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Field Commission
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SANDRA MADISON PHOTO
Canadian Sprint Champion and Prominent Florida Sire Field Commission Dead at 15
Millionaire, multiple graded stakes-winner Field Commission died suddenly Dec. 10 in his paddock at Solera Farm, near Williston, Fla., from what appeared to be a heart attack.
“He looked fine this morning and was playing in his paddock as he usually does when turned out,” Solera Farm managing partner and resident veterinarian Krista Seltzer said. Minutes later the chestnut stallion collapsed and died.
Bred by Minshall Farms in Ontario and owned and raced by Edward Seltzer, the son of Service Stripe won or placed in 10 of 19 stakes starts (eight graded) earning $1,030,266 from ages 3 to 7. Field Commission was named Canada’s Sprint Champion as a 4-year-old, after a campaign in which he won Woodbine’s Grade 2 Nearctic Stakes and Grade 3 Vigil Stakes, and placed in four other graded races. Posting triple digit Beyers on dirt, turf and synthetic, he captured the 2012 Ponche Handicap at Calder Race Course as a 7-year-old, setting a stakes record for six furlongs in 1:09.30.
Florida-bred Thousand Words Retires
Florida-bred star Thousand Words, the undefeated Grade 2 winner as a 2-year-old and multiplestakes winner at age three, has been retired from racing and will stand stud in 2021 at B. Wayne Hughes’ Spendthrift Farm.
Bred in Florida by Amy Tarrant’s Hardacre Farm, Thousand Words first achieved fame when he sold for $1 million at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale to Albaugh Family Stables LLC and Spendthrift Farm LLC, who campaigned him as a runner. That marked the first ever seven-figure yearling by sire of sires Pioneerof the Nile. He is out of the multiple Grade 2-winning and Grade 1-placed Florida-bred mare Pomeroys Pistol, a daughter of Pomeroy, who earned $547,678 during her career on the track.
Trained by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, Thousand Words broke his maiden at first asking against special weight company as a 2-year-old at Santa Anita in October while clocking six-and-a-half furlongs in 1:16.77 before winning the mile-and-one-sixteenth Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) at Los Alamitos in December.
Thousand Words opened his 3-year-old campaign with a win in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita, remaining perfect in three starts before finishing fourth to stablemate and eventual Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1)-winner Authentic in the San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita in March. He then finished second to Uncle Chuck in the Grade 3 Los Alamitos Derby on July 4 before he defeated leading 3-year-old Honor A. P. in the Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 1 while earning a 104 Beyer and becoming a top-five early choice for the Run for the Roses. Florida-bred Thousand Words BENOIT & ASSOCIATES PHOTO Thousand Words then finished out of the money in the Preakness Stakes (G1) won by Swiss Skydiver before finishing his career with a sixth-place finish in the Grade 1 Runhappy Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 26. Thousand Words retires with four wins and a second from nine starts, with earnings of $327,500. The 4-year-old son of Pioneerof the Nile will become the newest stallion to participate in Spendthrift’s renowned “Share The Upside” program, and he’s immediately available for inspection by appointment only.
The Share The Upside fee for Thousand Words will be $10,000 for one year. Additionally, breeders must breed a mare in 2022 on a complimentary basis. After the breeder has a live foal in 2022, pays the stud fee, and breeds a mare back, he or she will earn a lifetime breeding right beginning in 2023. For breeders not interested in the Share The Upside program, Thousand Words will be offered for $7,500 on a standard stands and nurses contract. As always, Share The Upside opportunities are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. ■
From six crops of racing age and 114 runners, Field Commission has progeny earnings of more than $4.6 million. Among his current runners are Drafted, who won his 2-year-old career debut at Keeneland while setting a track record of :50.45 for four-anda-half furlongs. A multiple stakes-winner and group-placed, the 6-year-old has career earnings of $690,633. Other 2020 black type performers include Hall Rich Legacy and 2-year-old Ricki Ticki Taffi.
“Field Commission was a very very special soul. He was truly all class,” Selzer continued. “His racing talent was exceptional and certainly speaks for itself. Not only was he physically stunning and an incredible athlete with great speed, but he was kind and honest with a great mind.
‘Commish’ was the ultimate professional, both on and off the track. He was an absolute dream to be around every day. He was a true gentleman with just the right bit of mischief. Field Commission excelled in everything he did and he seemed to pass on his talent and great mind to his progeny. Like their sire, they just seem to get better with maturity.‘Commish’ touched many lives and was well loved by many. Field Commission’s loss is profound for all of us here at Solera.” ■ Florida-bred Lady’s Island Defends Title to Win Sugar Swirl
For the second consecutive year, Floridabred Lady’s Island sprinted to the front from the start and never looked back while winning the Grade 3 Sugar Swirl Stakes over six furlongs at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 12.
Trained by Georgina Baxter for Matties Racing LLC and Averill Racing LLC, Lady’s Island and jockey Emisael Jaramillo shot to the lead from post two and had two-and-ahalf lengths on the unbeaten Golden Ami in second with recent Millions Distaff Preview runner-up and fellow Florida-bred Sound Machine another half-length back in third after a quarter-mile in a quick :22.12.
Sound Machine extended her margin to three lengths coming out of the turn after clicking off four furlongs in :44.54 as Sound Ma-
chine moved into second with Bronx Beauty another length-and-a-half back in third.
Lady’s Island maintained daylight on Bronx Beauty and Sound Machine in deep stretch before she began to shorten strides in the final sixteenth. But the 6-year-old Lady’s Island held on to win by a head in 1:10.46 on the fast track in front of Bronx Beauty in second with Cinnabunny rallying from last to get third, less than a length farther back.
LAUREN KING PHOTO Florida-bred Lady’s Island
By Solera Farm stallion Greatness out of Broadway Martha, by Broad Brush, Lady’s Island now has 18 wins from 34 career starts with five seconds and four thirds. She earned $61,380 for winning her second Sugar Swirl and increased her lifetime revenues to $604,195.
It was the third stakes victory of the year for Lady’s Island after she won the $50,000 Minaret Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 15 and the $100,000 Musical Romance Stakes against fellow Florida-bred fillies and mares at Gulfstream on May 16.
She was bred by Bailey Bolen of Wadmalaw Island, S.C. and paid $11.00 to win. ■ Mr. Money to Enter Stud at Journeyman Stud
Multiple graded-stakes-winner Mr. Money will enter stud in 2021 at Brent and Crystal Fernung’s Journeyman Stud in Ocala, Fla.
An earner of $1,360,430, Mr. Money broke his maiden as a 2-year-old going a mile-and-a-sixteenth at Churchill Downs while winning by three-and-three-quarters lengths. Following that performance, Mr.
COADY PHOTO Money ran fourth in the Sentient Jet Breeder’s Cup Juvenile (Grade 1) behind Game Winner in his final start of 2018.
Mr. Money went on a tear as a 3-year-old, winning the $400,000 Pat Day Stakes (G3), the $150,000 Matt Winn Stakes (G3), the $500,000 Indiana Derby (G3) and the $500,000 West Virginia Derby (G3) in succession. In his next start after the West Virginia Derby, Mr. Money finished second, beaten by a nose by Math Wizard in the $1,000,000 Pennsylvania Derby (G1) while finishing ahead of Preakness Stakes (G1)-winner War of Will, Grade 1-winner Improbable, and Breeder’s Cup Dirt Mile (G1)-winner, Spun to Run. As a 4-year-old, this year Mr. Money won the $100,000 Ack Ack Stakes (G3). Mr. Money ended his racing career winning six races in18 starts, five of them in graded stakes.
“Mr. Money is as well named as a horse can be. He went where the big money was and took home a bunch of it. He won four consecutive graded stakes as a 3-year-old and probably should have won the Pennsylvania Derby as well,” Brent Fernung said. “As a son of leading third crop sire, Goldencents, Mr. Money brings that super prolific Into Mischief sire line to Florida in the form of a truly top racehorse.”
Mr. Money is the second foal out of the Tiznow mare, Plenty O’Toole. She has three other foals of racing age, including additional winner Julia’s Kitty. Plenty O’Toole’s stakes producing dam, O’Toole, by Distorted Humor, is a full-sister to Dubai Gold Cupwinner, Well Armed who earned more than $5 million dollars.
Mr. Money will stand as the property of Allied Racing LLC and Spendthrift Farm for $5,000 live foal in the 2021 breeding season. ■ Sara Powell-Fennessy Promoted As Horse Farms Forever’s Executive Director
The board of directors of Horse Farms Forever is excited to announce the promotion of Sara Powell Fennessy to executive director of the organization, effective Jan. 1, 2021.
“Sara has the vision and passion to lead this organization. She is keenly focused on advancing our mission to preserve the character and culture that horse and horse farms make unique to Ocala and Marion County. Throughout her tenure at HFF as director of community affairs, Sara has proven herself to be a leader who knows how to get things done. She brings a generational understanding of the equine industry and a true love for the community,” HFF president Bernie Little said.
Sara grew up in an equine centric household. A lifelong horse show and racing enthusiast, she devoted much time as a hunter -jumper competitor while she attended school in Lexington, Ky. During her almost 10 years in Marion County, Fla., she has devoted herself to a career of outreach, communication, management, and promotion in the local community and equine industry. She now owns pleasure horses and is an avid trail rider.
A fifth-generation horsewoman, Sara has a lifelong family history focused primarily within the thoroughbred and show horse sectors. Her parents and grandparents owned and trained racehorses and show horses. Sara’s grandfather was a thoroughbred jockey and manager of the Jockey’s Guild until his passing, and her father is a lifelong member of the thoroughbred world and industry executive. Her mother was a saddlebred competitor and now spends much of her current time dedicated to her pleasure horses.
An honor’s graduate from the College of Central Florida, Sara’s educational background is in paralegal studies. She recently served on the management team of Live Oak International and is the current chair of the Ocala CEP’s Equine Sara SHERIDAN PHOTO Advocacy Committee. “The last two years working for Horse Farms Forever has been such an Powell-Fennessy honor” Powell-Fennessy said. “I am truly and deeply passionate to my core about Horse Farms Forever’s mission and purpose. Protecting this way of life and culture here in Marion County means everything to me. I am so thankful to be a part of an organization that is dedicated to ensuring that the global brand as Horse Capital of the World® remains for future generations. I am honored to take on the role as executive director for Horse Farms Forever and look forward to what the future holds for this special organization and our valued members.” ■ — Press Release
Imprimis Right at Home While Winning Janus
Breeze Easy LLC’s Florida-bred Imprimis kept his unblemished record at Gulfstream Park intact and topped a Florida-bred exacta with runner-up Extravagant Kid while winning the $75,000 Janus Stakes on Jan. 1.
The Janus, for 4-year-olds and older, saw a field of six go five furlongs on the firm turf in :54.82 and improved the son of Broken Vow’s record at the Hallandale Beach oval to fivefor-five going back to his career debut when he won a maiden special weight, also at five furlongs on the grass, in February of 2018.
The victory also avenged an out-of-themoney loss for Imprimis in his previous start in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint won by Glass Slippers at Keeneland on Nov. 7. In that race, Imprimis appeared to be making a winning move in deep stretch before congestion forced jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. to quickly apply the brakes on the 7-year-old gelding. Extravagant Kid also came out of the Breeder’s Cup Turf Sprint where he finished fourth.
It wasn’t exactly clear sailing for Imprimis and Ortiz Jr. in the Janus either as they broke slow from post three before 26-1 Harry’s Ontheloose veered into them from the inside in the initial strides.
Meanwhile, recent optional claiming winner The Critical Way went to the front from the outside and led by a length ahead of Harry’s Ontheloose and the Todd Pletchertrained Sayaff through an opening quarter in a blazing :21.09. Extravagant Kid sat fourth behind the speed while Imprimis was another two lengths back in fifth.
Despite the quick pace, The Critical Way continued to lead around the turn and into the stretch with Sayaaf still second as Harry’s Ontheloose could not keep up.
The Critical Way still had daylight on the field from the inside as they entered the final furlong after a :43.22 half-mile with Extravagant Kid and Sayaaf together in second and Imprimis still fifth with more than three lengths to make up on the far outside.
The Critical Way appeared to be the winner in the final sixteenth when Extravagant Kid and Imprimis quickly accelerated in the final jumps and those three crossed under the wire in tandem.
The photo finish camera caught Imprimis a neck in front of Extravagant Kid in second with The Critical Way just a head farther back in third. It was another two-and-a-half lengths back to Harry’s Ontheloose in fourth followed by Sayaaf and Blind Ambition.
Imprimis returned $3.60 on a $2 win ticket and the Florida-bred exacta with Extravagant Kid returned $4.30 on the dollar.
“He ran down a credible horse. When Extravagant Kid got the jump on him, I thought I was in trouble, because he’s a good horse. The horse made about a million dollars,” trainer Joe Orseno said. “I even said, ‘I’m feeling more pressure today that I did at the Breeders’ Cup, and today he’s supposed to win.’”
Ortiz also said he was happy to get the victory in the Janus after the disappointment at the Breeders’ Cup.
After finishing sixth behind winner Belvoir Bay in the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita, Imprimis did not make another start until the Grade 3 Troy Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 8 where he crossed the wire first only to be disqualified and placed third for interference. He rebounded with another strong performance to win the Grade 3 Runhappy Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 12 before the difficult run in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in November.
Despite all of the challenges in his career, Imprimis still has won nine of 17 career starts with two thirds. The $46,035 first-place check for winning the Janus increased his career earnings to $805,983.
Imprimis is out of Shoppers Return, by Put It Back and was bred in Florida by Craig L. Wheeler. ■ Hear My Prayer Draws Off to Win Abundantia
Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. guided Florida-bred Hear My Prayer to her second career black type victory with a ground saving trip in the $75,000 Abundantia Stakes at Gulfstream Park Jan. 1.
THOMPSON PHOTO
Florida-bred Hear My Prayer
The Abundantia attracted a field of 10 3year-old fillies who went five furlongs on the turf.
Trained by David Fisher for owner Cara Oliver, Hear My Prayer started fast from post two with fellow Florida-bred speedsters Lenzi’s Lucky Lady and Tracy Ann’s Legacy as those three raced together on the lead in the initial stage. However, Lenzi’s Lucky Lady and Emisael Jaramillo put a half-length on Tracy Ann’s Legacy to her outside in second before they reached the half-mile pole to finish the first two furlongs in a quarter horse-like :20.95. Hear My Prayer remained a close up third on the rail as they went around the turn with Miss Deplorable to her outside in fourth.
Hear My Prayer found herself with little room to run behind Lenzi’s Lucky Lady and Tracy Ann’s Legacy turning for home when Oritz steered the bay filly to the three path at the top of the stretch.
Lenzi’s Lucky Lady continued to lead for
LAUREN KING PHOTO another eighth-mile with Tracy Ann’s Legacy and Hear My Prayer in pursuit to her outside. As they went by the eighth-pole, Hear My Prayer was running with the most momentum and went by her rivals with 110 yards to the finish.
Hear My Prayer drew off to win by two-
and-a-half lengths with Victory Kingdom (Aus) making a late run to get second by another half-length. Tracy Ann’s Legacy held on for third, a length-and-a-half ahead of Jakarta in fourth followed by Lenzi’s Lucky Lady, Dixieincandyland, Spun Glass, Miss Deplorable and Miss Auramet.
Hear My Prayer finished the Abundantia in :55.27 and paid $21 after leaving the post as a 9-1 outsider.
Hear My Prayer is a daughter of Ocala Stud stallion The Big Beast out of Additional Prayer, by Songandaprayer and was bred in Florida by Janet Irwin.
She has now won half of her eight career starts with a third while banking $139,475. She also won a $50,000 maiden claiming at Gulfstream Park in her second career start in September of 2019 and a non-winners other than, $75,000 optional claiming in her next start on Nov. 23 that year at Gulfstream Park West. ■ Joy’s Rocket Gives Asmussen Milestone While Winning Letellier
Team Hanley and Parkland Thoroughbreds Joy’s Rocket took the $75,000 Letellier Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds Dec. 20 and gave Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen his 100th career stakes victory at the New Orleans track. The Florida-bred filly defeated six rivals as the odds-on choice at 4-5 in the Letellier to complete the milestone win for the native of Gettysburg, S.D.
Coincidentally, it was a Florida-bred that gave the two-time Eclipse Award winning trainer his first stakes victory at the historic Fair Grounds when the Ackerley Brothers’ Valid Expectations won the Old Hickory Stakes on Nov. 25, 1995.
With Ricardo Santana Jr. aboard, Joy’s Rocket stalked longshot Double Whopper, through the first quarter-mile in a rapid :21.52 as Joy’s Rocket chased in second with Mariah’s Princess another length back in third.
When they turned for home, Joy’s Rocket had a short lead from between horses as Double Whopper faded on the rail and Mariah’s Princess pressured on the outside, setting up a dual in the stretch between the latter two favorites.
But Joy’s Rocket proved to be too much in the final 100 yards as she raced under the wire in 1:10.17 and a length-and-a-half better than Mariah’s Princess in second. Charlie’s Penny put in a late run to finished third, a halflength behind Mariah’s Princess with Moon Swing fourth. They were followed in order by Sariah Sariah, Double Whopper and Seguro.
Joy’s Rocket has shown promise from the onset having won her first two career starts—first against special weight maidens at Churchill over a sloppy and sealed five furlongs on June 28 before taking the $101,000 My Dear Stakes on Aug. 1 going five-and-a-half furlongs on Woodbine’s Tapeta main track.
Joy’s Rocket now sports four wins from six starts with one second and earnings of $230,944. The bay daughter of Anthony’s Cross out of Queenie’s Pride, by Special Rate was bred in Florida by Weston Thoroughbreds Training and Sales and sold for $47,000 out of the 2020 Ocala Breeders’ March Sale where she was consigned by GOP Racing Stables Crop.
She paid $3.60 to win in the Letellier. ■
Peterson & Smith Equine Hospital Announces Launch of Re-Branding With a New Look and Continued Commitment to Equine Care
Peterson & Smith Equine Hospital, a leading equine veterinary practice located in the Ocala, Fla., area, announced the launch of a new brand.
As part of the rebranding, Peterson & Smith Equine Hospital will now be recognized by a new name, Peterson Smith. The company is also refreshing its image to reflect the professional relationship it shares with its clients and the community through a new updated logo and website. The new website will showcase the diverse service options Peterson Smith provides to support the complete care of equines, which includes ambulatory care, surgery, internal medicine, emergency services, sports medicine, advanced fertility services and an on-site laboratory. Peterson Smith would like to encourage everyone to explore the new website at www.petersonsmith.com.
For the past 40 years, Peterson Smith has formed a strong reputation in the community. As the local equine demographics have changed, Peterson Smith has expanded its services to serve the distinct veterinary needs of the Marion County equine industry. The practice offers extensive services ranging from preventative and routine care to specialized emergency and reproduction services. The new brand reflects Peterson Smith’s continued commitment towards providing excellence in comprehensive equine care to a diverse equine industry.
“We’ve built a solid reputation of quality care over many years. Based on our long-term history and reputation, we decided the right strategic move for us was an evolution of our name instead of a complete name change. Our new tagline, Equine Hospital + Complete Care, is intended to highlight the true scope of our practice’s ability to provide comprehensive care for any horse. It is imperative that our brand is reflective of our professional commitment and the diversity of care we provide to every segment of the equine industry,” said Jose Madera, vice president of operations at Peterson Smith. “While our commitment to high quality care remains unchanged, we felt a refresh of our brand was necessary to better communicate our story and expand our reach within the equine industry.”
From the barn aisle to the show ring, from the sale barn to the ICU and surgical suite, Peterson Smith is here to provide the compete care you horse needs.
In 1981, Drs. John Peterson and Johnny Mac Smith founded the practice to provide the best and most personalized care to horses in the region. For 40 years, Peterson Smith has remained committed to that ideal, investing in the training, technology, and the people it takes to deliver specialty and ambulatory care where and when it is needed. ■
Heiressall Tops Journeyman Sweep of FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes City of Ocala
SV PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOS
By BROCK SHERIDAN
The condition book, stakes book and press release all had the race listed as the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes City of Ocala. As do the charts and results. But some, more reflective folks, including The Florida Horse contributor JoAnn Guidry in a congratulatory email to Journeyman Stud owners Brent and Crystal Fernung—and possibly those holding winning trifecta tickets—suggested the moniker: Journeyman Stud Stakes.
The epithet came to mind following a top three sweep of the $100,000 event at Tampa Bay Downs on Dec. 12 by Heiressall (Wildcat Heir), Independent Miss (Khozan) and The Goddess Lyssa (Fury Kapcori), all of which are by stallions who stand or stood at Journeyman.
The Terri Pompay-trained Heiressall went to the post as the 9-5 favorite in the seven furlong test and did not disappoint as the 5-year-old mare won the fourth running of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes City of
Ocala by three-and-a-quarter lengths ahead of Independent Miss in second, with The Goddess Lyssa third.
Heiressall and jockey Antonio Gallardo left post four in the seven-horse field in good order and positioned themselves in their familiar stalking position—about four lengths behind early front-runners The Goddess Lyssa and Tiz Possible Dear.
After a quarter-mile split in :22.02, The Goddess Lyssa had a clear lead heading into the turn but was joined by Heiressall as the pair finished a half-mile in :45.06 as they turned for home.
The Goddess Lyssa fought hard until midway down
Florida Sire Stakes
the stretch when Heiressall pulled away to win in test in a stakes record time of 1:21.68 over the fast track. 1:23.35 as Independent Miss took second from The Ridden by Roberto Alvarado Jr. for trainer Ralph Goddess Lyssa with a late run. Nicks, Shivaree took a comfortable inside track down
Tiz Possible Dear, Reagan’s Rose, Ceci Valentina and the backstretch in the Florida Sire Stakes Marion Mama Longlegs completed the order of finish. County as 8-1 choice My Boy Lenny led by a length
Heiressall paid $5.80 to win. ahead of Jackson, who took this race last year, and fel“Everything came out how I wanted, really,” Gallardo said. [Pom“Everything came out how low Jacks or Better entrant Old Time Revival in third. pay] and the assistant trainer Ger- I wanted, really. She looked My Boy Lenny completed the ardo [Perez] told me to let the speed beautiful in the paddock first quarter-mile in :22.24 while go but keep her fairly close, and it leading Jackson by a length into the worked out perfect. She looked and she was ready. She was turn as the Jacks or Better pair of beautiful in the paddock and she was very relaxed in the race and Old Time Revival and Shivaree folready. She was very relaxed in the when I asked her, she did lowed together in third from two race and when I asked her, she did everything right.” Pompay, who watched the race everything right.” —jockey Antonio Gallardo lengths back. Jackson took over with ease while clicking off a :44.71 half-mile from her South Florida home, agreed. before Old Time Revival and Shivaree launched their re-
“She is a professional girl. She is all business on the spective assaults on the outside as they turned for home. racetrack,” Pompay said. “She loves what she does; you Jackson appeared in control in deep stretch before just have to put her in the right spots and she does her job. Shivaree shot to the lead with sudden acceleration while
The victory by Heiressall improved her career record to seven wins from 20 starts with four seconds and two thirds. Owned and bred by Wanda Polisseni’s My Purple Haze Stables LLC based in Fairport, N.Y., the daughter of the Unbridled’s Song mare All Bridled earned $60,000 for the winning effort and pushed her lifetime bankroll to $358,038.
It was the second stakes victory in the last three races for Heiressall, who won the $100,000 Sheer Drama Stakes at Gulfstream Park over seven furlongs two starts back in September. Since, she was uncharacteristically out of the top three when fifth to Tiz Possible Dear in the $60,000 Millions Distaff Preview at Gulfstream Park West on a sloppy and sealed seven furlongs on Nov. 14.
SHIVAREE SETS STAKES RECORD IN FLORIDA SIRE STAKES MARION COUNTY
Florida-bred Shivaree, a homebred for Fred and Jane Brei in the name of their Jacks or Better Farm Inc. located in Reddick, Fla., returned to his stakes-winning form on Dec. 12 at Tampa Bay Downs to take the $100,000 Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Florida Sire Stakes Marion County.
The 3-year-old son of Brei’s Awesome of Course, who stands at Ocala Stud, started 2020 with a victory in the $75,000 Limehouse Stakes going six furlongs at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 4 and finished the year in similar fashion as he defeated six rivals in the seven furlong
favorite Noble Drama third after a slow start.
Old Time Revival finished fourth followed in order by Legal Deal, Lord Barna and My Boy Lenny.
“I liked his chances, but he was going in against some established older horses,” Nicks said from his Fort Lauderdale home after Shivaree’s victory. “[Jackson], Noble Drama, Gerald Bennett’s horse [My Boy Lenny], Mr. Brei’s other horse [Old Time Revival] – it was a tough, solid group of older horses that will make a young horse run.”
Accomplished company is nothing new to Shivaree who earlier in the year was second to Mischevious Alex in the Grade 3 Swale on Feb. 1, second to Florida-bred With Verve in the Grade 2 Hutcheson Stakes on Feb. 20 and second to Tiz the Law in the Grade 1 Curlin Florida Derby on Mar. 28—all at Gulfstream Park. He also had off the board efforts more recently in the Grade 2 Blue Grass won by Art Collector at Keeneland in July and in the Grade 1 Travers won by Tiz the Law at Saratoga in August.
“It’s a nice feeling,” Nicks said. “With him turning 4 [in 2021], hopefully he can be one of the better Floridabred 4-year-olds. We gave him a break after the Travers, which he needed, and he wasn’t quite all the way back for his last race [a fourth-place finish Nov. 14 in the Millions Sprint Preview at Gulfstream Park West won by Legal Deal].
“He stalked the pace today the way we wanted. He didn’t have to be sent and we knew he’d stay steady and try hard down the lane. I knew he had a big chance at the sixteenth pole,” Nicks said. “Roberto [Alvarado Jr.] gave him a patient ride, got through traffic well and was aggressive when he needed to be.”
Alvarado, however, was quick to give the credit to Shivaree.
Shivaree is out of Garter Belt, by Anasheed and won for the fourth time in 15 starts with three seconds and two thirds. The chestnut colt earned the $60,000 winner’s check and increased his earnings to $433,475.
He paid $13.60 to win as the 11-2 third choice. ■ “It’s a nice feeling. With him turning 4, hopefully he can be one of the better Florida-bred 4-year-olds.” —trainer Ralph Nicks on Shivaree
Florida-bred Shivaree caps off a record setting win in the FSS Marion County
