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FLORIDA FOCUS
Florida Focus Compiled by Brock Sheridan
Grade 1 Winner Gretzky the Great to Stand at Ocala Stud
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Gretzky the Great, a Grade 1 winner as a 2-year-old and a son of champion and Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (G1)-winner Nyquist, has been retired and will stand the upcoming breeding season at Ocala Stud.
Campaigned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber and trained by Mark Casse, Gretzky the Great joined the ranks of Grade 1 winners as a juvenile.
Making an auspicious graded stakes debut, Gretzky the Great recorded a scintillating score in Woodbine’s $300,000 Summer Stakes (G1) at one mile on the turf, defeating a contentious field by three-and-a-quarter lengths. After stalking the pace throughout, Gretzky the Great entered the lane in the two-path and powered clear late to score under a hand ride in 1:34.53.
Following in the footsteps of his sire, Gretzky the Great demonstrated his precocity from the beginning. He exercised his superiority over a maiden special weight field at Woodbine in just his second career start, running his foes off their feet with a fourand-a-quarter length front-running romp at six furlongs. Following his maiden-breaking win and prior to his triumph in the Summer Stakes, Gretzky the Great annexed the 2020 Soaring Free Stakes, also at Woodbine, at six-and-a-half furlongs on the turf. At season’s end, Gretzky the Great contested that year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) where he encountered a rough trip and finished sixth in a field of 14 runners.
The following season at three, Gretzky the Great flashed his customary early foot to win the $150,000 Greenwood Stakes at Woodbine. After pressing the pace throughout, he drove to the lead and determinedly fought to the wire to prevail, notching his third stakes victory. All told, Gretzky the Great, who also finished third in the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park at three, retired having won four of 11 starts, banking $379,866.
By leading sire Nyquist, a three-time Grade 1 winner at two in 2015 and that season’s Champion 2-Year-Old Male after winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), Gretzky the Great is produced from the stakes-placed Bernardini mare Pearl Turn, and hails from the family of graded stakes winners Saint Anddan, Love Theway Youare, and Luftikus. He was a $295,000 acquisition at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale in 2019. n
Gretzky the Great n Michael Burns Photo
Ocala Stud Announces 2023 Stallion Roster and Fees
Ocala stud has set 2023 stud fees for its roster of 10 stallions for the upcoming breeding season, led by Santa Anita Derby (Grade 1)-winner Roadster who will stand his initial season at stud for $7,500 S&N. Also new to the roster for 2023 is Grade 1-winner Gretzky the Great, who will stand for $3,000 S&N.
Roadster, a near-millionaire son of perennial leading sire Quality Road, was an impressive winner of the $1 million Santa Anita Derby in 2019. In a determined effort, he defeated stablemate Game Winner—the previous year’s Eclipse Award-winning 2-yearold male champion—with a sustained stretch rally after circling rivals three-wide on the far turn.
In addition to his Santa Anita Derby victory, Roadster finished second in the Malibu Stakes (G1) to Omaha Beach, second in the San Carlos Stakes (G2) and was runner-up to Grade 1-winner Mucho Gusto in the Affirmed Stakes (G3). Roadster is produced from the stakes-winning and stakes-producing Silver Ghost mare Ghost Dancing and is a half-brother to Grade 1-winner and Keeneland track-record setter Ascend. Roadster was sold by his breeder—Arthur Hancock III’s Stone Farm—at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $525,000.
Awesome Slew, Florida’s top-ranked first crop sire, will once again stand for $4,000 S&N. Awesome Slew’s first 2-year-olds came out running this year and are topped by undefeated Florida-bred Awesome Strong, who became just the tenth horse in history to sweep the colts and geldings division of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series, winning the $400,000 In Reality, the $200,000 Affirmed, and the $100,000 Dr. Fager. He was a $500,000 purchase by CSLR Racing Partners at the Fasig-Tipton Digital Sale earlier this year. He has earned $458,000.
In addition to their success on the racetrack, the progeny of Awesome Slew have also proven popular in the auction ring. He has been represented by first 2-year-olds up to $400,000, $220,000, etc., and second-crop yearlings of up to $150,000 this year.
Seeking the Soul, a Charles Fipke homebred, will stand for $5,000 S&N. He welcomed first foals in 2022 and will be represented by first yearlings in 2023. Seeking the Soul enjoyed an illustrious racing career, winning the 2017 Clark Handicap (G1), the 2018 Ack Ack Stakes (G3), and the 2019 Stephen Foster Stakes (G2). All told, he won or placed in eight graded stakes, including runner-up finishes in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1), banking more than $3.4 million.
Win Win Win, like Seeking the Soul, saw his first foals hit the ground in 2022 and will stand the upcoming breeding season for $5,000 S&N. Win Win Win captured the Forego Stakes (G1) at Saratoga in 2020, defeating four Grade 1 winners and set a new track record as a 3-year-old, winning the seven-furlong Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in 1:20.89, running a 2 on the Ragozin Sheets. He hails from a deep Live Oak family and is a descendant of the influential Halo sire line. He stands as the property
Ocala Stud Stallions 2023
Stallion S&N Fee
Florida-breds Make Florida Racing
Thoroughbred Walk of Fame Planned for Horse Capital of the World®
The City of Ocala, the Ocala Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Marion County Visitor’s Bureau have partnered with the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association to create a Thoroughbred Walk of Fame as part of the downtown experience in Ocala, Fla.
The goal of the installation is to showcase to visitors and residents alike the $2.6 billion impact the Thoroughbred industry, and the greater equine industry as a whole, create in Marion County. Equines are a significant and growing reason visitors and new residents are flocking to Central Florida.
FTBOA formed a Walk committee, chaired by FTBOA president George Isaacs, to set criteria including that they are a Florida-bred inducted into the National Racing Hall of Fame. The second tier of champions includes national champ-ion Florida-breds and Florida Horses of the Year.
Project funding comes from the county tourism bed tax fund and donations of industry members. The cost of each plaque is $3,600 which includes installation and upkeep for more than 20 years. Once each plaque is installed, it is connected to an app that visitors can download on their phone to learn how each horse became a champion.
Potential donors are encouraged to call 352-629-2160 or email tgantt@ftboa.com for more information. n
Florida-bred Needles n Tony Leonard Photo
FLORIDA-BREDS IN THE NATIONAL RACING HALL OF FAME FOR THE THOROUGHBRED WALK OF FAME - TIER 1
Needles Carry Back Dr. Fager Ta Wee Susan’s Girl Desert Vixen Foolish Pleasure Affirmed Precisionist Holy Bull Silver Charm Skip Away of a partnership between Live Oak Stud, Airdrie Stud, and Ocala Stud.
Stud fees for Adios Charlie, Jess’s Dream, and Noble Bird will be $3,000 S&N, and Dak Attack and Battalion Runner will stand for $2,500 S&N. For more information, contact David or Joe O’Farrell at (352) 237-2171 or visit OcalaStud.com. n
Turbo Wins First Stakes in Juvenile Sprint
Arindel Homebred Earns $15,000 FSS Win Bonus
Turbo spent most of the summer chasing Awesome Strong in the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes but returned in the one-turn Juvenile Sprint to win his first career stakes at Gulfstream Park on Oct. 29. The Arindel homebred took the $36,828 winner’s share of the $60,000 Juvenile Sprint plus a $15,000 supplement offered by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association as the Florida Sire Stakeseligible winner of the seven-furlong Juvenile Sprint against five other Florida-bred 2-year-olds.
Ridden from post five by Edgard Zayas in the Juvenile Sprint for trainer Juan Alvarado, Turbo raced just off the hip of early leader No Name Dude down the backstretch as those two finished the first quarter-mile in :23.11 on the fast track. Turbo and No Name Dude led Dangerous Ride by a length-and-a-half past the half-mile pole as Turbo began wear down No Name Dude around the turn and took a clear lead turning for home after a half-mile in :45.77.
Turbo continued to increase his advantage down the stretch and raced under the wire four-and-a-half lengths in front of Dangerous Ride in second as Souper Blessing rallied to get third after a slow start. Big Save was fourth followed by No Name Dude and Bold Majestic.
Turbo paid $3 to win as the 1-2 favorite and stopped the clock in 1:24.61 for seven furlongs.
“Edgar did perfect and got him to the outside, and he held on,” Arindel’s Brian Cohen said. “We were saying before, [that he had already run] three races and we really didn’t want to run him again so quick after the last race. But this was really the last Florida-bred opportunity and he was doing well, so we tried it. It gives him a little bit of time before his next race at the Championship Meet.”
A veteran of all three legs of the male divisions of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes over the summer at Gulfstream, Turbo was second to Awesome Strong in both the $100,000 Dr. Fager at six furlongs on Aug. 6 and in the $200,000 Affirmed over seven furlongs on Sept. 3. Turbo had a difficult trip when jostled around in the first turn of the $400,000 In Reality, also won by Awesome Strong, at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on Oct. 1, and he finished out of the money for the first and only time in his career.
“I think he had run a whole bunch of good races in the Sire Stakes,” Cohen said. “Maybe he didn’t want to go so far the last time. It’s a lucrative series and we thought he would stretch out the way he ran seven furlongs before, but I think he’s maybe a one-turn horse. It’s nice not having to run against Awesome Strong. [Trainer] Jorge [Delgado] has done a great job with him. If he’s not there, maybe in other years [Turbo] is up there winning a couple.”
The son of Arindel stallion Brethren out of Horah for Bailey, by Doneraile Court came back strong in the Juvenile Sprint to win his second career race in four starts. Before the Florida Sire Stakes, Turbo broke his maiden by two-and-a-half lengths over five-anda-half furlongs in an open maiden special weight at Gulfstream in June. He now has earnings of $154,828 from his five races.
Dorth Vader Forces Her Way to Victory in the Juvenile Fillies Sprint
Also Earns $15,000 FSS Win Bonus
John Ropes’ Dorth Vader gave jockey Marcos Meneses his third victory of the day as the daughter of Girvin drew off in the stretch to win the $60,000 Juvenile Fillies Sprint at Gulfstream Park on Oct. 29. Trained by Michael Yates, Dorth Vader also took down the $15,000 supplement presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association as a Florida Sire Stakes-eligible winner against five other 2-year-old Florida-bred fillies going seven furlongs.
Breaking from the outside post six, Dorth Vader raced just off of early leader and 2-1 favorite Hoax, who was a half-length in
Florida-bred Dorth Vader n Ryan Thompson Photo
Florida-breds Make Florida Racing
n No tax on stallion seasons n No personal state income tax n No individual capital gains tax n Florida’s greenbelt exemption provides property tax breaks for Florida horse farms n Physical climate allows for year-round training, racing, showing and business opportunities
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES Nicole “Nikki” Fried, Commissioner
Emily Hetherington • (850) 617-7291 (Office) Emily.Hetherington@FDACS.gov www.FDACS.gov
n Feed and animal health items, along with other specific items, are also exempt n Horses are exempt from sales tax when purchased from their original breeder n National leader in veterinary and equine research n Ranks second in the U.S. for number of thoroughbred horses
FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’ AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION Lonny T. Powell, CEO
Tammy A. Gantt, Associate Vice President / Membership Services & Events 352-629-2160 • Fax: 352-629-3603 • 801 SW 60th Ave. • Ocala, FL 34474 www.ftboa.com • info@ftboa.com
front of Alternate Rock between horses, completing the first two furlongs in :23.07. As they moved into the far turn, Alternate Rock could not keep up while Dorth Vader ranged up on the outside to join Hoax on the lead and Charlie’s Wish made a three-wide run at the leaders.
As they finished the half-mile in :46.48 past the three-eighths marker, Dorth Vader and Charlie’s Wish were noses apart and pulling away from Hoax in third, taking their fight into the run for home. Charlie’s Wish stuck a head in front at the top of the stretch but Dorth Vader fought back on the rail before pulling away to a clear lead inside the final sixteenth of a mile.
Dorth Vader finished four lengths faster than Charlie’s Wish in second while completing the seven furlongs in 1:24.83 on the fast track. Esoteric was four lengths farther back in third with Alternate Rock, Hoax and Extra Indy completing the order of finish.
Dorth Vader was let go at 5-2 and paid $7 to win.
She earned $36,828 for the victory plus the $15,000 FTBOA win supplement to increase her career bankroll to $125,228 from two wins and a third in four starts.
Dorth Vader won her second career start, defeating a field of Florida-bred maiden special weight fillies going five-and-a-half furlongs on Aug. 21 before finishing third behind Atomically in the $400,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes My Dear Girl at a mileand-a-sixteenth on Oct. 1.
Bred in Florida by her owner, Dorth Vader is out of the Hardcore Candy, by Yonaguska, who was second in the 2008 Freedom of the City Stakes at Northlands Park. Hardcore Candy has five winners from six starters and eight foals that include Theforcebewithyou, a yearling filly; and a weanling filly, both by Ocala Stud stallion Adios Charlie.
OBITUARY
Luis de Hechavarria
Luis “Luisito” “Louie” de Hechavarria, 95, of Ocala passed away peacefully, surrounded with his family, on Thursday evening, Sept. 22.
Luis was born and raised in Santiago, Cuba to Luis and Emma de Hechavarria. He began his early career as a cattle rancher in Cuba until the Cuban revolution, when his farm was confiscated. Luis left Cuba Luis de Hechavarri with his family and began working in Mexico. After several moves, Luis’ homes became Jacksonville and Ocala. Luis enjoyed breeding horses, hunting, golfing, and wood working and was an active member of Queen of Peace Church of Ocala.
Survivors include his children Annie and husband Hans Scott of Ocala, Luis “Wicho” and wife Georgette de Hechavarria of Jacksonville, Susan and husband James Whelan of Hyannis Port Mass., Paul and wife Courtney de Hechavarria of Ocala and eight grandchildren; Jimmy, Chris, Niki, Ashley, Gigi, James, Ella, and Claire.
Catholic funeral services were held privately, with internment at Highland Memorial Park in Ocala. n
Orange Theory is Longshot Winner of Lynn Chouinard Founders Distaff
Shelly Brown’s Orange Theory used a victory in a non-winners of three, $17,000 optional claiming on Oct. 8 at Century Mile to propel her to victory in the US$36,380 Lynn Chouinard Founders Distaff over the same track Oct. 29 at odds of 11-1. The 4-year-old Florida-bred daughter of First Dude won her first career stakes against six other fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and older at eightand-a-half furlongs.
Ridden by Renaldo Cumberbatch for trainer Rodney Cone, Orange Theory and 7-2 second choice Solarity stalked early leader We Be Three through quarter-mile fractions of :23.42, :46.78 before 6-5 favorite Dance Shoes joined them around the far turn in a joint second. Turning for home, Dance Shoes and Orange Theory were challenged on the lead by a late running Plum Blue with Dance Shoes getting a short lead from between horses inside the
final furlong. Orange Theory fought back on the inside to eventually get a three-quarters of a length lead under the wire and finish in 1:50.67 on the fast track.
Plum Blue finished second, a length faster than Dance Shoes in the show spot with Mangotango, Solarity Tone It Up and We B Three completing the order of finish.
Orange Theory paid $25.40 to win.
Orange Theory is out of Chippi, by Trippi and was bred by William P. Sorren. Orange Theory is a half-sister to Silver Diva, by Circular Quay, who won the 2016 Our Dear Peggy at Gulfstream Park.
Prior to winning the aforementioned optional claiming race on Oct. 8, Orange Theory finished fifth in the US$36,789 R.K. Red Smith Handicap won by Dance Shoes at eight-and-a-half furlongs at Century Mile on Sept. 24.
Orange Theory has now won six of 27 starts with three seconds and six thirds with earnings of $83,547.
C Z Rocket to Rest then Return for 9-Year-Old Season after Breeders’ Cup Sprint
Altamira Racing Stable, Madaket Stables, Gary Barber and Tom Kagele’s Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) runner-up C Z Rocket will return to the track next year according to trainer Peter Miller.
The soon-to-be 9-year-old Florida-bred gelding will be given a rest and pointed to Oaklawn Park’s sprint series next spring and possibly the Grade 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan Race Course in the United Arab Emirates.
The son of City Zip was also second in the 2020 edition of the Sprint at Keeneland and seventh in 2021 at Del Mar.
With his $340,000 second-place check in the Sprint, C Z Rocket improved his career earnings to $1,952,641 and moved to forty-second on the all-time list of leading Florida-bred money earners behind Ladies Din with $1,966,754 and ahead of Rocky Appeal with $1,942,217.
Bred in Florida by Farm III Enterprises, C Z Rocket was consigned as a 2-year-old to the Ocala Breeders’ Sales April Sale by John Stephens’ Stephens Thoroughbreds. This was his third appearance in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and his second runner-up finish. He ran second to Whitmore at Keeneland in the Sprint in 2020 and was seventh after a slow start in the 2021 Sprint won by Aloha West. n
OBITUARY
Florida Focus continues on next page
Florida-bred C Z Rocket n Carlos Calo/Eclipse Sportswire Photo
Bucky Jolin
Midlantic trainer Louis F. “Bucky” Jolin passed Oct. 12 in Ocala where he resided since selling his New Egypt, N.J. farm in 2001. He was 97-years-old.
Born in Rhode Island, he had been in Ocala since 2001, continuing in the industry breaking yearlings and taking lay ups on his farm in Reddick, Fla.
A World War II veteran of the Navy, he was part of the rescue of the Hindenburg at Lakehurst, N.J., having worked on dirigibles.
His best horses were graded stakes-winners Southern Sign for Steve Atkins and Muffies Muffin for George Rosenberger. He also bred Network Effect who was a stakes winner campaigned by Chad Brown. Additionally Jolin operated Bucky’s Turf Supply on the New Jersey circuit.
Interestingly he raced a horse and won in Cuba before the Castro regime in 1967. n
Bucky Jolin n File Photo
