 10 starts with two seconds and a third while earning $270,400 for owner and breeder Orlando Martinez in the name of his Orlyana Farm.

Her only third came as a 2-year-old in the $100,000 Wait A While won by Ozara (Ire) at Gulfstream Park after she broke her maiden in her second start against special weight company at Gulfstream. Great Venezuela was second in a $25,000 maiden claiming in her first out in September of 2023 and Barboza used that with maximum results throughout last year. She won four straight races against optional claiming fillies from April through November, three of which had starter allowance restrictions attached.

Great Venuzuela is out of Pat M’s Image, by Leroidesanimaux (Brz), and Great Venezuela is her only stakes winner from two starters, both winners. n

Queen Maxima Does Not Disappoint With Strong Score in Wishing Well

Sent postward as the 2-5 favorite, Florida-bred Queen Maxima dominated the $100,500 Wishing Well at Santa Anita on Feb. 22, winning by three-and-a-half lengths after six furlongs on the turf. It was the first career stakes victory and third straight win for the 4-year-old chestnut filly, who defeated five distaff rivals.

Ridden by jockey Juan Hernandez from post one, Queen Maxima allowed 39-1 longshot Ma Rae’s Girl and Stay and Scam, a multiple stakes winner versus California-breds, to set a honest pace while stalking from a length-and-a-half back in third. Ma Rae’s Girl set quarter-mile splits of :22.22 and :44.73 before Queen Maxima shifted to the the three-path turning for home, easily taking second

Florida-bred Great Venezuela | Photo by SV Photography

from Stay and Scam. Ma Rae’s Girl was resilient on the lead until the final furlong, when Queen Maxima cruised past her in mid-stretch and was quickly clear for the easy victory in 1:07.81. Ma Rae’s Girl was never threatened for second as Lauine (Fr) finished another two-and-three-quarters lengths farther back in third. Stay and Scam, Miss Roberts (GB) and Arctic Breeze completed the order of finish.

Trained by Jeff Mullins for Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures LLC, Queen Maxima returned $2.60 to win.

Making every career start on grass, Queen Maxima won by nearly two lengths going five furlongs in her debut in August then finished last of 10 in a first level, $80,000 optional claiming going a mile in September, both at Del Mar. Undeterred, Mullins next sent Queen Maxima into the $102,000 Unzip Me going down the hill at Santa Anita in September and she finished second to future graded stakeswinner Toupie. Second by nose in a first level optional claiming at five furlongs at Del Mar in August, that would be the last loss for Queen Maxima.

She then won her last two, both at Santa Anita, in a first level $50,000 optional claiming going six furlongs in December and a second level, $80,000 optional claiming at six-and-a-half furlongs down the hill on Jan. 23.

Queen Maxima has now won four of seven starts with two seconds with earnings of $210,900. She is by Bucchero out of Corfu Lady, by Corfu and was bred in Florida by Saul Ross. Queen Maxima

is the only starter for Corfu Lady, who also has a 3-year-old unraced colt, Florida Chrome, by Gunnevera, who stands at Pleasant Acres Stallions.

A graduate of Ocala Breeders’ Sales, Queen Maxima was purchased for $40,000 by Michael Pender as an agent out of the Blue River Bloodstock consignment. n

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BAHAMIAN SQUALL FIRST DUDE

Sire

Sire

G1 Champion Sire with Progeny Earnings of $28,093,508

Florida-bred Queen Maxima | Photo by Benoit

FLORIDA FOCUS

Epona’s

Hope

Too Fast Again as She Wires Captiva Island

Florida-bred Epona’s Hope seemed to have two lengths on her rivals before the bell on the starting gate stopped ringing then romped home to win the $108,000 Captiva Island at Gulfstream Park. It was the second straight stakes victory and third consecutive win for Epona’s Hope, who in addition to the $61,380 winner’s prize money, took down $8,000 in Florida-bred bonus money presented by Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.

Jockey Joel Rosario fired Epona’s Hope out of post five and the 4-year-old daughter of Ocala Stud’s Adios Charlie had daylight on the field immediately as recent optional claiming-winner Bandonarun and Florida-bred R Harper Rose gave chase from posts two and one respectively.

Epona’s Hope stretched her lead to four lengths around the turn while blistering through a :21.02 quarter-mile split as Bandonarun and 3-5 favorite Just a Care (Ire) tried to keep up in second and third. Epona’s Hope was well clear down the stretch while clipping off a :43.04 half mile then easily held off Just a Care to win by a lengthand-a-half in :54.78 on the firm turf. Bandonarun was another neck back in third followed by Dancing Duchess, Weekend Rags and R Harper Rose. Tiger Belle (Ire) was scratched.

“She’s quick,” Rosario said. “She’s fast, and she likes doing what she’s doing. She goes faster and faster. She’s a nice filly.”

Trainer Edward Plesa Jr. noted Epona’s Hope is a dual threat of both quickness and tenancity.

“She’s a hard filly to catch, and even when they do catch her she digs in and gives it that extra effort,” Plesa said. “It looked like that [Just a Care] was going to run on by her but if you watch the gallop out that horse never got by her. She’s got the guts and determination that you want to see in a Thoroughbred. We’re just lucky to have her.”

Epona’s Hope paid $6.80 to win as the 5-2 second choice. It was the second straight time Epona’s Hope and Just a Care produced the exacta going five furlongs on the Gulfstream turf after the former won the $135,000 Lady’s Turf Sprint by a head at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 8. Epona’s Hope is now undefeated in three starts this year having started the year winning a second condition, $62,500 optional claiming at the same distance on Jan. 12.

Epona’s Hope is owned by Leon Ellman, Glassman Racing LLC and Plesa’s wife, Laurie Plesa. They purchased her for $295,000 at the 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale out of the Ocala Stud consignment. She has now earned $364,118 from winning half of her 12 career starts with a second and three thirds.

“It’s a great feeling with her for lots of reasons,” Edward Plesa said. “Certainly, the ownership is a big part of it. The Glassmans were [here] today with their daughter and grandchildren, so that was great. Leon Ellman, great, and my wife’s pretty great, too. It’s just nice to be right. It was our day today.”

Epona’s Hope is the fourth Florida-bred winner of the Captiva Island and second in three years. Other Florida-bred winners are Stone Silent in 2023, A Bit of Both in 2021 and Blue Bahia in 2018.

Out of Florida-bred Trippi mare Alotofappeal, Epona’s Hope was bred in Florida by Ocala Stud, Edward Wiest and William J. Terrill. Interestingly, on the same day in 1997, the Wiest-bred Captain Bodgit won the Florida Derby (G1).

Epona’s Hope is the third Florida-bred stakes winner out of Alotofappeal, who also produced 2022 OBS Sophomore-winner King Cab with Noble Bird and 2011 Blue Mountain-winner B C’s Train, by Silver Train. Alotofappeal also produced graded stakes-placed Schivarelli, by Montbrook; graded stakes-placed Talk Logistics and stakes-placed Sonoma Crush, both by High Cotton; and stakesplaced Big Rings, by The Big Beast. Among her 13 foals are 10 winners from 12 starters and an unnamed yearling filly by Ocala Stud stallion Roadster. She was bred back to Roadster in 2024.

Alotofappeal is a half-sister to stakes-winner and stakesproducer Special Report, by Notebook; stakes-winner Miss Diane, by Montbrook; stakes-placed, stakes-producer Secret Brook, by Montbrook; stakes-placed Favre, by Montbrook; and gradedstakes producer Cutoffs, by Notebook, the dam of Grade 3-placed Stopspendingmaria.

Alotofappeal was bred in Florida by Diane Dudley and is fourth generation broodmare from the longtime J. C. Dudley Florida breeding operation going back to the Tri Jet mare Tri Argo. Tri Argo goes back an additional generation of Florida bloodlines to her dam, Hail Proudly, by Francis S., bred by Bonnie M. Heath. n

Florida-bred Epona’s Hope | Photo by Kristina Taylor

Patrice Wolfson, Owner of Florida-bred Triple Crown Winner Affirmed Passes

Patrice Jacobs Wolfson, 87, passed away on Jan. 25 at her home in Bal Harbour, Fla., according to several reports and confirmed at the Dignity Memorial website. Wolfson and her husband Louis owned Harbor View Farm in Fellowship, Fla., and were most famous as the owners and breeders of Florida-bred Affirmed, winner of the 1978 Triple Crown.

An earner of $2,393,818, Affirmed won the Kentucky Derby (G1), Preakness (G1) and Belmont (G1) while defeating runner-up Alydar in each race in one of sports’ most heralded rivalries. Affirmed was the Champion 2-Year-Old Colt of 1977, Champion 3-Year-Old Colt and Horse of the Year in 1978 and Champion Older Horse and Horse of the Year in 1979. He was inducted into the National Museum Racing and Hall of Fame in 1980

In addition to Affirmed, Ms. Wolfson owned and bred under

the Harbor View banner Flawlessly, a daughter of Affirmed and the Champion Grass Mare in 1992 and 1993. Flawlessly was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2004. Born in Miami, Ms. Wolfson was the only daughter of Hall of Fame trainer Hirsch Jacobs and married Louis Wolfson in 1972. Wolfson establish Harbor View in 1959 prior to marrying Patrice. The couple sold Harbor View in 1977 but raced and bred several notable Thoroughbreds for years after including Florida-bred Reinvested, Outstandingly and Life’s Hope.

According to reports, Ms. Wolfson had been in declining health the past few years.

According to the Dignitary Memorial website, no services are scheduled. Bloodhorse.com reported that Ms. Wolfson will be buried at Gate of Heaven cemetery in Hawthorne, N.Y. n

Florida-bred Mares Spirit Wind, R Harper Rose, Top Fasig-Tipton March Digital Sale

Spirit Wind Sells for $500,000 while R Harper Rose Brings $400,000

Florida-breds proved popular at the Fasig-Tipton March Digital Sale that closed March 18 as Spirit Wind and R Harper Rose led the way with price tags of $500,000 and $400,000 respectively.

Florida-bred Spirit Wind, a multiple graded stakes-winning daughter of Double Diamond Farm’s stallion Bahamian Squall, went to Willingham Stud in a post-sale transaction out of the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency as agent. She was cataloged as Hip 22 and was originally listed as a $450,000 RNA at the conclusion of the sale.

Bred in Florida by the late Fred Brei in the name of his Jacks or Better Farm Inc., Spirit Wind is out of the stakes-winning Floridabred mare Sacred Psalm, by Awesome of Course. While racing for Jacks or Better, Spirit Wind won the Any Limit and Musical Romance at Gulfstream Park in 2022 and the Grade 3 Sugar Swirl there in December of 2023.

She was then purchased privately by Myron Miller’s Miller Racing LLC and sent to trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. for whom she won the Grade 2 Honorable Miss at Saratoga Race Course, the Memorial Day Sprint at Lone Star Park and Poinsettia at Oaklawn Park in 2024.

Spirit Wind finished her career with eight wins in 17 starts with three seconds and two thirds while banking $737,015.

R Harper Rose, who was bred in Florida by the late Sally J. Andersen, was purchased for $400,000 by Chatworth Stud of Australia.

Consigned by Gainesway as Hip 7, R Harper Rose is by Ocala Stud’s

leading sire Khozan out of True Bliss, by Yes It’s True and earned $381,980 on the track while racing in the colors of Rich Averill’s Averill Racing LLC and Jayson Werth’s Two Eight Racing LLC. Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., R Harper Rose won the $200,000 Susan’s Girl Division of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stake in 2023 and the Grade 3 Forward Gal the following year, both at Gulfstream Park.

Richard Kent’s Kaizen Sales consigned R Harper Rose to the 2022 Ocala Breeders’ Sales October Yearling Sale where Pro Racing Stable purchased her for $16,000. She was then sold by Gerard Ochoa’s GOP Racing Stable at the OBS March Sale where Averill purchased her for $60,000.

She finished her career with four wins and two seconds from 11 starts.

Five Florida-breds sold for a total of $1,033,000 and an average of $206,000 including Hip 11, Stormy’s Song, a broodmare by Unbridled’s Song.

Stormy’s Song was consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa as agent and was purchased by Shannon Potter as agent.

Bred in Florida by the late Harry Bono and the late Louise Bono, Stormy’s Song is the dam of multiple graded stakes-placed Stanley House, by Army Mule, an earner of $350,865 and was purchased out of the 2020 Fasig-Tipton October Yealing Sale for $120,000. Stormy’s

Continued on next page

Patrice Wolfson

FLORIDA FOCUS

Song was sold with a weanling full-sister to Stanley House.

The Fasig-Tipton March Digital Sale lists 88 horses selling for $3,627,500. The sale averaged $41,221 with a clearance rate of 88%. The median was $15,000. The catalogue offered horses of racing age, racing/broodmare prospects, 2-year-olds in training, broodmares (including mares with foals at foot) and short yearlings. n

Seminole Chief Completes Florida-bred Turf Hat Trick at Gulfstream Park on Florida Derby Day

Florida-bred Seminole Chief became the third Florida-bred stakes winner on the Gulfstream turf on March 29 with an impressive victory in the $158,000 Appleton at Gulfstream Park.

Seminole Chief and jockey Dylan Davis pressed front-running Portofino throughout the one-mile Appleton before wearing down his rival to win by a three-quarters of a length in 1:33.91, but trainer Jack Sisterson said he was perhaps a bit too eager early that morning at his base at Palm Meadows Training Center.

“We get up at 3:00 o’clock and we had to put a saddle on him and train him this morning,” Sisterson said of Seminole Chief. “If people knew how much some of these horses like their job. This morning he wanted to train as well as run. I was just worried about how well he was feeling this morning. We had to take the edge off a little. He wanted to do it, so we allowed him to do it.”

After he was allowed a one mile jog this morning, Seminole Chief repaid Sisterson with the impressive Appleton score.

Seminole Chief and jockey Dylan Davis stalked front-running Portofino early after even-money favorite Major Dude got off slow after being bumped hard at the start. Seminole Chief raced just to the outside of Portofino through a half-mile in :47.20 and six furlongs in 1:10.80 before challenging in the stretch. Portofino kept

a short advantage in the run for home before Seminole Chief took over in the final sixteenth of a mile. Portofino held on to finish by a nose ahead of Abrumar in third. Major Dude, Fly the W, Skyro, Florida-bred Brawn, Ice Chocolat (Brz), Axthelm, Doctor Jeff and Ruse completed the order of finish.

Seminole Chief finished the mile on the firm turf in 1:33.91 and paid $9.40 to win.

It was the second consecutive win on the turf for Seminole Chief, who won a second condition, $62,500 optional claiming going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the turf at Gulfstream on March 1. It was his first stakes victory since taking the 2023 In Reality division of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes.

Seminole Chief now has won five of nine starts with a third while earning $419,825 for owners Brad Grady and David Grund. He was purchased by HND Bloodstock for $80,000 out of the Bobby Dodd consignment at the 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Sales June Sale.

Seminole Chief is out of Secret Song, by Dunkirk and was bred in Florida by Brad and Misty Grady. Secret Song has four winners from six starters with Seminole Chief her only stakes winner. She also has a weanling full brother to Seminole Chief.

Seminole Chief is the 17th Florida-bred winner of the Appleton and first since Reporting Star in 2016. n

Spirited Boss Wins Third Straight in Stakes Debut, Taking Sanibel Island

Although Florida-bred Spirited Boss had won two of her first three starts—all on the Gulfstream Park synthetic course—trainer Jose D’Angelo suspected the Florida-bred filly would further improve on grass.

Spirited Boss resoundly affirmed her trainer’s analysis at Gulfstream Park on March 29 with an impressive victory in the $158,000 Sanibel Island. A homebred for TAG Stables, Spirited Boss defeated nine other 3-year-old fillies going seven-and-a-half furlongs on the turf to earn $96,350, including $8,000 in Florida-bred bonus money presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.

“She was special since day one,” D’Angelo said. “I worked her several times but on the grass, she moved different. We thought it would be best to race her here on the grass, because of what she had shown in the mornings and we were right this time. She worked well on dirt, going [four furlongs in [:47.30 on March 21 at Palm Meadows]. But she is just so smooth on the turf.”

Spirited Boss worked four furlong on the Palm Meadows turf in :46.90 on March 14.

Sent to the post at odds of 12-1, Spirited Boss and jockey Javier Castellano raced mid-pack on the outside as Bunratty Manor (Ire) raced

Florida-bred Seminole Chief | Photo by Angelo Lieto

clear on the front end through a half mile in :46.56 on the firm turf. Spirited Boss began to advance between horses around the far turn then shot to the lead in the stretch to win a half-length over Candy Quest in second with Civetta another half-length back in third. They were followed in order by Classic Q, Love Cervere, Bunratty Manor, favored La Cantera (Ire), Florida-bred Mrs. Worldwide, Annie Goodbody and Temple City Taboo. Witchcraft was scratched.

Spirited Boss paid $26.40 to win.

Spirited Boss had a difficult start to her career, finishing third after getting bumped at the start of a maiden special weight for

Florida-bred fillies going five furlongs on Dec. 19. She rebounded to win by four-anda-half lengths under the same conditions on Dec. 22 then won a first level allowance for Florida-bred fillies going a mile-and-70-yards on March 1.

She has now earned $162,750 in her four races.

Spirited Boss is by Street Boss out of Spirited Storm, by Stormy Atlantic. She is the fifth foal out of Spirited Storm, all are winners including Uncaptured Spirit, by Uncaptured, who was gradedstakes-placed. Spirited Boss is her only stakes winner.

Spirited Boss is the first Florida-bred winner of the Sanibel Island. n

Florida-bred Classic of Course Courageous in Cutler Bay Victory

Florida-bred Classic of Course circled rivals in the far turn then outran 4-5 favorite Forged Steel in the deep stretch to win the $158,000 Cutler Bay at Gulfstream Park on March 29. In taking his first career stakes, Classic of Course defeated seven other 3-year-olds going sevenand-a-half furlongs in his first start on the grass. Owned by Amy E. Dunne and trainer Patrick L. Biancone, Classic of Course earned the $90,210 winner’s check plus an $8,000 Florida-bred bonus presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.

Ridden by Frankie Dettori, Classic of Course broke from post two then raced to the inside of Baker’s Street in a joint fourth, about four lengths behind Forged Steel on the lead. Forged Steel and Irad Ortiz Jr. showed the way through a half mile in :45.77 and six furlongs in 1.08.89 as Classic of Course began making up ground around the far turn.

favorite pulled away from them momentarily. However, Classic of Course dug in again and ran down the favorite to win by three-quarters of a length. Classic of Course finished in 1:26.48 with Forged Steel finishing second. I’m Due was third followed by Baker’s Street, Discreet Dancer, Wakan, Hit That Review (Ire) and Change at Jamaica. Kinetic Control was scratched.

“They we’re going too fast for me,” Dettori said. “I tucked him on the fence and I had to go wide but he was full of momentum. He’s a nice horse.”

Dettori also mentioned he had a long history of trying to ride horses for Biancone.

“Want to hear a funny story?” Dettori asked. “Forty years ago when I was 14 I told my dad I wanted to be a jockey, his master plan was to do six months with Luca Cumani and six months with

He and I’m Due met Forged Steel in deep stretch only to see the

Continued on next page

Florida-bred Spirited Boss | Photo by Coglianese

Florida-bred Classic of Course | Photo by Ryan Thompson

FLORIDA FOCUS

Patrick Biancone [who] was a very known trainer for young jockeys.

“But I never got to Patrick. It took 40 years to find him a winner.”

Classic of Course paid $15.20 to win.

Classic of Course broke his maiden at Gulfstream Park in his first career start in May of last year then jumped immediately into stakes company at Saratoga Race Course, finishing fourth to Studlydoright in the $150,000 Tremont going five-and-a-half furlongs. He returned to the Sunshine State where he remained in stakes company for the remainder of the year, producing two seconds and two thirds and a fourth in his next five races.

“This horse has run a lot of quality races,” Biancone said. “We like him a lot. He was supposed to go to Turfway to run on the Tapeta, but the 10 days before he got a little bit of a fever, so I missed a work.

I had to regroup and change. He’s mature now. The blinkers help a lot. He’s more focused.”

Classic of Course entered the Cutler Bay off two starts this year, the last of which was a second to Scarecrow in an allowance race going a mile-and-sixteenth on the Gulfstream Park synthetic.

He now has two wins with three seconds and three thirds in 10 starts with earnings of $294,653.

Classic of Course is by Awesome of Course out of Alma Mater, by Honor Code was bred in Florida by Amy E. and Ciaran G. Dunne. He is the only foal out of Alma Mater, who was bred to Pleasant Acres Stallions’ Leinster in 2024.

Classic of Course is the first Florida-bred winner of the Cutler Bay. n

Again With Domination of Monrovia

Dutch Girl Holdings LLC and Irving Ventures LLC’s Queen Maxima crowned herself the monarch of female turf sprinters in Southern California with a commanding victory in the Grade 3 Monrovia presented by Don Julio on April 5. It was the fourth consecutive triumph on the Santa Anita turf for the Jeff Mullins trainee, who defeated five other fillies and mares going six-and-ahalf furlongs on the downhill course.

Queen Maxima also provided a milestone for Mullins, who won his 1,800th career victory in the Monrovia.

Queen Maxima exploded from the outside post six and jockey Juan Hernandez quickly had her clear of Queen of the Mud (Ire) in second to her inside. Longshot Omaha Girl tried to muster a challenge around the righthand turn but Queen Maxima shook free

again as they approached the dirt crossover after a half mile in :44.89.

Hernandez gave Queen Maxima her cue at the top of the stretch and the chestnut filly accelerated away from her rivals to win easily in 1:12.93 on the firm turf. Queen of the Mud was four-and-a-half lengths back in second followed by Venganza in third. Ang N Ash, Omaha Girl and Safa completed the order of finish.

“All the credit goes to her and Jeff [Mullins].  She loves to run, and Jeff does a really good job with her,” Hernandez said. “In the post parade, she was feeling really, really, good. She wasn’t getting hot at all. As soon as the gate opened, she was trying to take the lead. So, I just let her be free and she took it till the wire. I didn’t do much today with her. She was doing everything on her own. She just keeps getting better.”

Queen Maxima returned $2.40 to win as the 1-5 favorite.

Queen Maxima began her win streak on Dec. 29 with a half-length score in a first condition, $50,000 optional claiming going six furlongs on the grass. She then took a second condition, $80,000 optional claiming by three-and-a-half lengths at six-and-a-half furlongs on turf before winning her first stakes with a three-and-a-half-length score in the Wishing Well at six furlongs on the grass.

“I can’t say she surprised me,” Mullins said of Queen Maxima. “I think she has lived up to our expectations and I’m not sure we’ve seen the most of her yet. We do want to experiment with two turns eventually and maybe even dirt. But that’s a ways down the road but she is just a sheer athlete.

“As long as her feed tub is empty in the morning and she’s sleeping good, we’ve got a good chance.”

Ruben Islas Jr. of Irving Ventures said he hopes for a bright future with Queen Maxima.

“We don’t know what she’s capable of at this point because she responds to everything we have asked of her,” he said. “It’s really

Queen Maxima Reigns

Florida-bred Queen Maxima | Photo by Benoit

exciting. She’s gorgeous. She’s beautiful and she won wire to wire today I believe. We’re proud of the team. Proud of Jeff [Mullins] and proud of Mike [Pender] who found her. It’s fantastic. We’re over the moon.”

Michael Pender as agent purchased Queen Maxima out of the 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Sale June Sale of 2-year-olds in training for $40,000. She was consigned by Blue River Bloodstock.

Queen Maxima is by Bucchero out of Corfu Lady, by Corfu and was

bred in Florida by Saul Rosas. She improved her record to five wins in eight starts with two seconds and earnings of $270,900.

She is the first of two foals out of Corfu Lady, a four-time winning Florida-bred mare, also bred by Rosas. Her fourth dam is the graded stakes-placed Sugar’s Image, who produced multiple grade stakeswinning Florida-bred Halo’s Image. Queen Maxima is the only starter for Corfu Lady, who also produced Florida Chrome, a 3-year-old colt by Pleasant Acres Stallions’ Gunnevera. n

Lennilu Takes Keeneland Maiden Special Weight as First Winner for Leinster

Pleasant Acres Stallions’ first crop sire Leinster was represented by his first winner on April 6 at Keeneland when Amy E. Dunne’s Lennilu won a $72,826 maiden special weight, the first juvenile race in the North America this year.

Breaking from post five in the field of a dozen 2-year-old fillies, Lennilu started well under jockey Luis Saez as Kadabra sprinted to the front. Lennilu settled into fourth early, about three lengths behind before beginning to advance with an inside trip around the turn.

Saez tipped Lennilu to the outside at the top of the stretch to catch Kadabra and they were even until the final sixteenth when Lennilu pulled away to win by a length in :52.32.

Trained by Patrick Biancone, Lennilu paid $7.50 to win and earned $34,115.

Kadabra was second with Chambourcin third.

Lennilu was purchased by Glencrest Farm out of the Abbie Road consignment for $23,000 at the 2024 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Winter Mixed Sale.

Bred in Florida by Helen and Joseph Barbazon, Lennilu is out of

winning Pomeroy mare Lulu’s Pom Pom. She is the second winner in two starters for Lulu’s Pom Pom, who was bred to Magic On Tap in 2024. She is fully registered for the rich FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes. n

Florida-bred Mythical Dazzles in First Juvenile Race of Royal Palm Meet

Mythical turned in a dazzling debut April 17 at Gulfstream Park in the first race for 2-year-olds of the Royal Palm Meet, even surpassing the advance notices that had sent the Arindel homebred to post as the 1-2 favorite in a field of 10 fillies.

Mythical broke alertly from the starting gate to wrest instant control of the four-and-a-half-furlong maiden special weight test for 2-year-old fillies carded as Race 2 and continued to separate herself from her rivals on her way to an eight-and-a-half-length victory under Emisael Jaramillo. The Jorge

Delgado-trained daughter of St. Patrick’s Day was timed in :51.37 while finishing under wraps, a few ticks off the track record set by Arindel’s Nacho Mama (:50.83) in 2018.

“She’s a small filly who looks very fast. I knew she had to get away from the gate, and she did so professionally,” Arindel stable manager Brian Cohen said. “We took her down here knowing she was ready to win when there was a race.”

Mythical had trained at Arindel’s farm in Ocala before breezing twice at Gulfstream Park in preparation for her debut.

Continued on next page

Florida-bred Lennilu | Photo by Coady Media

Florida-bred Mythical | Photo by Ryan Thompson

FLORIDA FOCUS

“I don’t think she ‘s ever had to chance to extend herself. She’s always been under wraps. She’s a small filly so I don’t think she’s much more than a sprinter, but a good one,” Cohen said.

Arindel’s Drama, a Carlos David-trained daughter of Brethren, chased her stablemate from the start but settled for second under Miguel Vasquez, six lengths in front of trainer Mary Lightner’s Tosca.

“If Mythical wasn’t in the race, she wins by five lengths,” Cohen

said. “It was a fast time. Mythical was geared down and was just a couple of ticks off the track record. Finishing second is good this time of year because if you win, there’s nowhere to run this time of year.”

Cohen said Florida-bred Mythical’s next start could come on turf in the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies, a five-furlong Royal Ascot qualifier, at Gulfstream May 10 or a race at Saratoga during Belmont week. n

Florida-bred Squire Takes Juvenile Maiden Special Weight at Gulfstream

In the second race of the year for 2-year-olds at Gulfstream Park—and the first open to colts and geldings—Amy E. Dunne and trainer Patrick Biancone’s Squire came from off the pace to win a $68,000 maiden special weight by a neck on April 18.

The victory meant Florida-breds won the first two juvenile races of the year at Gulfstream Park after Arindel’s homebred Mythical (see full story on page 9) won a maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies by eightand-a-half lengths at Gulfstream Park the day before.

Ridden to victory by Joe Bravo, Squire settled mid-pack after being bumped at the start to race almost six-lengths behind the front-running pair of Florida-bred Chance to Party and Street Player, who had sprinted well clear of the field heading into the turn. Chance to Party and Street Player were still four lengths in front of Beers On Me through two furlongs in a prompt :22.06 as Squire began to get under way in fifth while racing three-wide. Turning for home, Squire and Beers On Me hit the front on the outside of the two early leaders then dueled to the finish.

“I breezed this horse a couple times for Patrick. He had high hopes,” Bravo said. “He broke good. We always knew he’s not the fastest leaving the gate, so I really couldn’t panic as long as I knew he had something to run at, and he did. When he made the lead

he kind of waited on other horses.”

Squire completed the four-and-a-half furlongs in :54.11 with Beers On Me second, three-and-a-quarter lengths in front of Chance to Party in third. Floridabred Vito’s Wildcat, the 6-5 favorite, was fourth followed by Florida-bred My Favorite Bird, Sleeper Sullivan, Street Player, then Florida-breds Luna Estrella, Housebuster Dude and Triple Stitched. Florida-bred Jalapeno was scratched while Florida-bred Bowie and Sir Lomax did not draw into the race off the also-eligible list.

Squire paid $7.20 to win.

Squire is the second winner for Pleasant Acres Stallions’ freshman sire Leinster, who was also represented by Keeneland maiden special weight-winner Lennilu on April 6. Lennilu is also owned by Amy Dunne and trained by Biancone.

Bred in Florida by Amy and Ciaran Dunne, Squire is the second winner from three starters for the Lucky Pulpit mare Saudi Chroma, who also produced multiple stakes-placed Florida-bred Fun Money, by Mrazek.

Squire earned $50,000 in victory, including money from the Florida-bred Incentive Fund and bonus money from the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association as being is fully registered for the lucrative FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes program. TFH

Florida-bred Squire | Photo by Lauren King

Centenary

Equine Studies  Hometown Citra

Scholarships are available to FTBOA members, employees of FTBOA members, or children of employees of FTBOA members for college or university degree programs.

Full criteria at FTBOA.com.

Applicants should plan to start the process well before the deadline to ensure transcripts, financial aid info, etc. are available by the deadline.

Contact Elaine Ansbacher at 352-629-2160 for additional information.

Fianna Roberts-Squier

Tampa Bay Downs Concludes 2024-25 Season With Across the Board Gains

BY TAMPA BAY DOWNS PRESS OFFICE

OLDSMAR, FL – One of the most successful meets in recent history at Tampa Bay Downs almost never got off the ground.

Severe damage last fall from Hurricanes Helene and Milton threatened to postpone the scheduled Nov. 20 opening. Had Milton first made landfall farther north, the entire 2024-25 meet could have been wiped out.

As it has so many times since opening in 1926, Tampa Bay Downs rebounded from the challenges presented by the storms’ devastation with renewed purpose.

The track posted gains in all major categories, capping a memorable campaign last weekend with its simulcast of the 151st Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve on Saturday and a festive Fan Appreciation Day celebration Sunday.

A crowd of 11,530, the third-largest in track history, attended Saturday’s 10-race program, then watched Sovereignty upset Journalism in the Run for the Roses. On Sunday, Gift Shop personnel remained on duty an hour after the final race, as patrons took advantage of 50-percent discounts on all merchandise.

That dedication to serving the public, according to Vice President & General Manager Peter Berube, is a prime factor in the track’s ongoing ability to stand out in a crowded sports and gaming market.

“It took a whole lot of people pulling together for us to start the meet as scheduled, let alone post increases over the previous season,” Berube said. “Frankly, I’m as proud as I can be of our management team, the Racing Office and our horsemen for making it happen.”

Total commingled handle of $377,972,374 on the live racing prod-

uct for the 90-day meet translated to a daily average of $4,199,693, an increase of 4.56 percent from 2023-24. Handle from out-of-state sources on the Oldsmar oval’s 821 races rose to $347,327,539, up 4.87 percent from the previous season.

On-track wagering on Tampa Bay Downs races increased by 0.53 percent and intrastate off-track wagering rose by 1.86 percent. Attendance climbed to 255,147, up 4.3 percent from a year ago.

Once the meet began, Tampa Bay Downs enjoyed mostly good weather, although January was a bit colder and wetter than normal. As a result, the track was able to card 267 turf races, nearly a third of its total and 19 more than 2023-24.

That contributed to an average of 8.37 starters per race, an increase of 1.36 percent. “When most tracks are struggling to offer full fields to bettors, any increase is a positive sign,” Berube said. “Credit goes to our Racing Secretary, Allison De Luca, and her crew for putting together a schedule our horsemen embraced and to the owners and trainers for presenting a quality product.”

Total purse money paid was $22,238,425, a daily average of $247,094, representing a 0.27-percent increase.

As Tampa Bay Downs makes plans for its 100th anniversary season, which is scheduled to begin Wednesday, Nov. 19, Berube is optimistic the track can build on this season’s accomplishments, especially if the area avoids a major hurricane between now and then.

“It’s impossible to quantify the economic impact of storms of that magnitude, which can make sporting events seem unimportant,” Berube said. “We’d certainly like to think that by offering quality Thoroughbred racing, we helped lift the spirits of those who were affected.” TFH

DEADLINES IMPORTANT DATES

*Florida Sire Stakes 2YO Payment .............. Jan. 15

Last Chance FSS Yearling Payment .............. Jan. 15

Stallion Registration Deadline .............. Feb. 15

*Late FSS 2YO Payment .............. Feb. 28

Membership Renewal Deadline ........... March 31

Late Chance 2YO FSS Payment ................ May 1

Florida Sire Stakes Yearling Payment .............. May 15

Scholarship Application Deadline ............. June 15

Last Chance 2YO FSS Payment ............. June 30

Late Stallion Registration Deadline ............... Aug. 1

Florida-bred Foal Registration Deadline ............. Aug. 31

Stallion Directory Page Deadline ................ Oct. 1

Last Chance Stallion Registration Deadline .............. Nov. 15

Late FSS Yearling Payment .............. Nov. 15

Late Foal Registration Deadline .............. Dec. 31

FTBOA Info Center at OBS Jan. 28-29

FTBOA Info Center at OBS .......................... March 11-13

FTBOA Member Florida Cup Day ..................... March 30

FTBOA Info Center at OBS April 15-18

FTBOA Gala ....................................................... May 12

FTBOA Info Center at OBS ............................ June 17-19

Election Candidate Forms available June TBD

Election Candidate Forms due .......................... July TBD

FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes (Gulfstream) .......... Sept. TBD

Florida Thoroughbred PAC Golf Tournament Oct. 3

FTBOA Info Center at OBS ................................ Oct. 7-8

FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes (Gulfstream) ............ Oct. TBD

Annual Meeting Oct. TBD

FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Finals (Gulfstream) . Nov. TBD

Holiday Open House .......................................... Dec. 5

FSS Races at Tampa Dec. TBD

*Prior yearling payment required Additional dates added as they are scheduled All terms of FSS and FTBOA racing incentives, including number of races, purse levels, race conditions, racing dates and the host track may change from year to year and may change at any point after the racing schedule for a particular year is announced.

FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’ AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION

Lonny T. Powell, CEO

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Perennial Leading Juvenile Consignor Eddie Woods Moving into His Next Chapter

BY CYNTHIA MCFARLAND

A movie script writer couldn’t have crafted a better finale.

When the hammer dropped on the $3 million Gunner Runner colt at the 2025 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company March Sale, it was fitting recognition of a man who has been one of the leading consignors of 2-year-olds for the past quarter century.

A favorite on the sale grounds, the colt had captured attention with his blazing fast eighth-mile work in :9.60, but even Eddie Woods, the colt’s trainer and consignor, was pleasantly surprised when Donato Lanni as agent for Zedan Racing, secured the final bid at $3 million, an all-time OBS record.

Surrounded by reporters and fellow horsemen offering heartfelt congratulations, Woods was emotional. Not only did he sell a record-breaking horse, but he did so in his backyard at the sales ground where he’s been active for 31 years. Adding to the impact was the knowledge that he would only hang his consignment boards at one more sale.

After hundreds of stakes winners, multiple Eclipse champions and decades in the industry, Eddie Woods has announced that the 2025 OBS Spring sale would be his final consignment.

As of April 10, 2025, Eddie Woods currently ranks second among Leading Consignors of 2-year-olds for 2025 North America Sales, having sold 19 head for a gross of $6,448,500.

It’s been a long and satisfying journey for the Irish lad from Meath.

Irish-born and bred

Born in 1958, Woods grew up in an Irish family where horses were front and center. His father, Paddy Woods, was a steeplechase jockey turned trainer, so it was no surprise when young Eddie took up the mantle.

“I started as a steeplechase jockey when I was 15 and rode in Ireland and England until I was almost 28,” Woods said.

Over a dozen years of riding races, he managed to avoid catastrophic injury but finally walked away from that rough-and-tumble sport having broken his collarbones numerous times, fractured his cheekbone and having had multiple concussions.

By the mid-1980s, times were changing in Ireland as wealthy international owners bought up property around the family farm. Woods was ready to head for America and try his hand in the Thoroughbred industry there.

He arrived in Ocala in 1986 and immediately sought a farm position but had no background with the breeding end of the business, as his horse experience was all race related.

Woods was hired at Cashel Stud, but the former jockey soon realized working with mares and foals was too slow paced for him. Fortunately, an old family connection provided the solution and only a few weeks later he was working at Tony and Joanne Everard’s Another Episode Training Center.

“My parents had been friends with Tony Everard since childhood; they grew up together,” Woods said. “At the time, Tony was taking consignments to Miami and needed help on the farm while he was gone. I went there and stayed working with him and Joanne for about eight years.”

Woods admits coming to Ocala from Ireland was a bit of a culture shock.

“It’s a different ball game here with training, even though we had flat horses at home. The biggest things were the dirt and the turns. At that time, all racing at home was on turf. We trained on other surfaces, but only raced on grass,” Woods said.

As he worked for the Everards, learning the ins and outs of training horses and juvenile consignments, there was no question in Woods’ mind that this was the direction he wanted to pursue.

“In 1993, I got fortunate to meet Bobby Spalding (farm manager of Elmendorf Farm in Lexington) at the Keeneland November Sale. He was looking for someone to train the Elmendorf horses in Florida,” Woods said. Continued on next page

EDDIE WOODS

It was the opportunity Woods needed to go out on his own. Before the year ended, he’d rented a barn in the 700-acre Classic Mile Park training center in Ocala.

“I rented one barn before the end of 1993, and it was full. Shortly after that I needed another one. To begin with, it was all Elmendorf horses, but it gradually expanded,” he noted.

“Joe Greeley, who owned Sabine Stables, came over to Classic Mile one day during the winter of ‘93-‘94 and asked if I’d like to help him buy some yearlings to go to the 2-year-old sales. He had his own farm to train them, and they’d come to me to get finished up and I’d consign them for the sales. Bob Kelly partnered with him. We bought a horse at Saratoga and several at the Keeneland September Sale. They gave me an opportunity to buy some quality horses,” Woods said.

He took his first consignment of 2-year-olds in his own name to OBS in April 1994 for the Spring Sale. He couldn’t have known it then, but it was the start of a legacy.

Woods continued leasing barns at Classic Mile until 1996, when he moved to Post Time Training Center with 70 to 80 horses. His client base continued to expand and included a good contingent of horses from owner Ken Ramsey.

Also among his clients at the time were Dennis Foster and Bob Leonard.

Woods, who had been training out of Post Time for about three years when Foster and Leonard bought a 414-acre piece of property on Highway 40 west of Ocala.

“The same day they bought that property in 2000, I bought 240 acres off them. Dennis was my banker for this whole deal,” Woods said.

Woods finally had the land to develop an operation tailored to his specifications, which is exactly what he did. Eddie Woods Stables grew to six barns with a total of 196 stalls, 41 paddocks, multiple round pens, a one-mile dirt track and a seven-furlong turf course.

Making an Impact

From the late 1990s all the way through 2024, Eddie Woods consistently ranked among the leading consignors of 2-year-olds in North America.

A homebred Sabine Stable filly was one of Woods’ first sale homeruns. He consigned the Hennessy filly at the 2000 Fasig-Tipton Florida Select Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale where she brought $1.65 million from buyer Eugene Melnyk. Harmony Lodge became a multiple graded stakes winner of $851,120 for the Melnyks.

“Bob wanted to buy some land with rolling hills because he liked his horses to train uphill,” recalled

Woods can’t name a favorite out of the many horses that have come through his barns and gone on to success at the track. He does admit that the “firsts” are always the most memorable. There are several equine stars in his earlier years who helped establish Woods in the upper echelon of training and 2-year-old sales.

“I feel things grew because of them,” Woods said of such standout graduates as Left Bank, 2002 champion older horse; Midnight Lute, 2007 champion sprinter and winner of the 2007 and 2008

Photo by Serita Hult

Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1); Big Brown, 2008 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) winner and 2008 3-Year-Old colt Eclipse champion; Lady Eli, 2017 turf female Eclipse champion and winner of the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1); Spring in the Air, Grade 1 winner in the United States and 2012 champion 2-yearold filly in Canada; and Union Rags, multiple graded stakes winner, including the 2012 Belmont Stakes (G1) and later, a successful sire.

Numbers Don’t Lie

Woods’ program has produced hundreds of stakes winners, both from horses that have gone through his training program and/or his consignments.

In 2002, Eddie Woods was the leading consignor of Grade 1 winners in North America. From 2015 through 2018, Woods was the leading consignors of 2-year-olds for North American sales. In 2024, he ranked fourth among leading juvenile consignors, having sold 49 head for a total of $10,060,500.

At the 2024 Eclipse Awards program this past January, two of Woods’ training grads were recognized with championship honors as Citizen Bull was named champion 2-year-old male, and National Treasure was named champion older dirt male. Both horses were trained by Bob Baffert.

Among recent Woods’ training grads is the Medaglia d’Oro filly Good Cheer, a multiple graded stakes winner of $877,630 who in March added the Fair Grounds Oaks (G1) to her victories. The Godolphin homebred and Brad Cox trainee is high on the list of 2025 Kentucky Oaks (G1) contenders.

“It was a great moment when the Gun Runner colt topped the

OBS March 2025 Sale at a record-breaking price of $3 million under the Eddie Woods banner. What a way to put an exclamation point on a great career! Now, let’s hope the horse becomes a star on the racetrack,” OBS President Tom Ventura said.

“Eddie has earned the trust and respect of owners, trainers and horsemen from around the world. His horsemanship is unparalleled and his honest and straightforward approach is appreciated by all those that rely on his opinion,” Ventura said.

“The quality of horses that the Eddie Woods team has sold at OBS has helped propel us to be the leading source of 2-year-olds in training in the world. We are thankful for all his contributions to OBS and will continue to lean on him in the future for his insight and perspective,” he added.

Sales and Races

Woods’ remarkable success as a trainer and consignor have resulted both from horses purchased specifically for sales and from horses trained for clients who race.

“It’s been a cross section. We’ve always had horses in the barn for race clients. I think in recent years, we’ve probably produced more successful horses from the training end, not the sales end,” Woods said.

Whether he’s working with pinhooks or homebreds, Woods always has high hopes for quality horses with good pedigrees.

by

Photo

Judit Seipert

Photo by Serita Hult

EDDIE WOODS

“We’ve had some great clients who’ve sent us hand-picked horses,” he said.

He points out that the sales offer their own unique trials, as opposed to just preparing a horse to race.

“The sales are quite challenging,” he said. “It’s great when you’ve brought one who vets well, works well and sells well. You’re kind of proud of yourself then,” he said, adding that the $3 million OBS March colt fell into this category and checked all the boxes.

Solid Connections

It’s often said, “it’s not what you know, but who you know.” In Woods’ case, it happens to be both.

He is the first to say that his connections with good people in the industry through the years have been instrumental in his success. This also applies to running his own farm where he’s been blessed to have a core group of employees who have worked with him from the beginning.

“We’ve been fortunate to have really good staff, who are the backbone of our operation. We’ve had the same vet, Bill Russell, from the get-go,” Woods said.

Woods’ son David is also involved in the racing industry and works with FanDuel Sports Network.

In 2001, Woods met Angela Mellerick, who’d apprenticed at Highclere with hopes of being a jockey.

“She came to the U.S. from England to teach summer camps, worked for some steeplechase trainers in Aiken and ended up in Kentucky, which is where we met. We’ve been together a long time and got married in 2018,” Woods said.

Swan Song

Woods has made it clear that the 2025 OBS Spring Sale was his last venture as a consignor, but simply walking away from the industry isn’t the kind of retirement Woods envisions.

“I plan on still being involved. People have approached me about doing some consulting and I may partner up on a few horses,” he said.

“I don’t see us opening up a bait shop or anything,” quipped Woods, who enjoys boating and saltwater fishing. He and Angela have a place in the fishing town of Cedar Key on the Gulf in northwest Florida where they enjoy getting out on the water and dropping a line.

He jokes that he probably won’t be spending much time on the golf course.

“I played some golf, but as bad as I was, I didn’t think I’d improve as I got older,” he said.

Travel is a passion that had to take a backseat due to the demands of training and prepping sale horses, but it’s definitely on the agenda going forward.

“Angela had her own successful business in Kentucky. She leased broodmare farms where she prepped yearlings for prominent operations and had mares for multiple clients. We had a long-distance relationship for a while, and she gave up her business to come down here to Ocala. It was a huge move on her part,” Woods acknowledged.

He appreciates Angela’s knowledge and horsemanship, noting that she plays a significant role in every aspect of the operation, especially when it comes to buying and selling at the sales.

“She’s a fabulous judge of a horse and an extremely hard worker— at the sales and at home on the farm. She’s part of this seven days a week,” says Woods, who values Angela’s input and level-headed approach—to business and life.

“Now we can have time to do things we couldn’t afford to do when we were younger. We plan to travel and see some of the world,” Woods said.

This fall, Eddie and Angela will head out on a three-week adventure that will take them across northern Australia, Papua New Guinea, and wrap up on the stunning beaches of Bali.

As Woods attended to last-minute details of his final consignment on April 15 -18 at OBS, he was characteristically pragmatic, but also optimistic.

Among the 38 horses he entered in this Spring Sale, he didn’t anticipate another record-breaking sale topper like the $3 million colt in March. But he had a solid group. No doubt, some of these will add to his expanding list of stakes-winning graduates.

More than anything, Eddie Woods comes across as satisfied in the sunset of his career.

“I never wanted to do anything else,” he says simply of his life’s work over the past four decades.

Not many people can say with conviction that they wouldn’t have chosen another path in life. Eddie Woods is one of the few who can. TFH

Eddie Woods and Angela Mellerick toast Eddie’s last OBS Sale | Judith Seipert Photo

Records Abound on Florida Cup Day at Tampa Bay Downs

BY BROCK SHERIDAN

The 22nd running of Florida Cup Day at Tampa Bay Downs on March 30 saw several new records established including two stakes records and a new watermark for total handle at $7,306,097. The previous record handle on a Florida Cup card was $7,205,342 bet on the 2021 Florida Cup program.

The 2025 Florida Cup featured six stakes for registered Florida-breds, each with a purse of $110,000 including $10,000 in bonus money for winners eligible or the Florida Sire Stakes program. Florida Cup Day is additionally celebrated annually as Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Member Day with free admission and a buffet lunch for the Association’s members.

Established in 2003 and run each year at Tampa Bay Downs, except 2020 when cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Florida Cup has a rich history of producing nationally acclaimed Florida-bred stars. Fifteen alumni have become millionaires and more than 50 Florida Cup graduates have graded stakes credentials.

Several track records at Tampa Bay Downs were established on Florida Cup cards. Florida-bred Munny’s Gold holds the seven-furlong track record of 1:20.09 set in the 2023 Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies and Florida-bred It’s Me Mom set the standard for six furlongs in the 2012 Hilton Garden Inn Sprint, stopping the timer in 1:08.67. The previous six-furlong track record was 1:08.69 set by Sneaking Uponyou in the 2011 Hilton Garden Inn Sprint.

Photo by Tammy A. Gantt

Macho Music Rocks Tampa With Record-Setting Sophomore

Mark Fletcher Taylor, Daniel L. Walters and trainer Rohan Critchton’s Macho Music got the stakes action started with a breathtaking 11 ¼-length score in the $100,000 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sophomore, covering seven furlongs in a stakes-record 1:21.30, eclipsing the 15-year-old mark of 1:22.13 set by Manicero in the 2011 Sophomore. Macho Music’s winning margin is also a record for the Sophomore, besting the six-and-a-three-quarter lengths victory produced by Imperial Hint in 2016.

Sent postward at 2-5, Macho Music and jockey Javier Castellano broke on top from post six and quickly put a length margin on his five rivals through a quarter mile in :22.22. Longshot Cajun Venom tried to apply pressure in the turn after a :44.70 half mile but Macho Music excelled in the stretch to put away his rivals in the final furlong to win with ease. P Four was second, a neck faster than Cajun Venom in third. Mad House, Rip Riding Away and Centerfold Guy completed the order of finish. Just Relax was scratched.

“Those are the type of horses we chase all year round,” Castellano said of Macho Music. “Nobody can keep up with that speed. I really liked the way he finished and he

galloped out good. He just raced so beautiful. He’s a nice, straightforward horse, a free-run horse. And he likes to get involved with speed and enjoy the ride.”

Macho Music paid $2.80 to win.

“It was a pretty good performance,” Critchton added. “He broke well and Javier guided him around. I think he is going to be a one-turn mile horse and this race certainly brings him along in his development.”

Taylor added that a trip to Churchill Downs is possible.

“We really are excited,” Taylor said. “Maybe excited enough to go to Kentucky the first Saturday in May and find something on the card for him. Rohan does a great job picking these horses out and training them up.”

Unsuccessful in three previous tries against stakes horses, Macho Music was last seen finishing second to Gate to Wire in the $155,000 Swale going seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 1. A winner of two of his first three career starts including a first level, $100,000 optional claiming at Keeneland in October, Macho Music was then fourth in both the $197,000 Bowman Mill won by Long Neck Paul at Keeneland in October and behind Guns Loaded after an awkward start in the $150,000 Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream on Jan. 4.

Macho Music has now won three of seven starts with two seconds while earning $204,257. Critchton purchased him for $60,000 out of the Pick View consignment at last year’s OBS March Sale of 2-year-olds in training.

By Maclean’s Music out of Southern Girl, by Tapit, Macho Music was bred in Florida by Bridlewood Farm. Southern Girl has three winners from four starters with Macho Music being her only stakes winner. She has a unraced 2-year-old full sister to Macho Music, Tremont Tammy, who sold for $180,000 at the last year’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale and an unnamed yearling colt by Epicenter. She was bred to Girvin in 2024.

Stakes-winner Southern Girl is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winning Florida-bred millionaire and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1)-winner Mucho Macho Man. She was purchased by Bridlewood Farm for $820,000 at the 2016 Fasig-Tipon Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale. n

Florida Cup continues on next page

Florida-bred Macho Music | Photo by SV Photography

Stakes Record for Crystal Quest ESMARK Turf Classic

For the second consecutive year, a Live Oak Plantation homebred set a stakes record in the $100,000 ESMARK Turf Classic after Crystal Quest covered the nine furlongs in 1:46.50 to win against 11 other 4-year-olds and older bred in Florida. Crystal Quest and jockey Samuel Marin topped a Live Oak exacta, winning by three-quarters of a length ahead of stablemate Forever Souper, who established the stakes record in last year’s Turf Classic in 1:46.87. Both Crystal Quest and Forever Souper are trained by Michael Trombetta.

Crystal Quest was the sixth Live Oak Plantation homebred to win the Turf Classic, following Revved Up in 2005, Slew’s Answer (2011), World Approval (2017), March to the Arch (2018) and Forever Souper. Revved Up and World Approval retired as multiple graded stakes-winning millionaires with the latter named the 2017 Eclipse Award Champion Turf Horse after taking that year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Del Mar. Forever Souper looked to be on his way to defending his title in the Turf Classic after splitting rivals out of the far

turn to take a clear lead at the top of the stretch. However, he was met by Crystal Quest inside the final sixteenth and could not hold off his hard charging stablemate. Echo Lane was a length-and-three-quarters back in third followed by Street Earnings, Ninja Star, Themanupfront, Lord Eddard Stark, Happyisashappydoes, Otago, Boppy O and Drama Chorus. Treasure King stumbled at the start and lost rider Javier Castellano.

“That was a pretty wild outcome,” Trombetta said. “I’m obviously fond of both horses and I’m surprised Crystal Quest was up for this task like this. But I’m tickled to death with this.

“Today things just really jelled for him and he got a beautiful trip.”

Crystal Quest paid $30 to win and the $1 Live Oak exacta returned $32.30.

“I knew the one to beat was [Forever Souper] because he had won this same race last year,” Marin said. “I was a little worried about [Forever Souper], but when [Crystal Quest] hit the three-eighths pole, I knew I had a lot of horse. At the quarter pole, I knew I was the winner.”

It was the first start of the year for Crystal Quest after ending last year with a fifth-place finish in the $150,000 Hawthorne Derby in October. The Turf Classic was his second triumph on Florida Cup Day and first victory since taking last year’s $100,000 Equistaff Sophomore Turf.

Crystal Quest has now won four of 11 lifetime starts with two seconds and earnings of $269,730. He is by Uncle Mo out of Giant Crystal, by Giant’s Causeway.

Purchased by Live Oak for $450,000 out of the 2012 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, Giant Crystal has produced three winners from three starters and six foals including multiple stakes-winner American Giant, by More Than Ready. She has an unraced 3-year-old colt, Uncle’s Gold, by Uncle Mo; an unraced 2-year-old filly, Covered in Crystal, by Quality Road; and was bred to Twirling Candy in 2024. n

Crystal Quest | Photo by SV Photography

Jockey Luis Saez Wins First of Three Florida Cup Races on Win N Your In

After starting the year finishing third in the $82,000 Gasparilla at Tampa Bay Downs on Jan. 11 then fifth in the $121,000 Ruthless at Aqueduct on Feb. 1, Win N Your In returned to her winning form with authority in the $110,000 Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies. The bay daughter of Ocala Stud’s Win Win Win led from start to finish to win the seven-furlongs test for six 3-year-old fillies, giving jockey Luis Saez his first of three Florida Cup victories on the day.

Win N Your In led by a half-length after two furlongs in a

quick :21.89 then stretched her advantage to a length-and-ahalf ahead of 8-5 favorite Bella Cleopatra while finishing the half-mile in :44.24. She entered the stretch three-and-a-half lengths in front at the top of the stretch before winning by seven lengths in 1:23.23 on the fast track. Bella Cleopatra was second, nearly two lengths faster than La Gioconda in third. Hey Cookie, R Morning Brew and Frida completed the order of finish. Spirited Boss, who won the $158,000 Sanibel

Island at Gulfstream Park the day before, was scratched along with Vuela Paloma.

“This is a pretty nice filly,” Saez said. “She likes to be in the clear so the key with her today was try to break sharp and keep her clear. When she got to the top of the stretch, I had plenty of horse and she gave me a good turn of foot.”

Trainer Carlos A. David affirmed that he wanted Win N Your In to be near the lead early.

“I think it was a great performance,” he said. “The idea was to get out running. She has some tactical speed so I wanted to try to get early position close to the rail. I knew [Bella Cleopatra] on the outside was the other speed in the race, so I told Luis, ‘if [Bella Cleopatra] goes, to let her go and sit second. But if [Win N Your In] got in front, just go with her.’ So it worked out great.”

Win N Your In paid $8 to win.

Win N Your In won for the first time since taking the $200,000 Susan’s Girl, the seven-furlong, second leg of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes at Gulfstream Park in October. Last year she also won the $95,000 Sharp Susan going six furlongs at Gulfstream.

In addition to taking the $60,000 winner’s share of the purse, Win N Your In earned a $10,000 Florida Sire Stakes bonus presented by the FTBOA. She improved her career ledger to four wins with three thirds in nine starts while pushing her career bankroll to $308,950 for owners Troy Johnson and Maritza Weston.

Johnson purchased her for $12,000 on the advice of Weston’s husband, bloodstock agent Charles Weston, at the 2023 OBS Winter Mixed Sale Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck’s Summerfield consignment.

Out of Hello Rosie, by Yes It’s True, she was bred in Florida by Marion G. Montanari. Hello Rosie has six winners from seven starters including multiple stakes-winner Miss Auramet, by Uncaptured. Hello Rosie was bred to Girvin in 2024. n

Florida Cup continues on next page

Florida-bred Win N Your In | Photo by SV Photography

Mohawk Trail Rallies to Win Distaff Turf

NBS Stables’ Mohawk Trail came from ninth in the field of 10 fillies and mares to win the Pleasant Acres Stallions Distaff Turf by three-quarters of a length as the 2-1 favorite. Ridden by Adam Beschizza, Mohawk Trail finished a mileand-a-sixteenth on the firm turf in 1:41.73.

second with Dreaming of Abba a neck farther back in third. Chick’s Shadow, Seat At the Table, Amata, Lets Go Koko, Vibrant Lady, Princess Britni and Lady Lala completed the order of finish. Bedrock Birdie and Dancing N Dixie were scratched.

More than 14 lengths behind frontrunning longshot Princess Britni through a half-mile in :45.97, Mohawk Trail advanced four-wide on the turn before Beschizza steered into the six path to get a clear run in the lane. Edgard Zayas and Lady Cha Cha took over at the top of the stretch but could not hold off Mohawk Trail, who won by three-quarters of a length for her second straight win. Lady Cha Cha was

Mohawk Trail paid $6.40 to win.

“I broke ordinary, the pace was strong going into the first turn and I found myself completely off the pace,” Beschizza said. “[Mohawk Trail] was kinda giving me a bit of a possum run back there. I thought, ‘is she enjoying it or is she kind of waiting to pounce?’ [Waiting to pounce] was what she was doing.

“This filly is in great order. [Trainer] Kelsey [Danner] has her in cracking form.”

A two-time stakes winner on the Woodbine turf last summer including a length-and-ahalf score in the Grade 3 Ontario Colleen, Mohawk Trail had one win in three starts this year. In her previous race, the 5-year-old mare took an upper level, $62,500 optional claiming after racing on the lead going a mile over the Turfway Park synthetic on Feb. 14.

Mohawk Trail has now won six of 18 career races with two seconds and two thirds while earning $344,733. John Ballantyne and NBS Stable bought her for $180,000 out of the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

She is by Pioneerof the Nile out of Iroquois Girl, by Indian Charlie and was bred in Florida by Westbury Stables LLC. Mohawk Trail is the only winner for Iroquois Girl, who has one other starter from three foals. n

Florida-bred Mohawk Trail | Photo by SV Photography

Hurricane Nelson Wires Sprint for First Stakes Victory

Pressed by recent Turf Dash-winner Rouki through a rapid quarter-mile fractions of :21.62 and :43.88, Hurricane Nelson repelled that rival under right-handed urging from jockey Luis Saez to win the NYRABets Sprint by two-and-a-half lengths. The 4-year-old son of Ocala Stud’s perennial leading Florida

Rouki, Big Effect, Mattingly and Fortysixcounts. Cajun Gem did not finish and Pure Class was scratched.

Owned by Dean and Patti Reeves’ Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Hurricane Nelson is trained by Christophe Clement as jockey Luis Saez picked up his second win on the day.

sire Khozan defeated seven other 4-year-olds and older while finishing six furlongs in 1:09.11 on the fast track.

“I knew the pace was pretty hot,” Saez said, “But I also know [Hurricane Nelson] is a fighter. When he got to the top of the stretch, he just kept going. It was an impressive effort.”

Chrome Ghost was second by a neck ahead of 5-2 favorite Comedy Town third. They were followed in order by Classify,

“I thought he ran a very nice race,” Clement said. “I am thrilled for Mr. Reeves who always believed in that horse and has been very patient with him.

“This was a very fast pace. This was his first stakes win and he ran great.”

Never worse than third in 10 career starts, Hurricane Nelson did not win his first race until has seventh start, a maiden special weight taken off the turf and run at six-and-half furlongs on a sloppy track at Aqueduct in September. He was then second against fellow Florida-breds going five-and-a-half furlongs on the Gulfstream Park synthetic in a first level, $20,000 optional claiming on Nov. 26, the won under those conditions going six furlongs in his last race on Feb. 8.

Hurricane Nelson earned $60,000 plus $10,000 in Florida Sire Stakes bonus money presented by the FTBOA, to increase his career earnings to $273,930. He has three wins, five seconds and two thirds.

He is out of stakes-place mare French Politics, by Political Force and was bred in Florida by GDS Racing. He is the first stakes-winner for French Politics, who has four winners from seven starters and eight foals including stakesplaced runners Toddchero, by Buchero; and La Gioconda, by Caracaro. She has a unraced 2-year-old filly, Rawayana, by Caracaro; and was bred to Mage in 2024. n

Florida Cup continues on next page

Florida-bred Hurricane Nelson | Photo by SV Photography

Saez Finished Riding Triple with Patient Trip on Tank

After Tank set the pace then faded in the stretch in his two previous races, jockey Luis Saez used a more patient tactic on the son of Ocala Stud’s Adios Charlie to win the $110,000 Sophomore Turf by two lengths. Tank and Saez raced in second behind Koctel War through a leisurely

It was the third stakes win on the day for Saez and second for trainer Carlos A. David.

Win With Faith rallied from second to last in the field of nine 3-year-olds to finish second, a length-and-threequarters ahead of Good Long Cry in third. Koctel War held on for fourth followed by Emmett, Bold N Breezy, Latch the Hatch, Blue Casanova and Nothingsubtle. Makoa was scratched.

half-mile in :47.76 and six furlongs in 1:12.07 then went to the front with a quarter mile to run. They cruised under the wire to complete a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the firm turf in 1:41.45, just .25 off the stakes record set by Star Channel in 2012.

Tank’s only other career win came going a mile-and-seventy yards on synthetic against $50,000 maiden claimers bred in Florida in October at Gulfstream. In one other race on the Gulfstream synthetic, Tank was fourth behind winner Scarecrow in a $94,000 allowance in his previous start on Feb. 6.

“I rode him in his last race and I was confident in him today,” Saez said. “He’s a fighter.”

David said moving Tank to grass and Saez keeping him near the lead were important.

“He runs well on Tapeta at Gulfstream, but I think he is better on grass,” David said. “I told Luis to take advantage of the outside post [nine] and try to get a good position early in the top three and I think that was the key to the race.”

Tank now has two wins in eight career starts with two seconds and a third. The $60,000 first-place check and $10,000 Florida Sire Stakes bonus increased his career earnings to $149,460.

A homebred for Arindel, Tank is the only foal out of the unraced Brethren mare, Vegas. TFH

Florida-bred Tank | Photo by SV Photography

FTBOA CEO Powell Honored 50 50 OVER

BY HILARY DANAILOVA

©2025 The News Service of Florida. All rights reserved

The 50 Over 50 profiled in News Service of Florida’s 2025 list began their careers in a very different Florida—a less populated, more localized and vastly less developed Sunshine State. Their efforts as attorneys, lobbyists and health and business leaders have collectively helped grow Florida into the economic powerhouse and lifestyle destination it is today. This year’s honorees have built health institutions, nurtured municipalities, promoted education access and advanced social justice, in addition to promoting numerous legislative measures designed to improve life for Floridians across a variety of spheres.

As the son of a jockey and a fourth-generation horseman himself, Lonny Powell is uniquely equipped to lead the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders & Owners Association.

“The thoroughbred and equine industry is in my DNA,” said Powell, who is entering his 15th year as CEO of the Ocalabased nonprofit. “My work is more than a job; it’s a culture, a community and a way of life.”

Powell joined the industry in high school, when he got his first job at the race track. In the years since, he has led the Lexington, Kentucky-based Association of Racing Commissioners International, California’s Santa Anita Race Course and the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program. He also gained legislative insights as a cabinet member and agency head under then-Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, and has even advised Saudi Arabian racing outfits.

At the FTBOA, Powell represents his constituency’s economic, political and marketing interests – and celebrated the passage of major industry legislation in 2023 and 2024.

“Apart from my business and political successes, I’m equally proud of assembling great management and board teams –and paying back in service, including as past chair of FSAE and Florida Horse Park,” says the Dunellon resident, who was named Florida Society Association Executives Executive of the Year in 2022. “I love, enjoy and just so appreciate the people, horses and places associated with my work.” TFH

Photos by Florida News Service

FTBOA Member Day at the Florida Cup

TAMPA BAY DOWNS

t Dominic Brennan, Marty Haught, Dr, Fred Yutani and wife Sarah

t

Bill Gatty (standing) and his guests

Marlene Berthault

Elaine Ansbacher and Ulysses Ayala

t Jack Rowe, Mary Ellen Coenen, friend and Richard Heysek

Handicappers

Charles and Maritza Weston

Kevin Yutani, Karen Cleveland, Tommy Haught and beau

Richard Kent, Jennifer Johnson, Jillian Johnson and Nancy Moffatt

Miriam Gonzalez, Courtney Meagher and husband Chad

Michelle Landry and friend

Beth Gamble

Kristen Schubert and husband Austin

Pete Reynolds and wife Connie

Tammy Beck, Delaine Walker, Sandy Arbour, guest, Joan DiLibero and Carla Carter-Eldridge

$3 Million to Purchase Record Gun Runner Colt

by Judit

Photo

Seipert

OBS SALE - MARCH

BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Acting for Amr Zedan’s Zedan Racing, bloodstock agent Donato Lanni signed the ticket for a record-setting $3 million colt by Gun Runner to electrify the final session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company March Sale on March 13.

“I mean he wasn’t a secret. He’s a pretty cool horse and everyone loved him,” Lanni said. “Just very lucky to get him for Amr Zedan. We always come here to look for nice horses and he was nice horse.

“[Zedan] is pretty excited and Gun Runner is a tremendous stallion. This colt worked really well, he galloped out good, he did everything you’d want one to do. Just excited about him.”

Conducted March 11-13, the three-day auction kicked off the season for 2-year-olds in training with increases in average prices and gross sales including a record seven horses attracting seven-figure bids from buyers who came to Ocala from around the globe.

This year the OBS March Sale generated $65,825,500 in gross sales from 433 head compared to last year when 454 juveniles brought $65,239,100 in gross revenues. The average price this year was $152,022, a 5.8% increase compared to the $143,698 average a year ago. The median price dropped slightly from $72,000 in 2024 to $70,000 this year. The buyback rate improved to 17.4% from 24% last year.

“I thought it was a great sale, it was a fun three days,” OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski said. “The quality of horses showed through in the prices. Really from the day after the under-tack show when most of the people were getting here to look at horses, there was a ton of activity on the grounds. You could really feel the juice in the air.”

Consigned as Hip 654 by Eddie Woods as agent, the top-selling gray or roan colt first caught the attention of many during the under tack session, producing the sale’s fastest eighth mile in :9.60. Out of the winning Liam’s Map mare Tynan, a half-sister to

Grade 2-winning Florida-bred Pappacap and Grade 3-winning Florida-bred Boppy O, he will be sent to trainer Bob Baffert’s barn in Southern California.

The colt first went through the auction ring at last year’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale where St. Clair Stables purchased him for $200,000 in a post-sale transaction.

“It’s like winning the Olympics,” Woods said. The March Sale is the penultimate auction for Woods, who announced he will retire after the OBS Spring Sale. (See full story on page 24)

“My God, the only way to go out is on top. It’s been 31 years in April that we started selling here. We’ve done well here. We’ve made a lot of money here; we’ve lost a lot of money here. It’s just the way it is.

“The $3 million I couldn’t see coming,” Woods continued. “I mean, there hasn’t been a 2-year-old selling for $3 million in a long time. He’s just a special horse and that’s what it takes to get that thing done. Now I hope he’s lucky for them.”

He is the most expensive ever colt sold during the OBS March Sale, breaking the previous record of $2 million set by two colts in 2019 and 2023.

Lanni went to $2 million at the 2023 OBS March Sale when he purchased a son of Good Magic for $2 million. Consigned by Top Line Sales, Muth has since become a multiple Grade 1 winner with earnings of $1,589,600 for Baffert and owner Don Alberto Corporation.

Muth equalled the previous record of $2 million set during the 2019 March Sale when Lane’s End Bloodstock as an agent for West Point Thoroughbreds, Rob Masiello and Siena Farm purchased Chestertown, a future stakes-winning son of Tapit. That colt was consigned by Becky Thomas’s Sequel Bloodstock as agent for Chester and Mary Broman, who later bought back a portion of the colt.

The Gun Runner colt was one four sevenfigure juveniles on the final day of the sale

Donato Lanni & Bob Baffert | Photo by OBS

Ramiro Restrepo (left) | Photo by Penelope Miller/OBS

Eddie Woods | Photo by Judit Seipert

including Hip 721, a filly by first crop sire Maxfield out of All in With Aces, by Quiet American that sold for $1,250,000 to Ramiro Restrepo’s Marquee Bloodstock. All in With Aces is a half-sister to stakes producers Pray for Aces and Ely Runner.

“Her work was pretty outstanding, not just in the time but the way that she did it,” Restrepo said. “She was a very talented filly. When you went back there to see her, she was just showing herself with a ton of class. Obviously, there were a lot of people on her. This filly comes from Carrie Brogden [of Machmer Hall] and they’ve produced so many Grade 1 horses on their farm. And Maxfield is a very exciting horse.”

Machmer Hall purchased the filly for $165,000 at the 2023 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale then consigned her to last year’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale where she was a wise RNA at $210,000.

Consigned by de Meric Sales as agent, the filly is a half-sister to Grade 1winner and multiple graded stakes-winner Hard Aces and Grade 3-placed, stakes-winner Astrollinthepark. The filly breezed an eighth mile in :9.80 at the breeze show.

You never expect that much,” Tristan de Meric said. “We knew that everyone was there that could get her over that million-dollar mark but when it does happen you have to really be thankful because they don’t come around like her a lot.”

Hip 486, a filly by Good Magic, dropped the gavel at $1.1 million to top the second day action after being purchased by bloodstock agents John Kimmel and Nick Sallusto for Sean Flanagan’s Flanagan Racing LLC. Consigned by Top Line Sales LLC as agent, the bay filly is out of Rose Mine, by Street Cry (Ire). Her second dam, Reach the Stars (Ire), by Galileo (Ire), is a half-sister to champion older mare and Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1)-winner Escena, Group 2-winner Humbel, Grade 3-winner Showlady and stakes-producer renowned Cat. The filly worked a :9.80 at the under tack show Friday.

“We got outbid on the Maxfield [colt, Hip 119, during the first day at OBS], but this filly was the highest graded filly I saw,” Kimmel said. “These good fillies that breeze well and have the physical that she has, you really have to pay for. Her physical attributes are something where if you could produce offspring that look like her, she’ll be a hell of a broodmare. I’ve had many good fillies over the years and this filly exudes that kind of quality.”

Jimbo Gladwell of Top Line Sales said the Good Magic filly had been popular with prospective buyers in the days leading up to the sale.

“Everyone on the sales grounds loved her,” he said. “She’s just been a queen. We had high hopes. You never know if they’re going to go for a million, but we were very happy with the price.

The filly was another successful pinhook as Passion for Racing purchased her for $275,000 at last year’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

AMO Racing USA LLC purchased Hip 636 for $1.05 million out of Ciaran Dunne’s Wavertree Stables Inc., as agent consignment. By Quality Road out of the graded stakes-placed, stakes-winning mare Toasting, by Congrats, a halfsister to stakes-winner Riversrunrylee. The bay filly worked a :9.80 eighth mile at the under tack show.

Hip No. 721 | Photo by Judit Seipert

Hip No. 486 | Photo by Judit Seipert

“AMO is looking for high end fillies that can go two turns on the dirt… ...and this filly fit the mold,” said Ben McElroy, who signed the ticket on behalf of AMO Racing. “She breezed very well, she’s by a top sire of fillies. She’s been on our hit list right from the get-go. We’ll take her back, assess her and make a decision on a trainer. She’s not a filly that is going to be running super early, so we have time.”

A bay colt by first crop sire Maxfield topped the first day of action when Japanese trainer Mitsu Nakauchida went to $1 million for Hip 119. The bay colt is out of the Sky Mesa mare Eyeinthesky, winner of the Galway at Saratoga Race Course and Mizdirection at Aqueduct. She was also second in the Grade 2 Royal North at Woodbine. Consigned by Ciaran Dunne’s Wavertree Stables Inc. as agent, the colt worked a :9.80 eighth mile into a headwind during the first under tack program.

“He breezed really good. Physically he looks really strong,” said Nakauchida, who trained Liberty Island (Jpn), an earner of nearly $7 million and winner of the 2023 Japanese filly Triple Crown. “His movement was really smooth and nice and I just liked everything about him. Hopefully we get lucky with him.”

The colt was first purchased by Polo Bloodstock last year at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $75,000.

Hip 404, a colt by freshman sire Independence Hall was purchased by JPM Bloodstock for $1 million out of the consignment of Eddie Woods as agent. The colt is out of the stakes-placed mare Orecchiette, by Harlan’s Holiday, a half-sister to multiple Grade 2-winner Lane Way and stakes-placed Ragtime Rose. The colt worked a :9.80 eighth mile at the under tack show.

A Nyquist colt brought $1 million as Hip 725. Epic Horses LLC as agent, Shannon Potter purchased him out of David Scanlon’s Scanlon Training and Sales as agent consignment. The bay colt is out of Alottalute, by

Midnight Lute and is a half-brother to stakes-winners Street Lute and Alottahope. He worked a furlong in :10 flat at the under tack show.

Ocala Stud’s reliable stallion Adios Charlie produced the most popular Florida-bred of the sale selling for $410,000 as Hip 764. The bay colt is out of the Ocala Stud-bred mare Baby Sister, by Uncaptured, a half-sister to multiple Grade 3-winning Florida-bred Shane’s Girlfriend. Narvick International purchased the colt out of the consignment of Ocala Stud, who also bred the colt. He worked a quarter mile in :20.60 during the breeze show. Another top-selling Florida-bred was Hip 505, who will be going west to the Bob Baffert barn after being purchased for $400,000 by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman under their Three Amigos banner.

Consigned by Tom McCrocklin as agent, the chestnut filly is by Pleasant Acres Stallions’ freshman sire Leinster, winner of the Grade 2 Woodford presented by TVG; set a new course record in the Grade 2 Shakertown; and won the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint and Grade 3 Troy. The chestnut filly is out of Sea Smoke, by Tribal Rule, a full sister to Grade 2-winner Marckie’s Water. The filly was one of three juveniles to fire a bullet quarter mile in :20.40 at the under tack session. McCrocklin also bred the filly in partnership with Frank Mermenstein.

Jimbo and Torie Gladwell’s Top Line Sales led all consignors during the three days, selling 22 juveniles for $6,954,000. Eddie Woods was the second leading consignor with revenues of $6,448,500 on 19 Thoroughbreds. Ciaran Dunne’s Wavertree marketed 17 2-year-olds for $5,565,000.

Donato Lanni for Zedan Racing was the leading buyer with the lone purchase for $3 million while Japanese trainer Hideyuki Mori purchased eight 2-year-olds for a total of $2,090,000. John Kimmel and Nick Sallustor for Flanagan Racing LLC purchased two head for $1,750,000. TFH –Quotes for this story were provided by OBS press office.

Hip No. 764 | Photo by Judit Seipert

Mitsu Nakauchida | Photo by E. Mastripolito/OBS

OBS Has Record Spring Sale with Nine Seven-Figure Juveniles

by

Photo

Judit Seipert

OBS SALE - APRIL

BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company shattered records during their prestigious Spring Sale of 2-year-olds in training held April 15-18, selling nine juveniles for at least $1 million. The record number of seven-figure horses eclipsed the previous Spring Sale mark of five million-dollar 2-year-old thoroughbred sold during the 2022 OBS Spring Sale and seven sold for at least $1 million at the 2025 OBS March Sale.

The cumulative statistics also reflect a record average for the Spring Sale at $140,366, passing the previous standard of $129,577 set in 2022. The cumulative average at this year’s Spring Sale is an 8.5% escalation compared to last year’s average of $129,315. The median dropped slightly to $67,500 from last year’s record median of $70,000 but held as the second highest median of all time for the Spring Sale.

“Very appreciative and glad, a lot of adjectives that you can ultimately apply to the week,” OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski said. “The international buyers were here and they were excited to buy horses and it looks like they did. Certainly, we had a broad spectrum of buyers from all over the world.”

Topping sale on the final day was a $1.5 million Tiz the Law colt that went to Sprendthrift Farm, Vincent and Teresa Viola’s St. Elias Stable and Terry Finley’s West Point. The colt was consigned by Steven Venosa’s S G V Thoroughbreds LLC, who also marketed the sales second top seller, a Gun Runner colt that brought $1.45 million on the second day of the four-day auction.

Cataloged as Hip 1094, the top-selling colt, who worked in :10 flat at the under tack show, is the first foal out of the stakes-placed Souper Speedy mare Georgian Dancer, a half-sister to Grade 2-winner and Grade 1-producer River Maid, stakeswinner Race For Gold, stakes-placed runners Soul Rebel, Selembao and Paige the General, and stakes-producer River Nymph.

“Tiz the Law is a stallion where we’ve now bought three of them at the 2-year-old sales and he’s come forward like a whirlwind,” Finley said. “I think he’s going to make an impact on the breed for a lot of years to come.

“We’ve been doing business with Steven [Venosa] for about 30 years and bought our first really good horse, Awesome Gem, out of Steve’s barn when he worked for J. J. Crupi in 2004. So, I have a lot of respect for the work that he does and this horse, he really was a horse all three of us wanted.”

Venosa purchased the colt under his SGV Thoroughbreds banner at last year’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $125,000. The colt was also a $160,000 purchase by Springhouse Farm as a short yearling at last year’s Keeneland January Sale of horses of all ages.

“Without my team we’re not able to do this. So, they take just as much credit as I do,” Venosa said. “We knew [the Tiz the Law colt] was one of the top horses in the sale. To reach that level, you just never know. The most important thing is I’m really excited about the home he’s going to.”

Selling as Hip 601, the Gun Runner colt was the third to last

Hip No. 601 | Photo by Judit Seipert

Hip No. 416 | Photo by Judit Seipert

horse auctioned on the second day of the sale and was purchased by Kerri Radcliffe as agent for Memo Racing. The bay colt is out of the Empire Maker mare Vanquished and is a half-brother to multiple Grade 2-winner Takeover Target and stakes-winning, graded stakes-producer Ladies’ Privilege. The colt worked an eighth mile in :10 flat at the under tack show.

“He’s a Gun Runner,” Radcliffe said. “It’s a little hard to get away from that. He was gorgeous horse, he breezed really well. Physically he’s lovely and he’s probably going to take a bit more time.”

Venosa agreed that the Gun Runner colt was a standout.

“It’s hard to hide a good horse,” Venosa said. “And he’s a great horse.

“A horse like that with a stallion’s pedigree and a Breeders’ Cup horse under the first dam… he came up here and did everything he needed to do. He showed well all week and I had a great team behind me that was able to help me get him here. I was never worried. And he went to a person with a great eye for a horse.”

Hip 416, a $1.4 million colt by Into Mischief, went to Mahmud Mouni out of the Raul Reyes’ Kings Equine as agent consignment. The bay colt is out of Silk Route, by Empire Maker and is a halfbrother to stakes-winner Taraz. Silk Route, the dam of three winners from four starters, is a half-sister to stakes-producer Change Tack, graded-stakes-producer Overseen and graded stakes-producer Sharp Point. Second dam is Grade 1-placed, stakes-winner Jibe, a full-sister to Grade 1 and multiple graded stakes-winner Yashmak and a half-sister to Group 1-winner and European champion Commander In Chief and Group 1-winner Warning (GB). The colt worked a :9.80 at the under tack show.

“I liked this colt. I specifically came for this colt,” Mouni said. “We are lucky to get him at $1.4 million, it’s a fair price. I was unlucky in March for the horse who sold for $3 million, the Gun Runner colt. I tried to bid on him. This sale, we specifically came for this one and we got him. He’s a really, really nice horse.”

Mouni said the colt will remain in the United States and has not decided on a trainer.

K S I went to $1.3 million for Hip 585, a colt by Yaupon, a first crop sire and multiple graded stakes-winner of the Grade 1 Forego. Consigned by de Meric Sales as agent, the colt is out of Twitterpated, by Stormy Atlantic, a full-sister to Grade 1 and multiple graded stakes-winner Stormy Lucy and graded stakes-producer Elusive Luci. The colt worked breezed in :9.80 at the under tack session. He was a $285,000 purchase by de Meric Sales at last year’s FasigTipton July Sale of yearlings.

Hip 833, a colt by Uncle Mo, went to Ramiro Restrepo’s Marquee Bloodstock for $1.3 million from the Eddie Woods consignment. The bay Uncle Mo colt is out of the stakes-winning mare Cacciatora (Ven), by Point of Entry and is from the family of Horse of the Year and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1)-winner Favorite Trick. His 3-year-

old full brother brought $320,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The colt posted an under tack time of :10 flat.

“First and foremost, the colt’s work was pretty spectacular,” Restrepo said. “Going back there and watching the game tape several times, it was pretty evident he had arguably the best breeze in the sale. Physically, I love the medium sized Uncle Mos. He’s a very powerful colt and you also have the lean on the opinion of amazing horsemen like Eddie Woods.

“The things he spoke about the horse were pretty special to hear and when you have the track record of a person like that, it bends your ear a bit.”

Restrepo said that Gustavo Delgado, who conditioned 2023 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade 1)-winner Mage, will train the Uncle Mo colt.

“I was pretty confident he would sell really well,” Woods said. “He had all the right people on him, his video was amazing, he’s by a proper stallion. He’s supposed to be a nice horse and he sold accordingly.

“For once, he sold right around where I thought he was going to sell.”

The OBS Spring Sale was the current call for longtime consignor Eddie Woods of Ocala, who earlier this year announced his retirement. (See story on page 24).

“I think my favorite OBS memory is that we had the first horse ever to work in :10 flat back in the day,” Woods recalled. “That was when :22 flat was still a good time and :10 1/5, you were high fiving everybody. The first horse to work :10 flat, that was notable. And then we sold a horse for an awful lot of money here.

“We had some great days; we’ve had some bad days here. It’s just part of it,” Woods continued. “But our record here has been very good for the amount of horses we have. I’ve been on the board a long time here and we’ve developed this whole thing from nothing. To be part of that development has been really good, very proud of that too.”

“It’s kind of bittersweet,” Wojciechowski said of Woods’ retirement. “Knowing that we’re not going to have one of our top consignors around is a bittersweet thing.”

Donato Lanni as agent for Zedan Racing put in the final bid of $1.15 million to purchase Hip 508 out of the Tom McCrocklin as agent consignment, a chestnut colt by Tiz the Law out of Taboo, by Forestry. The colt, who worked a quarter mile in :20.60, is a half-brother to stakes-winner Let My People Go, graded stakesplaced Der Lu and stakes-placed, stakes-producer Smartly Agree. McCrocklin purchased the colt as agent for $150,000 out of last year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale of yearlings.

Kerri Radcliffe as an agent for Memo Racing was busy again, buying Hip 378 for $1.05 million. The dark bay or brown colt by Nyquist out of the Distorted Humor mare Saucy Dame, a half-sister

to Grade 3-winner Buffum, Grade 2-placed, stakes-winner Stormy West; stakes-placed and graded stakes-producer Renaissance Lady; stakes-placed Value Stream and stakes-producer Prima Beauty. Consigned by Harris Training Center LLC as agent, the dark bay or brown colt was a $135,000 purchase by HTC Voric Stables at last year’s Fasig-Tipton October Yearling Sale. He worked a furlong in :10 flat at the under tack show.

“He was just gorgeous. Pure class by a stallion like Nyquist out of a Distorted Humor mare and bred by Stonestreet, which doesn’t get much better than that,” said Radcliffe, who added they have not decided which trainer the colt would go to. “Not surprised at the price.”

Robbie Harris, co-owner of Harris Training Center said the colt exceeded expectations.

“I had a $249,000 reserve on him, but I knew he was going to sell well,” Harris said. “People were telling me there was a lot of chatter about him that he was one of the top end colts. We loved him. I break 100 head every year and you always knew where he was any time he was on the track.”

Mahmud Mouni also purchased Hip 578, a chestnut filly by Tiz the Law that lit up the money board at $1.05 million from the consignment of Kings Equine as agent. The bay filly, who worked an eighth mile in :9.80, is out of the stakes-winning Cactus Ridge mare Tulsa Queen, a half-sister to stakes-producer Screen Saver. She was a $70,000 purchase by Laureles Racing at the 2024 Fasig Tipton October Yearlings Sale.

A colt by leading sire Tapit was the highest-priced juvenile sold on the first day of the sale, going to bloodstock agent Gayle Van Leer for $1 million. Selling as Hip 249, the gray or roan colt is out of the Grade 1-placed mare Palacio de Amor, by Dixieland Band and was consigned by Jimbo and Torie Gladwell’s Top Line Sales LLC on behalf of Lugamo Racing. The colt is a half-brother to multiple graded stakes-placed, stakes-winner Threefiveindia; stakes-winning, stakes-producer Hero’s Amor and stakes-placed Playful Love. Palacio de Amor is also a half-sister to stakes-placed, stakes-producer Island Hop. Purchased for $300,000 by Lugamo Racing Stables at last year’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale, the colt worked an eighth mile in :10 flat at the under tack show.

The top selling Florida-bred was Hip 96, a Tapit filly that went to Go Go Grey Stable for $575,000 out of the de Meric Sales consignment. The gray or roan filly is out of the stakes-winning No Nay Never mare Mae Never No (Ire) and is from the family of Grade 3-winners Chaos Theory and Sal the Barber. Purchased by de Meric Sales at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearling Sale for $100,000, the filly was bred in Florida by Bridlewood Farm. She worked an eighth mile in :10 flat at the under tack show.

The top selling Florida-bred by a Florida sire was Hip 680, a colt by Ocala Stud’s Win Win Win that dropped the hammer at

$325,000 on a final bid from Lee Ackerly Racing. Keep Praying is a bay colt out of stakes-winner Additional Prayer, by Songandaprayer and is a half-brother to Florida-bred stakes-winner Hear My Prayer and stakes-placed Florida-bred Hiehellohowareyou. Consigned by Camelot Acres Racing and Sales as agent, the colt worked an eighth mile in :9.80 and was bred in Florida by Janet Erwin. He is fully registered for the lucrative FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes program.

Leading all consignors for the four days was de Meric Sales having sold 32 horses for $7,869,000. Eddie Woods sold 25 juveniles for $5,251,000. Wavertree sold 33 head for $5,081,000.

Mahmud Mouni was the leading buyer during the four days having spent $4,835,000 on 10 2-year-olds. Case Clay Thoroughbred Management also bought 10 head and spent $3,750,000. Kerri Radcliffe as agent for Memo Racing bought two juveniles for $2.5 million.

Next on the OBS calendar is the June Sale of Two-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale on June 17-19. The under tack sessions are scheduled for June 9-14. TFH —Quotes for this story were supplied by the OBS press office

Florida-bred Hip No. 96 | Photo by Judit Seipert

Masterpieces in Motion

Seven Florida-bred champion horses were honored for 10 divisions at the FTBOA’s annual Gala held on May 12 in Ocala Champions by the numbers are more impressive in 2024 than they were in 2023. The

by Jetta Vaughns

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2024 Horse of the year/ 3-Year old Champion Filly/ Champion Female Sprinter

Mystic Lake was the embodiment of resiliency and determination in 2024, racing against the best of her division in her nine starts—all in stakes of which six were graded. She traveled to seven different tracks in five states and two countries while racing at distances from six furlongs to a mile-and-a-sixteenth on dirt, turf and synthetic from Jan. 13 through Dec. 21.

Her longest break was three months. After finishing fourth behind eventual Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna in Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx Racing in September she returned with vengeance in December to win the Listed Sugar Swirl at Gulfstream as the odds-on favorite.

Mystic Lake started the year at Tampa Bay Downs with a victory in the $75,000 Gasparilla and then returned to South Florida to finish fifth in the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride in one of only two starts on the year in which she did not finish first or second. She revisted Tampa to dominate fellow Floridabreds in the $100,000 Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies by three-and-a-half lengths before heading to Woodbine to finish second in theListed Star Shoot on April 27.

She was cataloged in the Fasig-Tipton May Digital Sale in early May but was a $370,000 RNA. The decision not to sell turned out to be a wise choice by the C2 Racing team as Mystic Lake was quickly sent to Pimlico where she led from from the start to score a four-and-a-half-length victory in the Grade 3 Miss Preakness three days later! Two months later, Joseph sent her to Aqueduct for the Grade 3 Victory Rideon July 4, but she was caught inside the final sixteenth and finished second. She logged another track and a graded-stakes victory on her resume in late August, winning the Grade 2 Charles Town Oaks by nearly six lengths.

Mystic Lake finished the year with five wins and two seconds from nine starts while topping all Florida-breds in 2024 with a bankroll of $838,908 for brothers Clint Cornett of Flower Mound, Tex., and Mark Cornett of Naples, Fla., who race in the name of C2 Racing LLC and Edwin and Stefanie Wilson of Stefania Farms. She was trained by Saffie A. Joseph Jr.

Bred in Florida by Peggy Costanzo, Mystic Lake is by Mo Town out of Salty Soul by Itsmyluckyday. She twice went through the auction ring at Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company, first in the 2022 October Yearling Sale where Tom McCrocklin took her for $3,500 out of the Summerfield consignment of Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck. McCrocklin then pinhooked her through the OBS March Sale of 2023 where Turf Express Racing Partners purchased her for $130,000.

Mystic Lake

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2021 dark bay filly, by Mo Town –Salty Soul, by Itsmyluckyday

Breeder: Peggy Costanzo

Owner: C2 Racing Stable LLC and Stefania Farms LLC

Trainer: Saffie A. Joseph Jr.

2024 Race Record

9-5-2-0/$838,908

2024 Black Type Stakes ITM Record 1st – Charles Town Oaks (G2) 1st – Miss Preakness (G3) 1st – Sugar Swirl (Listed) 1st – Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies 1st – Gasparilla

Photo

Ryan Thompson

2-Year Old Champion Colt

Rated By Merit

When it came to Beyer Speed Figures in 2024, no 2-year-old in North America could measure up to the undefeated Rated by Merit. His 99 Beyer achieved in winning the $200,000 Affirmed division of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Oct. 19, ranked as the top such number among all juveniles during the year. Rated by Merit covered seven furlongs that day in 1:22.55-which was just .09 of a second off the stakes record set by Soutache in the 2017 Affirmed.

Rated by Merit was, however, able to set the stakes mark a race earlier when he ran away from his seven rivals in the $100,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Dr. Fager in Sept. 7 at Gulfstream, winning by six-and-aquarter lengths in 1:09.45 for six furlongs. He was assigned a 93 Beyer Speed Figure, which at the time was the third best number nationally among his fellow 2-year-olds.

Rated by Merit equaled the 93 number while becoming only the 11th colt or gelding to sweep the prestigious Florida Sire Stakes with a six-length victory in the $300,000 In Reality on Nov. 30 at Gulfstream, clocking the mile-and-a-sixteenth in 1:45.71 as the 1-5 favorite.

Among the top 15 Beyer Speed Figures produced by juveniles during the year, only Rated by Merit had more than one—and he had four. Twice he topped the national list including with the 92 achieved in his first career start on July 13 with a nearly 10-length romp against special weight maidens at Gulfstream—covering six furlongs in 1:10.05.

Owned and bred by Vincent and Teresa Viola’s St. Elias Stable, Rated by Merit is by Battalion Runner out of Banner Waving by Speightstown.

Trained by Michael “Bo” Yates and ridden throughout the year by Jesus Rios, Rated by Merit earned $400,000.

2022 grey or roan colt by Battalion Runner –

Breeder: St. Elias Stable

Owner: St. Elias Stable LLC

Trainer: Michael “Bo” Yates

2024 Race Record

4-4-0-0/$400,000 2024 Black Type Stakes ITM Record

Banner Waving, by Speightstown

Photo by Ryan Thompson

2-YEAR OLD Champion FILLY

Nooni

Nooni began to turn heads long before her first start when she clocked an OBS record :20.20 quarter mile during the under tack show previewing the 2024 Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale. She continued in the spotlight days later when bloodstock agent Donato Lanni went to $1.8 million to purchase the daughter of Ocala Stud’s first crop sire Win Win Win for Zedan Racing Stable, topping the prestigious auction from the Ocala Stud consignment.

The bay filly continued to dazzle in her debut for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert in June—winning a five-furlong maiden special weight for fillies at Santa Anita Park by nine-and-a-half lengths as the 1-5 favorite. She was again a popular odds-on favorite in the Grade 3 Sorrento at Del Mar in August and she responded with a length-and-a-half score in the six-furlong contest.

In her next start, Nooni again broke on top in the Grade 1 FanDuel Racing Del Mar Debutante but was momentarily headed after a quarter mile in a blazing :21.50. But she fought back between horses to take a narrow lead in the turn before jockey Juan Hernandez was forced to check her past the quarter pole. She lost her momentum at the top of the stretch and finished fifth in

her first career loss. Nooni came back strong to finish second to stablemate Non Compliant in the Grade 2 Oak Leaf on Oct. 5 at Santa Anita—giving Baffert confidence to enter her in the Grade 1 NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

In the Juvenile Fillies, jockey Flavien Prat sent Nooni to the front with urgency from post seven then urged her through a rapid quarter mile in :22 flat. She extended her lead to four-and-a-half lengths as she continued the quick tempo with a :44.99 half mile and still had a clear lead through six furlongs in 1:10.03. But she could not maintain her speed in the stretch run of the mile-and-asixteenth contest, eventually finishing sixth.

Nooni finished off her season with a fifth in the Grade 2 Starlet at Los Alamitos Race Course on Dec. 7.

Out of Unanimity, by Union Rags, Nooni was bred in Florida by Ocala Stud, Joseph M. O’Farrell III, David O’Farrell, et al. and finished the year with two wins and a second in six starts while banking $212,400.

2022 bay filly by Win Win Win –Unamimity, by

Breeders: Ocala Stud, Joseph M. O’Farrell III, David O’Farrell, et al.

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables Inc.

Trainer: Bob Baffert

2024 Race Record/Earnings

6-2-1-0/$212,400

2024 Black Type Stakes ITM Record

1st – Sorrento Stakes (G3), Del Mar

2nd – Oak Leaf presented by Oak Tree (G2), Santa Anita

by

Photo

Benoit

Union Rags

3-YEAR OLD Champion Colt/ Champion Male Sprinter

Bentornato

Bentornato finished the year as one of the nation’s top sprinters after being passed in the deep stretch and finish second to eventual Eclipse Award Champion Sprint Straighter No Chaser in the Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club on Nov. 2. The $340,000 second-place check also made him the 184st Florida-bred millionaire with a lifetime bankroll of $1,131,800.

A winner of the $100,000 Dr. Fager and $200,000 Affirmed divisions of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes as a 2-year-old, Bentornato began his sophomore year traveling overseas for the US$1.5 million Boutique Group Saudi Derby (G1) at King Abulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh where he finished third to Japanese superstar Forever Young (Jpn).

After a six-month break, he returned stateside to finished second in the $500,000 Robert Hilton Memorial at Charles Town then topped a Floridabred trifecta in the Grade 2 Gallant Bob at Parx Racing, defeating Sunny Breeze in second with Buccherino third.

Bentornato never finished out of the top three in his four races in 2024 as he became the leading money-earner for his sire Valiant Minister, who stands in Florida at Bridlewood Farm. He is out of Her Special Way, by Put It Back and was bred by Tanma Corp.

He is a two-time graduate of Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company, having sold for $45,000 to Pro Racing Stable out of the Stuart Morris consignment at the 2022 October Yearling Sale. Champion Equine was the under-bidder on Bentornato at the 2023 OBS March Sale, but after being turned back by his original buyer, the dark bay ridging went to Champion for $170,000 out of the Golden Rock Thoroughbreds consignment.

Gustavo Delgado of Leon King Stable Corp. owns Bentornato.

2021 dark bay ridgling, by Valiant Minister –Her Special Way, by Put It Back

Breeder: Tanma Corp

Owner: Leon King Stable Corp.

Trainer: Jose Francisco D’Angelo

Photo by Ryan Thompson

Trained at John Malone’s Bridlewood Farm with GM George Isaacs and Payson Park and won the Fountao of Youth at Gulfstream Park

JOURNALISM

Co-owned and trained at John Malone’s Bridlewood Farm with GM George Isaacs

at Mayberry Farm by Jeanne, April and Summer Mayberry

Photo by Renee Torbit

Photo by Coady

Photo by Lauren Givhan

Spirit Wind

Spirit Wind began 2024 under new ownership and racing from a new barn after being purchased privately from breeder Jacks or Better Farm Inc. by Myron Miller’s Miller Racing LLC and turned over to trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

A handsome dark bay daughter by Double Diamond Farm’s Bahamian Squall, Spirit Wind is out of the multiple stakes-producing Florida-bred mare Sacred Psalm, by Awesome of Course and had lived up to her pedigree as a multiple stakes winner as a 3-year-old and a graded stakes winner at age 4 while still racing for Jacks or Better.

She would continue with that reliable form in 2024, adding to her graded stakes-winning credentials while winning three of eight starts, all in stakes, at seven different tracks.

In her first start for her new connections, Spirit Wind led most of the way before finishing a courageous third, beaten less than a length in the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie at Gulfstream Park in March before

faltered late to finish sixth but bounced back strong three weeks later at Lone Star Park, winning the $100,000 Memorial Day Sprint by threeand-a-half lengths while producing a career-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure during a stalking trip.

At trip to Saratoga Race Course in July was next where despite stumbling at the start, she recovered quickly to lead at every point of call and score in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss Handicap.

She had an off night and finished out of the money in the $500,000

Pink Ribbon at Charles Town Races in later August but proved her character in her next start against Grade 2 fillies and mares, finishing second in the Thoroughbred Club of America going seven furlongs at Keeneland in October.

Joseph returned Spirit Wind to Churchill Downs where she finished third in the $295,000 Dream Supreme then finished the year on top with a three-quarters of a length score in the $150,000

2019 dark bay mare by Bahamian Squall –Sacred Psalm, by Awesome of Course

Breeder: Jacks or Better Farm Inc.

Owner: Miller Racing LLC

Trainer: Saffie A. Joseph Jr.

2024 Race Record

8-3-1-2/$367,150

2024 Black Type Stakes ITM Record

1st – Honorable Miss Handicap (G2)

1st – Memorial Day Sprint (BT)

1st – Poinsettia (BT)

2nd – Thoroughbred Club of America (G2)

3rd – Hurricane Bertie (G3)

3rd – Dream Supreme (Listed)

Photo by Susie Raisher

Champion Older Male/ Champion Male Turf Horse

Forever Souper

Forever Souper’s started 2024 winning stakes against Florida-breds, ended the year facing graded stakes company and endured some rugged trips in between. He set a new track record, produced Beyer Speed Figures of 90 or better in seven of eight starts at six different tracks over turf and synthetic. He was the post time favorite six times while never finishing out of the top four with five wins and two thirds, all while banking $340,247.

Trained by Michael Trombetta, Forever Souper became the sixth Live Oak Plantation homebred to earn an FTBOA Champion Older Male title— following Sultry Song (1992), Revved Up (2005), Miesque’s Approval (2006) and World Approval (2016-17)]; and sixth to be named FTBOA Champion Turf Male joining Miesque’s Approval (2006), World Approval (2015-17) and March to the Arch (2020).

Forever Souper began the year against Florida-breds, winning the

behind a wall of horses in the stretch of the $99,000 Henry S. Clark before altering course to finish third behind winner Dataman. A month later on the Monmouth Park grass, he once more found himself in tight quarters in the stretch of $110,000 Cliff Hanger, again finishing third as Dataman had clear sailing on the outside to win.

But the persistent Forever Souper won his next three with authority, beginning with his return to the Laurel Park turf in July where he dominated the $96,000 Prince George’s County with a four-and-a-halflength triumph.

Trombetta then shifted him to the synthetic at Presque Isle Downs where he took the $79,000 Avery Whisman in August and set a new track record in the $150,000 Presque Isle Mile, covering a mile-andsixteenth in 1:41.23.

2019

Breeder: Live Oak Stud

Owner: Live Oak Plantation

Trainer: Michael J. Trombetta

2024 Race Record ITM Stakes Record

8-5-0-2/$340,247

2024 Black Type Stakes

1st – Prince George County (Listed)

1st – Presque Isle Downs Mile (Listed)

1st – Sunshine Turf (BT)

1st – ESMARK Turf Classic (BT)

1st – Avery Whisman Memorial (BT)

3rd – Henry S. Clark (Listed)

3rd – Cliff Hanger (Listed)

dark bay gelding, by American Pharoah – Mighty Souper, by War Front

Photo by Coady Media

Champion Female Turf Horse

Dancing N Dixie

Although her only victory of 2024 came in the Listed Tepin at Churchill Downs in June, Dancing N Dixie may have provided the most tumult and thrills among the Florida-bred champions with her come from out of the clouds running style and her silvery gray or roan coat.

Owned by Gary Barber, Jackie Ventura’s Rocky Top Stables and Chris Moore’s LEMB Stables, Dancing N Dixie chased, bumped, circled and ran down some of the best 3-year-old turf fillies in her class racing at five different tracks in six graded stakes while finishing in the top three in five of nine starts.

The year started with little promise and a lot of trouble for Dancing N Dixie as trainer Mark Casse saddle her for the $125,000 Ginger Brew (Listed) at Gulfstream Park, a one-mile turf test for 3-year-old fillies. Sent to the post at odds of 59-1, her low expectations met misfortune from the start as she was brushed by her inside rival leaving the starting gate and was far back in last heading into the clubhouse turn. She began passing horses around the far turn and was full of run turning for home but was contained behind a wall of horses. After zig-zagging in the stretch, she never found a clear path until very late, advancing to finish sixth.

Her next stop was in the Grade 3 Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs in March where she rallied from last of 11 and more than nine lengths back to finish third, just a length behind winner Waskesiu. She next traveled to Keeneland for the Grade 2 Appalachian where

jockey Jose Ortiz had her last of 12 at the top of the stretch before charging down the outside to finish, third, less than a length behind winner Buchu. Staying in Kentucky for the Grade 2 Edgewood presented by TwinSpires at Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Derby undercard on May 3, Dancing N Dixie and Ortiz again made a furious late run for home only to again finish in the show spot.

She remained at Churchill for the $233,000 Tepin on June 29, and this time, Ortiz kept her somewhat closer to the pace, but seven lengths back heading into the turn. Dancing N Dixie continued in seventh in deep stretch before Ortiz roused her to the front with her animated late kick to score by a neck.

Casse tried stretching her out to a mile-and-three-sixteenth in the Grade 2 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational, but she could not get past odds-on favorite Cinderella’s Dream, again finishing third.

She did not take to the undulating turf at Kentucky Downs, finishing eighth in the $1.533 million Dueling Grounds Oaks and never found her best in the last two races of the year, finishing out of the money in the Grade 2 Bank of America Valley View at Keeneland and in the Grade 2 Mrs. Revere at Churchill Downs.

2021 grey or roan filly, by Neolithic – Foolhearted Woman, by Uncaptured

Breeder: Freddie Hyatt (the late)

Owners: Gary Barber, Rocky Top Stables (Ventura) and LEMB Stables

Trainer: Mark E. Casse

2024 Race Record / Earnings

9-1-0-4 / $300,190

2024 Black Type Stakes ITM Record

1st – Tepin (Listed)

3rd – Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational (G2)

3rd – Edgewood presented by TwinSpires (G2)

3rd – Appalachian presented by Japan Racing Assoc. (G2)

3rd – Florida Oaks (G3)

Photo by Coady Media

Leading Freshman Sire/ Leading Juvenile Sire

Win Win Win

Win Win Win is the 2024 leading Florida Freshman and leading Juvenile Sire by progeny earnings with $797,233. He is the first Florida stallion to hold both titles in the same year since Girvin two years earlier and going back to 1991, joins Kantharos (2014), Wildcat Heir (2009), Exchange Rate (2005) and End Sweep (1998) among those achieving the Freshman and Juvenile titles simultaneously.

In 2024, Win Win Win had 10 winners from 27 starters with two stakes winners who produced three stakes victories, one graded.

However, months before his first offspring hit the racetrack, Win Win Win made headlines when his daughter out of the Union Rags mare Unanimity dropped the gavel at $1.8 million at Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company, topping their prestigious 2024 March Sale of TwoYear-Olds in Training. Amr Zedan purchased the Florida-bred filly in the name of his Zedan Racing Stables after she worked a record quarter mile in :20.20 during the under tack show.

Later named Nooni and sent to Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert in Southern California, the bay filly dominated a Santa Anita maiden special weight by nine-and-a-half lengths in her debut in July, becoming the first winner for her sire. She then won the Grade 3 Sorrento at Del Mar in August as the first stakes winner for Win Win Win and later finished second in the Grade 2 Oak Leaf around two turns. Nooni became the first to represent her sire in the Breeders’ Cup with a start in the Grade 1 NetJets Juvenile Fillies—a race she led during the first six furlongs before fading to sixth.

Nooni finished the year with two wins and a second in six starts with earnings of $212,400.

Win N Your In, the leading money earner for Win Win Win, had a far different start to her career as a $12,000 purchase by Troy Weston in 2023 at the OBS Winter Mixed Sale. She remained in Florida for her freshman year, finishing third in her first start at Gulfstream Park in June. After Win N Your In broke her maiden in her next start, she

dark bay horse,

Progeny Earnings - $797,233

Starters - 27

Wins – 10

Stakes winners - 2

Stakes Wins - 3

Graded Stakes Wins - 1

Leading Earners

Win N Your In - $218,950

Nooni - $212,400

Stands at Ocala Stud

won the $95,000 Sharp Susan but was upset as the odds-on favorite, finishing third in the $100,000 Desert Vixen, the first leg of the filly division of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes. Win N Your In took the $200,000 Susan’s Girl, the second leg of the Florida Sire Stakes division for fillies and finished the year with $218,233 from winning half of her six starts with two thirds.

The two fillies tied in points for Florida-bred 2-year-old filly honors in the FTBOA Chase to the Championship, but Nooni took the tiebreaker with $176,000 in graded earnings.

Classically bred in Florida by Charlotte Weber’s Live Oak Stud and raced by in the black, white and red colors of her Live Oak Plantation, Win Win Win is by Hat Trick (Jpn) out of the Smarty Jones mare Miss Smarty Pants. He is a half-brother to Grade 3 Noble Damsel-winner Unbridled Humor, the dam of Grade 2-placed, stakes-winner Comedy Town and stakes-placed runners Wild Medagliad’oro and Wild and Funny.

Trained by Michael J. Trombetta, Win Win Win set a track record at Tampa Bay Downs in the 2019 Pasco, covering seven furlongs in 1:20.89. He was then third in the Lamholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G3), second in the Toyota Blue Grass (G2) and ninth in the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). He finished his 3-yearold year winning the $100,000 Manila on the turf at Belmont Park and retired a year later after winning the Grade 1 Forego presented by America’s Best Racing in his last start. He won five of 12 lifetime starts with three seconds and a third while banking $601,600.

Win Win Win stands at Ocala Stud.

2016

by Hat Trick (Jpn) –Miss Smarty Pants, by Smarty Jones

Property of Live Oak Stud, the Estate of Brereton C. Jones, and Ocala Stud

Photo by Jon Siegel

Khozan Stallion of the year

2012 bay horse by Distorted Humor – Delta Princess, by A.P. Indy

Khozan was the leading Florida sire by progeny earnings for the fifth consecutive year in 2024 with $5,679,578. He surpasses the previous mark of four leading Florida sire titles since 1991 held by Montbrook in 2002, 2003, 2008 and 2009 and Wildcat Heir in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2013. He was the leading sire in Florida with progeny earnings of $6,294,608 in 2023, $4,513,950 in 2022, $3,671,794 in 2021 and $3,521,813 in 2020. In 2024 Khozan was represented by 218 starters, 118 winners (54%) and three stakes winners of five black type stakes with one gradedstakes winner.

R Harper Rose, a winner of the Susan’s Girl division of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes as a 2-year-old in 2023, graduated to graded stakeswinner in 2024 with a two-lengths score in the Grade 3 Forward Gal at Gulfstream Park. Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., R Haper Rose also finished second in the $102,000 Any Limit at Gulfstream in her next start. Bred in Florida by the late Sally J. Anderson, R Harper Rose is out of True Bliss, by Yes It’s True and finished 2024 with one win and a second in five starts while banking $123,680 for owners Rich Averill and his Averill Racing LLC and Jayson Werth’s Two Eight Racing LLC.

Khozan’s leading money earner in 2024 with $144,897 was Wildwood Bye, who raced for Wiliam Stiritz and was trained by Scott Becker. In 2024, Wildwood Bye posted a record of two wins, a second and a third from eight starts with her best effort against stakes horses coming when fourth in the $200,000 Dig A Diamond at Oaklawn Park. A bay filly out of Wave Bye Bye, by Congrats, Wildwood Bye was bred in Florida by Brent and Crystal Fernung.

Khozan was also represented by Venezuelan champion 2-year-old filly Bella Del Nilo. Out of Moon of the Nile, by Malibu Moon, Bella Del Nilo was bred in Florida by CESA Farm, and won three Listed stakes in Venezuela in 2024 including the Clasico Comparacion, the Clasico Ciudad de Caracas and the Clasico Egar Ganteaume—all at Rinconada Racecourse in Caracas.

2012

Progeny Earnings - $5,679,578

Starters - 218

Wins - 118

Stakes winners - 3

Stakes Wins - 5

Graded Stakes Wins - 1

Leading Earner

Wildwood Bye - $144,897

2024 Stakes winners Lure Him In

Harper Rose Bella Del Nilo

Stands at Ocala Stud

Stood 2024 at Journeyman Stud

Property of Al Shaqab Racing and Stonehedge LLC

Florida-bred Lure Him In added to his stakes credentials in 2024 with a head victory in the $95,000 Sunshine Classic at Gulfstream Park for owner Double B Racing Stables and trainer Herman Wilensky. A 2017 gelding out of Alluring Lady, by Indygo Shiner, Lure Him In was bred in Florida by Stonehedge LLC. Later in 2024, Double B sold a share in Lure Him In to C2 Racing Stable, Paul Braverman, Timothy Pinch and Mach 1 Stables for whom he finished fourth in both the Grade 3 Ghostzapper at Gulfstram and Grade 3 Steve Sexton Mile at Lone Star Park. Lure Him In finished the year with earnings of 117,535 from one win, one second and a third from eight starts.

Khozan is by Distorted Humor out of Delta Princess, by A.P. Indy and is a half-brother to champion Royal Delta. He was purchased for $1 million out of the 2014 Fasig-Tipton Florida March Sale where he was consigned by Hartley / DeRenzo Thoroughbreds and was undefeated in two starts, winning maiden special weight and a $75,000 optional claiming by 12 ¾ lengths, both at Gulfstream Park. He entered stud in 2016 at Journeyman Stud and in 2019 was the leading freshman sire and was the leading juvenile sire in 2020 and 2023. He currently stands at Ocala Stud as property of a syndicate.

bay horse by Distorted Humor –Delta Princess, by AP Indy

Photo by Serita Hult

Broodmare of the

year

Points of Grace

Points of Grace, dam of Grade 1 winning Arthur’s Ride, is the 2024 Florida Broodmare of the Year as selected the FTBOA board of directors.

The Whitney winner, Arthur’s Ride by Tapit, is the second Grade 1 offspring out of Points of Grace. Her Exchange Rate daughter Victory to Victory won the 2016 Grade 1 Natalma Stakes enroute to champion 2-year-old filly honors in Canada that year.

The mare produced Alittleloveandluck by Arrogate, winner of the 2022 Ginger Brew at Gulfstream. Points of Grace’s filly Genetics, a full-sister to Arthur’s Ride, brought $525,000 from Glassman Racing, owner of the Whitney winner, at the 2022 Keeneland September sale. She produced stakes-placed Double Blessed, a daughter of Treasure Beach bred by Helen and Joe Barbazon.

The 2005 chestnut mare was born in Kentucky to breeder Gary Falter, Cindy Falter and The Thoroughbred Corp and is owned by Joseph and Helen Barbazon.

By Point Given, Points of Grace is out of the English-raced mare Fateful, also dam of Fatefully, a dual black-type winner in England, and herself dam of the Grade 1 Nassau winner Favourable Terms, and third dam of three of stakes winners, including Berneuil, twice successful in group sprints in France.

Points of Grace took the Grade 2 Dance Smartly on turf and River Memories, which earned her champion turf mare in Canada in 2009 under the Live Oak Plantation silks.

Points of Grace has had six winners from seven foals. Her stakes winners account for three of Point Given’s 29 black-type winners as a broodmare sire. The mare was bred to Verifying, standing at Pleasant Acres Stallions this year.

Photo by Tandra Downs

Photo by DiMarco

Saffie A. Joseph Jr. Leading Trainer of Florida-breds

By Black-Type

Wins, Wins and Earnings

Saffie Joseph Jr. reigned among trainers of Florida-breds in 2024 as the leader by black-type wins with 10, including four in graded stakes; total wins (83) and earnings ($3,446,942).

Among the Florida-bred graded stakes-winners that raced from his base at Palm Meadows Training Center in Boynton Beach, Fla, were Mystic Lake, the Florida-bred Horse of the Year, Champion 3-Year-Old Filly and Champion Female Sprinter; Florida-bred Champion Older Female Spirit Wind, and R Harper Rose. Florida-breds Comedy Town and Mish were also among his Florida-bred stakes-winners in 2024.

C2 Racing Stable LLC’s and Stefania Farms LLC’s Mystic Lake, who races for brothers Mark and Clint Cornett’s C2 Racing Stable LLC and Stefania Farms LLC, the nom de course of Edwin and Stefanie Wilson, was a four-time stakes winner during the year. She won the Charles Town Classic (G2), the Miss Preakness (G3) at Pimlico, the Sugar Swirl (Listed) at Gulfstream Park and $100,000 Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies at Tampa Bay Downs.

Bred in Florida by Peggy Costanzo, Mystic Lake led all Florida-breds during the year with earnings of $838,908 from five wins in nine starts. In her first start of 2025, she became a millionaire with a victory in the Inside Information presented by MyRacehorse.com (G2) at Gulfstream.

After Spirit Wind defeated two Joseph trainees in the Sugar Swirl in December of 2023, he convinced his owner Myron Miller to purchase the swift filly from breeder Jacks or Better Farms Inc. In her first start for the Joseph and Miller, the daughter of Double Diamond Farm’s Bahamian Squall finished third in the Hurricane Bertie (G3) at Gulfstream and later in the year won the Memorial Day Sprint at Lone Star Park and the Honorable Miss (G2) at Saratoga Race Course. She also finished second in the Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) at Keeneland and finished the year third in the Dream Supreme (Listed) at Churchill Downs.

R Harper Rose, a stakes-winner during her 2-year-old year for Joseph and owners Rich Averill and his Averill Racing LLC and Jayson Werth’s Two Eight Racing LLC, elevated her game to graded stakes-winner by scoring in the Forward Gal (G3) at Gulfstream in 2024.

After being claimed by Ten Twenty Racing and Joseph for $25,000 in March, Comedy Town went on to take the Smile Sprint (Listed) and Benny the Bull at Gulfstream Park and was third in the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2) at Keeneland – earning $197,550 to finish of the year for the new connections.

Black Type Stakes Wins: 10

Total Wins: 83

by Ryan Thompson

Another Florida-bred star who raced in the blue and orange colors of C2 Racing was Mish, winner of the $100,000 NYRA Bets Sprint on Florida Cup Day, March 30 at Tampa Bay Downs.

Earnings: $3,446,942

Top Florida-breds (by earnings)

Mystic Lake – Grade 2 winner

Chance It – Florida Sire Stakes – In Reality and Dr Fager Officiating – Grade 3 winner

R Harper Rose – Grade 3 winner

Photo

Joseph M. O’Farrell Memorial Award Sales Tom McCrocklin Summerfield

The 2024 Joseph M. O’Farrell Memorial Award is presented by Ocala Breeders’ Sales to consignors Tom McCrocklin and to Summerfield owned by Francis and Barbara  Vanlangendonck who sold Grade 2-winning Florida-bred stakes winner Mystic Lake.

Summerfield sold Mystic Lake as a yearling to Tom McCrocklin out of the 2022 Ocala Breeders Sales October Sale for $3,500. McCrocklin then prepped Mystic Lake for the 2023 Ocala Breeders Sales March 2-yearolds-in-training sale where she sold to Turf Express Racing Partners for $130,000.

Bred by Peggy Costanzo,  Mystic Lake won the Charles Town Classic (G2), Miss Preakness (G3), Sugar Swirl (Listed), Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies and Gasparilla. Raced by C2 Racing Stable LLC & Stefania Farms LLC, Mystic Lake went on to become the leading money earning Florida-bred of 2024 with earnings of nearly $839,000.

As of Jan. 25, 2025, she joined the Florida-bred millionaires list with $1,033.352 in earnings after a win the Inside Information (G2). She is also 2024 champion 3-year-old filly and champion female sprinter.

The honor is presented annually by Ocala Breeders’ Sale to the consigner(s) of the year’s best Florida-bred racehorse offered at an OBS auction. The award is named after Joseph M. O’Farrell, who was part of the nine man syndicate that established Ocala Stud in 1956.

O’Farrell was also a pioneer in establishing public Thoroughbred auctions in Florida and a founding member of OBS.

This is the first Joseph M. O’ Farrell Memorial award for McCrocklin and the fourth for Summerfield who also won in 2014, 2016 and 2021.

Photo by Keeneland

Live Oak Stud Leading Owner

Charlotte Weber’s Live Oak Plantation is named the leading owner of Floridabreds by earnings in 2024. Last year Charlotte Weber’s racing entity generated $1,683,452 dollars in earnings. Out of 147 starters, Live Oak Plantation posted 31 wins, 25 seconds and 18 thirds.

Florida-bred multiple stakes winner Forever Souper led the list with $342,785 in earnings. Other major contributors carrying the flagship black, white and red dotted silks are Crystal Quest, Bring Theband Home, Souper Quest and Victory Achieved.

In 2024, Live Oak Stud earned $2.686,484 as a breeder, posting three stakes winners and 64 wins. She previously was selected as Breeder of the Year in 2006, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

In 1968, Weber purchased what had previously been the Ocala-farm of P.A.B. Widener III. Renamed Live Oak Stud, the farm has grown from that original 1,000 acres to more than 4,500 acres. Live Oak Stud has produced outstanding Florida-breds including millionaires Miesque’s Approval (2006 Eclipse Award champion turf male), World Approval (2017 Eclipse Award champion turf male), Sultry Song and Revved Up, in addition to champions Awesome Slew, Solar Splendor and Brilliant Speed.

Win Approval, dam of four millionaires, was named the TOBA Broodmare of the Year in 2018, the first broodmare outside of Kentucky to be selected.

The award is the seventh leading owner honor for Charlotte Weber, as Live Oak Plantation, was previously honored in 2011, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Photo by Serita Hult

Breeder of the Year

Stonehedge LLC

Marilyn Campbell’s Stonehedge LLC is the Florida Breeder of the Year for 2024 earning $2,929,004 from 93 wins, 67 seconds and 67 thirds from 601 starts. Stonehedge LLC was represented by four stakes winners in 2024 including Dean Delivers, an earner of $325,850 while winning half of his eight starts with one third. By Stonehedge Farm South stallion Cajun Breeze, Dean Delivers rattled off four consecutive stakes wins in 2024 with victories in the $104,000 Mr. Prospector in May, the $125,250 Alopocas Run and $150,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash in July, and $100,000 Rumson in September.

The farm’s Fiona’s Magic carried the green and white Stonehedge colors in the prestigious Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs after her victories in the Davona Dales presented by FanDuel TV (G2) and a second in the Forward Gal (G3) and finished the year with earnings of $181,010.

Her Sunny Breeze, by Cajun Breeze, won the $99,000 Concern then finished third in the $75,000 Salvatore M. Dunda Sprint and next was second in the Grade 2 Gallant Bob. Sunny Breeze finished 2024 winning three of six starts with a second and a third while banking $198,830.

The late Gilbert G. Campbell and his wife Marilyn established the Willistonbased Stonehedge Farm South in 1988 on John L. Greer’s Waldemar Farms, the birthplace of champion two-year-old colt  and 1975 Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure. In ensuing decades, Stonehedge has become a perennial leading Florida breeder and has been a Top 10 breeder by Florida-bred earnings since 1996.

The farm has produced outstanding Florida-breds including millionaire Marlin, Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby-winner Watch Me Go and dual Florida Sire Stakes winner and multiple graded stakes winner Blazing Sword, winner of the Grade 3 Widener Handicap. Their top race mares include Grade 3 Pimlico Breeders’ Cup Distaff Handicap winner Friel’s for Real, Grade 2 Bonnie Miss winner and dual Florida Sire Stakes winner Ivanavinalot, and Scandalous Act who swept the Florida Sire Stakes.

The farm ranks second in Florida Sire Stakes winners with 17.

Stonehedge Farm South currently stands Cajun Breeze owned by Campbell. Stonehedge LLC owns Khozan in partnership with Al Shaqab Racing. He has garnered 10 FTBOA champion stallion honors including leading stallion for five consecutive years.

This is the fifth time Stonehedge LLC has been honored as Breeder of the Year, previously in 1997, 2013, 2016, and 2023.

Photo by Robert Crawford

Training Surfaces Management

Mitigating Risk Through a Commitment to Safety

BY GLENYE CAIN OAKFORD

“If there are protocols that are identified in HISA’s safety regulations that are universal to training centers as well as racetracks, then it is incumbent upon the training facility to comply.”

Amanda Luby

OBS track | Photo by Kaplan Media

When the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority implemented its Racetrack Safety Program in July 2022, it was a watershed moment for Thoroughbred racetracks. For the first time, tracks would operate under a uniform, national set of safety rules covering everything from veterinary inspections, to human safety programs, to racetrack surfaces maintenance—regulations designed, as HISA’s Chief Executive Officer Lisa Lazarus later put it in a press release, “to ensure that all racing participants prioritize horse and jockey health and welfare above all else.”

HISA’s rules apply first and foremost to licensed racetracks. But attorney Amanda Luby—who owns the Welbourne Stud Thoroughbred operation and is chief legal officer for Alliance Captive Management, specializing in risk assessment, risk management and regulatory compliance—says HISA’s safety regulations around racetrack maintenance could have ongoing legal and insurance implications for private training centers, even when those facilities technically are not under HISA’s jurisdiction.

“If there are protocols that are identified in HISA’s safety regulations that are universal to training centers as well as racetracks, then it is incumbent upon the training facility to comply,” Luby cautioned. “Otherwise, you expose yourself not only to the regulatory violations, which could have a trickle-down effect on all covered horses at such facility, but it also could expose the training facility to potential commercial liability, as well.”

The HISA standards, underpinned by data and findings from the industry’s nonprofit Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory, have established a clear set of protocols for track surface maintenance and monitoring, detailed on page 42 of the HISA Racetrack Safety Rules. These include regular documentation of maintenance and daily measurement of moisture content, cushion depth, and weather conditions. The rules state that “surface test methods and surface material test methods must be documented and consistent with testing standards from internationally recognized standards organizations including ASTM International, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, or other relevant international standards, and when possible for unpublished standards, methods consistent with those documented by the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory.”

Owners of private training facilities might find that task list daunting, tallying up the potential cost in staff time, water usage, and more to help fulfill those requirements at facilities that aren’t specifically regulated under HISA— especially given how different the operations are at private training facilities, where there might be more jogging or easy

galloping and relatively few workouts at speed, as compared to racetracks.

“Most of the exercise and work performed on training surfaces in Ocala is legging up work or starting young horses, but we’re not getting past an exercise level that I think is a fair comparison to that of the racetrack,” said trainer Jena Antonucci, who operates a training center at her Bella Inizio Farm in Ocala. “I think that’s a really important detail to not overlook. Most trainers want to receive their horses at the track three-eighths to, say, half-mile fit or a quarter to three-eighths fit. They want to finish the conditioning and education themselves at the racetrack.

“From a general point of view, most farms are very conscientious about their surface,” she added. “If they don’t have a good surface, they’re not going to have sound horses. They won’t be able to maintain their clients at the track and they’re not going to be able to sell horses at the sales if the horses are falling apart. I don’t believe the margins are there, from a business point of view, to implement a whole layer and level of HISA things when a lot of the training centers function underneath that level of HISA and are functioning as farms, not as training centers with published works.”

But Dr. Mick Peterson, professor of Biosystems and Agriculteral Engineering at the Univerity of Kentucky and cofounder of the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory, believes unregulated facilities can meet the HISA standards, thanks partly to the RSTL’s own testing and monitoring services.

The RSTL, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, offers annual inspection, along with use of its database and testing of track material, for about $7,000 at training centers with a dirt track, if the center’s track is narrower than a regulated racetrack (the inspection cost for a regulated racetrack with a single mile dirt surface is about $11,000, Peterson says). The RSTL also can help training centers make connections to other experts who can assist in improving training surfaces.

Peterson suggests that training centers invest in a laser level, which he considers crucial for checking that a track is graded correctly, for around $800. “We suggest folks buy a Bosch kit from Home Depot and then buy a fancier and easierto-use Lenker rod,” he said. The RSTL can provide assistance with using the equipment as part of their inspection service, he noted.

“Each training center is going to have to do its own cost analysis,” Luby said, if they want to try to maintain HISA’s safety protocols. But the question remains for private training facility owners: is HISA-style surface maintenance necessary for facilities with their own diligent maintenance

Continued on next page

TRAINING SURFACES

programs and good safety records on their particular track?

“I think this is more of a horseman and care conversation, about the details horsemen put into their trade, their craft and occupation of preparing horses and making sure they’re paying attention to the surfaces they’re training on,” Antonucci said. “And I think most people at training centers know how to train on their track. They know the nuances of it.

“You can go to 10 facilities in Marion County, and every one of them has a different surface, and every one of them is putting their best foot forward to have a good surface, because every product, every end result, comes off of those surfaces.”

complicated at the farm.

“If you have to bring in a specialist for testing, that’s not going to be free,” she added. “If HISA is going to tell a training center what kind of surface they need to have—or mandate or recommend—there aren’t margins to rebuild surfaces.”

“

Daily documentation can help reveal and correct problems before a horse or human gets injured. In the case of a lawsuit or insurance claim, documentation also can help show that a facility took every reasonable precaution to avoid issues that could injure a horse or rider.”

Trainer Mark Casse, who also operates a private training facility in Ocala, says his program already operates largely around HISA best practices. His training track’s maintenance, though, doesn’t adhere to all of HISA’s racetrack protocols for documentation, regular moisture content monitoring, and the like.

“We do ours more by sight and by experience,” Casse explained. “We’ve been doing this a long time. We have one person that all they take care of is maintenance. We spend a lot of money on equipment. We’re very big on keeping moisture in our track, and we have a really good sprinkler system that does that. We already operate at the highest standard you can. About every three months we bring somebody in to look at our track, grade it, and make sure everything’s good. Safety is the most important, and we do not spare any expense when it comes to our racetrack.”

At Bella Inizio Farm, where the training track is a sand surface with fiber in it to retain moisture, “the track is conditioned every day,” Antonucci said. “It’s monitored for moisture with an automation system, and it’s conditioned every morning before training. … We try not to make things over-

But Luby and Peterson indicate that relatively simple, voluntary steps can help mitigate risk. Peterson compares the HISArequired exercise of documenting a training surface’s condition and daily maintenance as an example, invoking surgeon and author Atul Gawande’s book “The Checklist Manifesto,” which explains how simple checklists in medical settings have been shown to reduce errors and improve hospital safety and overall performance. In the context of a training surface, Peterson says, daily documentation can help reveal and correct problems before a horse or human gets injured. In the case of a lawsuit or insurance claim, documentation also can help show that a facility took every reasonable precaution to avoid issues that could injure a horse or rider.

“The daily record-keeping, for me, is absolutely critical,” Peterson said. “My theory on racetracks is that, even by documenting it, you’re actually improving the quality of the maintenance. Because, essentially, you’re doing that checklist every day.”

COMMERCIAL LIABILITY

The potential legal ramifications of HISA’s standards may not be a hot topic of conversation among training centers yet. But attorney Luby cautions that they should be on facilities’ radar, because courts and insurers could regard HISA’s requirements as reasonable standards that training centers already should be aware of and meet.

HISA’s rules note that the safety regulations apply both for covered horses (those who have had a timed, published work either at a track

Casse Training Center | Photo by LNB Photography

Dr. Mick Peterson

or a training center) and for covered persons (licensed handlers and “any other horse support personnel who are engaged in the care, treatment, training, or racing” of covered horses). HISA defines a training facility as a location that isn’t a racetrack licensed by a state racing commission and which operates primarily to stable covered horses and to conduct timed and reported workouts. But HISA’s Rule 1020, which sets out these definitions, specifically refers to a “private facility” as one “not under the jurisdiction of the Authority.”

Even so, Luby notes that a private facility outside of HISA’s jurisdiction could be exposed to commercial liability if a horse or exercise rider, for example, were injured on a training surface that didn’t meet HISA safety standards.

“Commercial liability is based on the concept of premises liability,” Luby explained. “If you have a HISA standard that goes to racetrack safety and a horse or rider is injured as a result of a failure to implement those standards, then all of a sudden you have created a pretty big opening for a plaintiff’s lawyer to successfully sue that training facility.”

Like most states, Florida has a statute—the Equine Limitation of Liability Statute—that limits liability for equine activities due to the “inherent risk” of working with horses. And agricultural law, which is highly complex, might offer some exemptions, as might workers’ compensation in certain situations. But the law doesn’t protect a private facility in every circumstance.

“There are explicit exceptions to that limitation of liability, and one of those is if there is a latent defect that the equine facility owner/manager is aware of, i.e., something that is hidden or otherwise not known by the equine activity’s participants, and one of those participants is injured,” Luby explained.

“The limitation of liability pertains to the assumption of risk by human participants,” she added. “It’s silent as to the equine participants, who are obviously personal property. So you potentially expose yourself to the loss of a horse that may be injured as a direct result of failure to implement those safety standards—but you also expose yourself to potentially much greater commercial loss if a human is significantly injured or killed stemming from that failure to implement the safety protocol.”

Under Florida Statute, another exception to the limitation of liability is if the equine facility owner/manager “commits an act or ommission that a reasonably prudent person would not have done or omitted under the same or similar circumstances or that constitutes willful or wanton disregard for the safety of the participant, which act or omission was a proximate cause of the injury.”

MITIGATING RISK, AND PREMIUMS

It’s possible that some clients, before sending horses to a facility, might eventually weigh whether a training center’s track maintenance protocols are in line with those HISA requires of racetracks. But it’s more likely that the first questions a training facility owner or manager will get along those lines will come from the facility’s insurer.

“Any reputable insurance company, their agency and their underwriters are going to ask questions about whether or not you have safety protocols in place,” Luby said. “Insurance is completely data-driven and sets its premiums based on loss histories and safety protocols that you have. Any training facility—whether it is private or a training center as defined by HISA regulations—would do itself a favor by informing its insurer of all its safety protocols and the extent to which it might be accredited under HISA to provide timed workouts. It literally can go to whether

Jena Antonucci

“It’s monitored for moisture with an automation system, and it’s conditioned every morning before training... We try not to make things over-complicated at the farm.”

Coglianese Photo

TRAINING SURFACES

they receive lower premiums or not.

“Insurance companies don’t like to pay claims,” she continued. “Particularly with regards to premises liability, we are seeing an increasing number of property coverage exclusions or general liability exclusions due to an operation’s failure to implement safety protocols that are known, are data-based, and have become industry standards.

exposure to problems (and potential resulting lawsuits) around their facility in general. “Some of the basic things don’t cost a lot of money,” Luby said.

Develop and publicize safety protocols.

“Safety is the most important, and we do not spare any expense when it comes to our racetrack.”

“Once something becomes an industry standard, if you fail to adhere to it, that becomes part of the analysis of any claim submitted for payment. So, depending on the contractual language of the insurance policy itself, if a training center fails to adhere to certain safety protocols, they may expose themselves to having their claims denied.”

A BASIC TO-DO LIST

Even if a private training center isn’t following HISA surface maintenance protocols like a regulated racetrack, there are some simple steps they can take to help reduce their

“There are certain safety protocols that are kind of common knowledge in the horse industry, but put them in writing in English and Spanish and make them available in your barns and barn offices,” Luby suggested.

Have regular safety meetings—and empower workers to speak up.

“Have quarterly or annual safety meetings, especially if your workforce changes regularly,” Luby said. “Encourage your employees to be on the lookout for things that pose risk. If someone is aware of an inconsistency on the track surface, they should feel able to speak up. Silence is an absolute killer to the improvement of safety protocols.

“Every training facility needs to have quality control and safety procedures in place. Write them down, make sure everyone is familiar with them, provide them to your insurance agent, and keep them handy.”

Use documentation.

“People are afraid of putting things in writing, but it actually lends credibility to your adherence to protocols,” Luby explained. “If there’s a problem—a section of the track becomes unsafe, a hole opens up, or a rail is down—quarantine that area from any interaction with horses or human participants and apply your safety protocols. If you document your adherence to protocols, all of this goes to show your immediate response. Under Florida Statute § 773.03(2)(d), ignorance is not going to be a defense.”

M. Burns Photo

LNB Photography

Mark Casse

Talk to your insurer.

“Just having a regular discussion with your insurance agent is a really good protocol to have,” Luby said. “Insurance agents specialize in helping you identify risk points. And that could also be a conversation one should have with a lawyer that specializes in premises liability.”

Private training centers are not in the same position as strongly regulated statelicensed racetracks, as Luby acknowledges.

that the lab’s extensive expertise and data can help training facilities do that to the benefit of the horses and the people who work with them.

He points to cases where the RSTL has helped training centers use groundpenetrating radar and other techniques to identify and address issues. In one case in Florida, the RSTL introduced a training center with a grading issue to an out-of-state grader

FLORIDA-BREDS AROUND THE COUNTRY FEBRUARY 2025

Stakes, Allowance, Allowance Optional Claiming and Maiden Special Weight statistics below are listed as of February 28, 2025 for win, place and show, alphabetically by horse name. Statistics provided by The Jockey Club Information Systems, Inc.

FLORIDA-BRED FINISHERS – STAKES

FLORIDA-BRED FINISHERS – MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT

THE COUNTRY

FLORIDA-BRED FINISHERS – STAKES

FLORIDA-BRED FINISHERS – ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING

FLORIDA-BRED FINISHERS – OVERNIGHT HANDICAP

FLORIDA-BRED FINISHERS – MAIDEN OPTIONAL CLAIMING

FLORIDA-BRED FINISHERS – MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT

1

2

3

4

5

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7

FLORIDA-BRED LEADING MONEY EARNERS

24

9 3 5 $2,448,880 27 Affirmed, 1975 H by Exclusive Native Harbor View Farm 29 22 5 1 $2,393,818

28 Gamdonguibada, 2009 M by Werblin Michael Crowe, Judy Crowe, Karen Perrone & Jim

2YOs at the

Hat Trick (JPN)-Miss Smarty Pants, by Smarty Jones