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THE BROCK TALK
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Brock Sheridan Editor-in-Chief
Florida Equine Communications
JOHN D. FILER PHOTO
Breeders’ Cup By the Numbers
The Florida thoroughbred breeding and industry added to their prominent status among states and provinces at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships with Golden Pal becoming the first Florida-bred to win two Breeders’ Cup races when he took the $1 million Turf Sprint (Grade 1) on Nov. 6 for trainer Wesley Ward, owners Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg and breeder Randall E. Lowe of Las Vegas, Nev. (See full story on page 20).
Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., the 3-year-old colt launched from his post three and put daylight on the field of 12 almost immediately en route to a length-and-a-quarter victory in a time of :55.25, which is less than a half-second off the course record of :54.75 set by Fast Parade 15 years ago at Del Mar.
The day before, Pappacap, a homebred for George and Karen Russell’s Rustlewood Farm Inc. located in Reddick, Fla., finished second to Corniche in the $2 million TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) and placed himself atop the standings on the Road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), which will be run May 7 at Churchill Downs. Trained by Mark Casse and ridden by Joe Bravo, Pappacap now has earnings of $576,000.
Later on the Nov. 6 program at the seaside track, Medina Spirit ran second to Knicks Go in the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and pushed himself into the top 10 all-time Florida-bred money earners with $3,545,200 for owner Amr Zedan’s Zedan Racing Stables Inc. and Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. Bred in Florida by Gail Rice, Medina Spirit also turned the spotlight on himself as a candidate to become the 2021 champion 3year-old as the winner of the Kentucky Derby, the Awesome Again (G1) against older horses, Robert B. Lewis (G3) and Shared Belief earlier in the year.
Mr. Amore Stable homebred Firenze Fire also placed himself in the Breeders’ Cup record books when he started in the $2 million Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) giving the Florida-bred star five Breeders’ Cup appearances, a distinction held only by Channel Maker, Better Talk Now, California Flag, Kona Gold, Obviously (Ire) and Perfect Drift.
Extravagant Kid (Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint) and C Z Rocket (Breeders’ Cup Sprint) also made their second starts in the Breeders’ Cup to help push the number of Florida-bred starters in the rich events to 380, more than any other state, province or country other than Kentucky.
To help put the Florida thoroughbred industry into Breeders’ Cup perspective, here is the Breeders’ Cup and more by the numbers: $45,733,538 –Earnings by Florida-breds in Breeders’ Cup history $3,545,200 – Career earnings for Medina Spirit $2,730,350 – Career earnings for Firenze Fire $1,930,000 – Earnings by the six Florida-bred starters in 2021 $1,684,733 – Career earnings for Extravagant Kid $1,299,056 – Career earnings for Golden Pal $1,045,000 – Total Breeders’ Cup earnings for Golden Pal 380 – Number of starts by Florida-bred starts in Breeders’ Cup history 309 – Number of individual Florida-breds who have started in a Breeders’ Cup. 57 – All-time earnings rank for Extravagant Kid among Floridabreds 30 – Number of Breeders’ Cup wins by Florida-breds 29 – Number of Florida-bred Breeders’ Cup winners 20 – All-Time Earnings Rank for Firenze Fire among Floridabreds 12 – Road to the Kentucky Derby points held by Pappacap 8 – All-Time Earnings Rank for Medina Spirit among Floridabreds 7 – Number of horses with five starts in the Breeders’ Cup 6 – Number of Florida-bred starters in the 2021 Breeders’ Cup 5 – Total number of Breeders’ Cup starts by Firenze Fire 4 – Florida-breds making repeat appearances in the 2021
Breeders’ Cup. 2 – Number of Breeders’ Cup victories by Golden Pal ■
August 31
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FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’ AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION
