The Florida Cup

$110,000 Ocala BreederS’ Sales Sophomore 3-Year-Olds 7 Furlongs

Fastest Time: 1:22.13 MANICERO (2011)

Slowest Time: 1:25.26 NOBLE COMMANDER (2018)

Longest Priced Winner: $126.40 MYCHAMPION (2003)

Shortest Priced Winner: $ 3.40 IMPERIAL HINT (2016)

Closest Winning Margin: Nose CITY OF WESTON (2013)

Largest Winning Margin: 10 1/2 Lengths REPENTING (2008)

Shortest Priced Loser: $ .70 ANYTHINGYOUWANT (2009)

Track Condition: Fast All runnings

Richest Purse: $115,000 2019

Other Notes: Zydeceaux staked a claim as the top Florida-bred 3-year-old male of the meet, adding the Florida Cup Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sophomore to his earlier Pasco Stakes victory. King Cab’s impressive 2022 victory was the fourth in the race for trainer Edward Plesa, Jr., the most of any conditioner. His wife Laurie Plesa is a co-owner. Foreman followed his third-place finish in the Pasco Stakes with a determined Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sophomore triumph, also at the 7-furlong distance. A homebred competing for owner Tracy Pinchin and trained by her husband, Jose Pinchin, 2019 winner Jackson survived a tough stretch battle to win under jockey Samy Camacho. As good as Noble Commander looked in the paddock in 2018, it was no surprise to see the son of Forestry roll to a 3-length victory for owner John C. Oxley and trainer Mark Casse, who also teamed to win the 2018 Grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes for 3-year-olds with Flameaway. The 2017 OBS Sophomore winner, Mo Cash, returned to Tampa Bay Downs late in his 3-year-old season to win the inaugural Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Marion County Florida Sire Stakes. Imperial Hint, who won the 2016 OBS Sophomore in his second career start, won four consecutive stakes as a 4-year-old before finishing second in the TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar to Roy H. Electrify, the 2006 winner, was ridden by Abel Castellano, Jr., the younger brother of Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano. Manicero, who won the 2011 renewal in stakes-record time of 1:22.13, captured three stakes that spring and summer at Calder in Miami.