The Florida Cup

EQUISTAFF SOPHOMORE TURF $110,000 3-YEAR-OLDS 1 1/16-MILE (TURF)

WINNER JOCKEY OWNER TRAINER 2nd 3rd

2023 Otago (1:42.47) Antonio Gallardo Crown’s Way Racing, NBS Stable, Edward Delava and Eli Diamant

Kelsey Danner Boppy O Swan Lake

2022 Treasure King (1:42.19) Javier Castellano Mathis Stable LLC Todd Pletcher Tapthespeedofsound Merlin

2021 Indy Lyon (1:42.64) Ronnie Allen, Jr. Jerry Campbell Maria Bowersock Officiating Chess’s Dream

2020 CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC

2019 Global Access (1:41.35) Antonio Gallardo Live Oak Plantation Michael Trombetta Swamp Rat Jais’s Solitude

2018 He's Bankable (1:41.29) Julien Leparoux Live Oak Plantation Mark Casse March to the Arch The X

2017 Muggsamatic (1:42.23) Ronnie Allen, Jr. Stonehedge Kathleen O'Connell General McGooby Prize Fight

2016 Life Imitates Art (1:42.41) Manoel Cruz Klaravich & Wm. Lawrence Chad Brown Our Way Second Mate

2015 World Approval (1:42.21) Rafael Hernandez Live Oak Plantation Mark Casse Jakob’s Way Prince Vincenzo

2014 Ex Pirate (1:43.42) Daniel Centeno Averill Racing, Clark Freeman Ralph Ziadie I’m the Lucky One Best Plan Yet

2013 Boy of Summer (1:43.67) Daniel Centeno Lone Star LLC

Rodolfo Garcia China Holiday Balino

2012 Star Channel (1:41.20) * Pedro Cotto, Jr. GDS Racing Stable Todd Pletcher Didn’t Take It Crafty Unicorn

2011 Extensive (1:43.81) Leandro Goncalves Glen Hill Farm

2010 Thunder Brew (1:42.39) Victor Lebron Roman Hill Farm, LLC

Thomas Proctor Master Dunker Dan’s My Man

Anthony Pecoraro Gator Tiger Saint Judge

2009 Tamborim (1:43.05) Daniel Centeno Haras Santa Maria deAraras Bill Mott Duke of Mischief Cheeks Malone

2008 El Sultry Sun (1:43.45) Jose Velez, Jr. Live Oak Plantation

2007 Soldier’s Dancer (1:42.71) Sebastian Madrid Herman Heinlein

2006 Mr. Silver (1:42.61) Abel Castellano, Jr. Thorobeam Farms

2005 Nicandro (1:41.73) Jesse Garcia Mary Beth Thomas

2004 Keystone Point (1:42.58) Joseph Rocco, Jr. Mouttet & Hoo

2003 Hear No Evil (1:42.85) Eduardo Nunez Jacks or Better Farm

John C. Kimmel Gibbler’s Gold Waywardwillie

David Vivian A Bit of Madness Fair Weather Stan

Edward Plesa, Jr. Go Between World Battle

Myra Mora Rich In Spirit Shoot Out

Kirk Ziadie Indigo Flyer Soldier of Fame

Kenneth Decker Amon Regal Bear

Stakes Histories

$110,000 Equistaff Sophomore Turf

Fastest Time: 1:41.20 STAR CHANNEL (2012)

Slowest Time: 1:43.81 EXTENSIVE (2011)

Longest Priced Winner: $77.00 NICANDRO (2005)

Shortest Priced Winner: $ 3.20 SOLDIER’S DANCER (2007

Closest Winning Margin: Nose HE'S BANKABLE INDY LYON (2018) (2021)

Largest Winning Margin: 2 3/4 Lengths STAR CHANNEL EX PIRATE (2012 (2014)

Shortest Priced Loser: $ .30 GO BETWEEN (2006)

Track Condition: Firm Good All except 2013

Richest Purse: $115,000 2019

Other Notes: Otago sprang a huge surprise, rallying in the closing strides to edge 4-5 favorite Boppy O. Treasure King showed a distinct affinity for the Oldsmar turf course in 2022, rallying for a ¾-length victory in a solid time of 1:42.19. Indy Lyon’s 2021 victory was his third in a row and fourth at the meeting and came only eight days after he won a starter/optional claiming race. In 2019, Charlotte Weber’s Live Oak Plantation made it backto-back victories in this race, and four overall, with the victory by the Michael Trombetta-trained Global Access. In the closest finish imaginable, 2018 winner He’s Bankable and jockey Julien Leparoux nipped March to the Arch by a nose. What made the result fairly remarkable was that the top two finishers were both bred by Weber’s Live Oak Stud, raced by her Live Oak Plantation and trained by Mark Casse. Live Oak Plantation also won the race for 3-year-old males in 2008 with El Sultry Sun and in 2015 with World Approval, who went on to win Grade III stakes that summer at Arlington and Saratoga for Weber and Casse. Jockey Daniel Centeno has won the race three times: with Tamborim in 2009, Boy of Summer in 2013 and Ex Pirate in 2014. Popular jockey Ronnie Allen, Jr., won the 2017 edition with 23-1 shot Muggsamatic, who rallied from last place in the early going to earn the victory. The 2007 winner, Soldier’s Dancer, did the Florida breeding and racing game proud, earning in excess of $1.5-million and winning three Grade III stakes, including that year’s Calder Derby.