The Florida Horse April/May by Florida Equine Publications

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A P R I L / M AY 2 0 1 0 • V O L 5 3 / I S S U E 4

10 FLORIDA FOCUS By Nick Fortuna 18 SUNSHINE STATE BONANZA ANNOUNCED By Michael Compton

20 POSITIVE RESULTS While giving the industry a shot in the arm, the OBS March sale sees spikes in average, median prices. By Nick Fortuna

22 HIGH PRAISE Craig and Cathy Beam enjoying success of Florida-bred champion Amen Hallelujah. By Jo Ann Guidry

28 A FESTIVE EVENING The FTBOA held its 50th annual awards dinner last month at the Hilton Ocala. By Michael Compton Photos by Eleanor Hancock

30 LEADING FLORIDA BREEDERS Gilbert Campbell and Harold Plumley lead the way. By Jo Ann Guidry

32 TRIPLE CROWN NOMINEES BRED IN FLORIDA 34 KENTUCKY DERBY BOUND Florida-bred Pleasant Prince heads to Louisville following a big effort in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. By Nick Fortuna

38 CALDER ANNOUNCES STAKES SCHEDULE 40 FLORIDA NEWS 42 OPAL HEATH PASSES AWAY By Nick Fortuna 48 PUTTING ON THE HITS Horse Shows in the Sun, held each winter in Ocala, enjoyed another stellar circuit in 2010.

51 POWER OF POWERS Tom Powers brings his 30-year-old futurity to the Horse Capital of the World. By Avery Sams

52 PRACTICALLY SPEAKING By Mark Shuffitt 53 HORSE COUNCIL NEWS 54 NEWS BITS 57 YOUR FLORIDA HORSE PARK By Connie Duff Wise 61 EQUINE CARE: REGENERATIVE MEDICINE Stem cells, bone marrow, platelet-rich plasma, and IRAP help the body heal itself. By Denise Steffanus

64 FLORIDA’S LEADING SIRES 66 PLAYER’S PAGE 4 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2010

By Paul Moran

COVER PHOTO OF OBS MARCH SALE TOPPER BY JOE DI ORIO • CONTENTS PHOTO OF SOLDIERʼS DANCER BY JIM LISA

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801 SW 60th Avenue • Ocala, Florida 34474 (352) 732-8858 • Fax: (352) 867-1979 • www.ftboa.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Michael Compton BUSINESS MANAGER

Patrick Vinzant MANAGING EDITOR/ADVERTISING MANAGER

Summer Best ART DIRECTOR

John Filer CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

JoAnn Guidry WRITER

Nick Fortuna ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Beverly Kalberkamp CORRESPONDENTS

Jay Friedman, Doug McCoy, Cynthia McFarland, Mark Shuffitt PUBLISHER Florida Equine Publications, Inc. (A corporation owned by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association)

Executive Office - 801 SW 60th Avenue • Ocala, Florida 34474 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Gilbert Campbell, President/Board Chairman Fred Brei, 1st Vice President J. Michael O’Farrell, Jr., 2nd Vice President George G. Isaacs, Secretary Diane Parks, Treasurer EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Richard E. Hancock CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Michael Gilliam

© THE FLORIDA HORSE (ISSN 0090-967X) is published monthly except July by THE FLORIDA HORSE, INC., 801 SW 60th Ave., Ocala, Florida 34474, including the annual Statistical Review in February. Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Florida Equine Publications or the Florida Thoroughbred Breedersʼ and Ownersʼ Association. Publication of any material originating herein is expressly forbidden without first obtaining written permission from THE FLORIDA HORSE©.

Statistics in the publication relating to results of racing in North America are compiled from data generated by Daily Racing Form, Equibase, Bloodstock Research Information Services, and The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc., the copyright owners of said data. Reproduction is prohibited. A dvertisin g co py d ead lin e 5th o f mo n th p recedin g p ub licatio n. Su bscrip tio ns and ch ang e of add ress: Please m ail to – Circulation s D ep artment. T HE FL ORIDA H ORS E, 801 SW 60th Ave., O cala, Florida 34474.

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American Horse Publications • FLORIDA MAGAZINE ASSOCIATION • MEMBER BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU

FTBOA OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS Gilbert G. Campbell, President Fred Brei, First Vice President J. Michael O’Farrell, Jr., Second Vice President George G. Isaacs, Secretary Diane Parks, Treasurer

DIRECTORS Joe Barbazon Dean DeRenzo Sheila DiMare Donald Dizney Barry W. Eisaman

Brent Fernung Bonnie M. Heath III Phil Matthews Jessica Steinbrenner Peter Vegso

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

Richard E. Hancock THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2010 5

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Out in Front

ith optimism up following the OBS March Sale, we roll into spring with renewed hope for Florida’s Thoroughbred industry. Gulfstream Park is winding down its meeting that saw Florida-breds often in the spotlight. It proved a successful meeting for owners of Florida-breds through the Richard E. Hancock/ELEANOR HANCOCK 30 percent Florida Owners’ Awards program; Florida again crushed its rivals from California in the Sunshine Millions and the first ever Sunshine Bonanza is slated for April 24, one week before the Kentucky Derby. The Sunshine State Bonanza will feature two Florida Thoroughbred Charities Stakes—the Island Whirl FTC Stakes and the Capital Request FTC Stakes—each worth $100,000. To be eligible, horses must be Florida-breds registered with the FTBOA and sired by stallions whose seasons have been offered at FTC auctions. Also featured on the day will be four Florida-bred restricted starter races worth $50,000 apiece for There is no better time than horses who have started in claiming races. this month for owners and (For more on the Sunshine State Bonanza, trainers to get a head start on see page 18). Calder is set to kick off its new season the competition and shop for this month, and the FTBOA, FHBPA and Florida-bred runners at OBS Churchill Downs are providing more reaand Adena Springs. It’s the son for optimism with purse increases for first step in ensuring that new Florida-breds in the juvenile program at owners taking home Sunshine Calder. This year’s minimum purses for maiden special weight races will be State runners from these $39,000, which includes $7,000 in upcoming sales will have a Florida Owners’ Awards and $5,000 in chance to create experiences Florida Stallion Stakes supplements. As your recall, the FTBOA, FHBPA at the racetrack that they want and Churchill Downs raised purse to share and replicate. money for Florida-breds in the juvenile program at Calder last season to $35,000 with $5,000 in FSS supplements and $5,000 in FOAs. The impact of those purse hikes was felt in Ocala at the OBS April 2-year-old sale, as well in the pockets of horsemen in South Florida. It is our intention for 2010 to be even more successful. “Our two-year-old program at Calder really helped the April sale last year,” said Fred Brei, FTBOA Stakes Committee chairman. “The purse enhancements made owners more motivated to race at Calder and also aided horsemen in being able to sell Florida-breds off

6 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2010

the track. It definitely generated excitement and kickstarted things for us. “The additional enhancements this year should generate the same excitement for us and further increase the value of Florida-breds,” Brei added. “Building on the enthusiasm of last year, we look forward to the upcoming Calder meet and running for the increased FOAs and FSS supplements for Florida-bred juveniles.” Everyone, it seems, has tightened their belts, but we continue to identify areas to adapt and implement meaningful change for Florida’s breeders and owners. With purse money for Florida-breds on the rise and the demand for Sunshine State products gaining momentum, horsemen should be well-positioned to take advantage of these opportunities. Later this month in Ocala, more than 300 Florida-breds have been catalogued for the OBS Spring Sale and another handful will be offered at the Adena Springs Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale. “The Stakes Committee has worked diligently to create awareness of these programs,” Brei said. “It’s important that horsemen provide us the feedback necessary to continue growing and driving our business.” Expanding opportunities for Florida-breds remains the constant strategic objective of our Stakes Committee. Retaining owners and attracting new ones is also vital. Communicating the value of Florida-breds and ultimately, the opportunities available to them, should influence purchasing decisions. There is no better time than this month for owners and trainers to get a head start on the competition and shop for Florida-bred runners at OBS and Adena Springs. It’s the first step in ensuring that new owners taking home Sunshine State runners from these upcoming sales will have a chance to create experiences at the racetrack that they want to share and replicate. By leveraging the success of owners of Floridabred racehorses, our industry is sure to benefit at every level. It does pay to breed and own Florida-breds. ■

Richard Hancock Executive Vice President Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’Association

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8 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2010

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AreYou A Fan?

ur passion is the same as yours: Florida horses. At Florida Equine Publications, our purpose is to share your stories. Many different distribution channels exist today to accomplish this task. We are currently exploring all of them to determine the best, most affordable and most direct way to get information to you. E-commerce has been integrated into the way many of us do business. Here at The Florida Horse magazine, we are utilizing numerous online avenues to share our messages and those of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’and Owners’Association. While online communications have not replaced traditional media or print, social networking and websites are offering new, expanded experiences for consumers to indulge their passions. Regardless of where you reside or travel, a link to our world is just a click away. You can follow Florida’s Thoroughbred industry online everyday at www.ftboa.com. For those that live in Ocala/Marion County, we produce a popular daily publication, Wire to Wire, and for those that are in town only during OBS sales, we publish Wire to Wire.net which is distributed to area hotels, as well as the sales grounds each morning. Wire to Wire.net is also posted online each sale day at www.ftboa.com. Complete archives of past issues can be found under Florida Equine Publications on the menu bar of the website. For fans of The Florida Horse magazine, you can now follow us on Facebook at www.facebook/thefloridahorse. Please join us as we expand our community online to better engage with our readers. Each monthly issue can be found on our

It is our goal to make sure that all of your interactions with our brand are meaningful. That our articles and profiles, legislative updates, e-mail blasts and videos help you better understand our industry and the people responsible for breeding, owning, training, selling and racing Florida-breds.

10:12 AM

page. Please check us out and become a fan. Our website has utilized video streaming to some extent in the past, but we are striving to take greater advantage of that technology in the coming months. You can already access commercials made by FTBOA and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services on the site and we have featured selected race replays from major stakes races around the country through a link to NTRA’s video replay center. Looking ahead, we have designs on being able to post brief interviews and more online, which will provide us another method of bringing stories in print to life. It is our goal to make sure that all of your interactions with our brand are meaningful. That our articles and profiles, legislative updates, e-mail blasts and videos help you better understand our industry and the people responsible for breeding, owning, training, selling and racing Florida-breds. Print continues to represent an experience for readers not found online while sitting at a computer. We still believe the best way to enjoy our magazines is to actually hold them in your hands. Spend time on each page and relive the races, auctions, stallion shows, whatever it is that connects you to this wonderful industry: the sights, sounds, the heartbreak, the glory. Enjoy the April/May issue. We’ll be back in June with our award-winning Farm and Service Directory. If you haven’t already done so, check out our website at www.ftboa.com, or visit us on Facebook at www.facebook/thefloridahorse. Allow us to help you stay in touch and connected to Florida’s Thoroughbred industry. ■

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Diva Delite Delivers in Grade 3 The $170,000 Florida Oaks (G3) lost much of its star power when She Be Wild was scratched from the race, but even last year’s top juvenile filly likely would have had a hard time dealing with Florida-bred Diva Delite, who rallied from just off the pace to win by two lengths at Tampa Bay Downs on March 13. Diva Delite, a daughter of Repent bred by CloverLeaf Farms II, extended her winning streak to five races. She won a pair of allowances at Calder in December and January before stepping up to stakes company at Tampa Bay Downs, winning the $67,500 Gasparilla Stakes in January and the $70,000 Suncoast Stakes in February.

All three of Diva Delite’s stakes victories have come with Rosemary Homeister Jr. aboard. The jockey had Diva Delite as far back as seventh place early in the 1 1/16-mile Oaks but never far from the lead as Mallory Square carved out fractions of 24.79 seconds for the first quarter of a mile and 50.03 seconds for half a mile. Diva Delite moved into fifth place midway through the race and fanned out four-wide through the final turn to set up her stretch run. She edged away down the lane and finished in 1:46.10 on a fast track as the favorite in a field of nine 3-year-old fillies. Florida-bred C C’s Pal finished second, half a length ahead of Mallory Square, who was third.

“This is such a wonderful filly to ride,” Homeister said. “I knew she was going to be good again today. She was just so perky in the post parade, and then she just waited in the gate without turning a hair. She broke nicely like she always has, and I took a spot behind the lead group. But the pace slowed, and I was afraid of running up on horses, so I took her out and asked her to wait. “She wanted to go after them as we got past the half-mile pole. But when I asked her to go, she just went past everybody in about five strides. All I was worried about in the stretch was that something might come up inside of us, but there was nothing there.”

D’ Funnybone Gets Fourth Grade 2 bred colt proved them right, leading most of the way for his fourth Grade 2 victory. D’ Funnybone, a son of Vinery stallion D’wildcat, improved to 3-for-3 when going seven furlongs, beating Ibboyee by 1¼ lengths. With usual rider Edgar Prado aboard, D’ Funnybone ran just behind Florida-bred HearYe Hear Ye through an opening quarter of a mile in 22.24 seconds, then took the lead and never looked back. D’Funnybone covered a half-mile in 44.50 seconds to gain a half-length advantage over Florida-bred Privilaged and got to the top of COGLIANESE PHOTO

Racing fans strongly suggested that they believe D’ Funnybone is the best 3-year-old sprinter in the country by making him the 1-2 favorite in the $150,000 Swale Stakes at Gulfstream Park on March 20, and the Florida-

10 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2010

Dʼ Funnybone confirms his status as one of the best 3-year-old sprinters in the country.

the lane with a 2 ½-length lead. D’ Funnybone drew clear under a hand ride and was only roused late when Ibboyee rallied determinedly down the stretch to be second. D’ Funnybone stopped the clock in 1:21.98. “It was easy,” Prado said. “He had a little pressure early, but he was just galloping along. The track has been fast all day, so we just wanted to take advantage of that. There was really never any concern out there – maybe a little when a couple of the horses hooked up with him early, but he was always going along at a cruising speed, and at that point, I hadn’t asked him to go yet. To me, the way he is running now is great.” D’ Funnybone, bred by Ocala’s Harold J. Plumley, earned Grade 2 victories going seven furlongs last year in the Saratoga Special and the Belmont Futurity. He then stretched out to 11⁄16 miles and tried a synthetic surface for the first time in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita but finished last of 13.

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Compiled By NICK FORTUNA

TOM COOLEY PHOTO

Florida Oaks

Florida-bred Diva Delite (below) has won five in a row.

Victory D’ Funnybone shook off that defeat, his only finish off the board, to win the seven-furlong Hutcheson Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 20. The colt has won five of his seven starts and earned $458,200 for owner Paul Pompa Jr. Though D’ Funnybone has excelled in sprints, trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. considered running him in the nine-furlong Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream before settling on the Swale. Dutrow said D’ Funnybone likely will make his next start going one mile in the $150,000 Withers Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct on April 24. He said that race could help him determine whether D’ Funnybone can stretch out for longer races. “He ran like I thought he would,” Dutrow said. “It looked like he was pretty much in control all the way. My first choice for him next would be the Withers, a one-turn mile, then see where we are.” ■

marked the 14th time she’s finished in the money for trainer David Vivian and his wife, Barbara, who owns the filly in a partnership with Dominic Vittese. David Vivian said he’ll likely give Diva Delite a rest and skip the Kentucky Oaks (G1). “Right now, I don’t know exactly what I’m going to do, but she’s run some hard races, and I’ve shipped her back and forth with two weeks apart and three weeks apart. She’s done a lot. She looks excellent though, so I’m just going to play it by ear, see how she is in three or four weeks, and we’ll see what she’ll do. She just keeps improving and improving, and she goes long, and there’s not too many 3-year-old fillies that want to go long.” C C’s Pal, a daughter of Alex’s Pal bred by Ocala consignor Beth Bayer, rebounded from a seventh-place finish behind Diva Delite in the Suncoast Stakes to be the runner-up in her graded stakes debut. The filly has won two of her eight starts for $61,986. ■ COGLIANESE PHOTO

Diva Delite has won eight of her 15 career starts and earned $285,067. The Florida Oaks was her graded stakes debut and

Jessica Is Back Wires Ocala Stakes Jessica Is Back showed why racing fans made her a 1-5 favorite in the $75,000 Ocala Stakes at Gulfstream Park on March 13, leading every step of the way to win by nine lengths and earn her second career stakes victory. Jessica Is Back defeated five other Floridabred fillies and mares in the one-mile Ocala, finishing in 1:37.71 with Elvis Trujillo aboard for the first time for trainer Marty Wolfson. The 6-year-old daughter of Bridlewood Farm stallion Put It Back has won 11 of her 41 starts for $506,385. She got her first stakes win in July at Calder in the $75,000 Nancy’s Glitter Handicap. “She just outclassed this group,” Wolfson said. “She’s been amazing, ran 12 times last year, which is a hard campaign, and still going.” Jessica Is Back was bred by Larry Perkins and is owned by Farnsworth Stables LLC. Many Kisses finished 1 ¼ lengths ahead of Glotona in third. Many Kisses is a 4-year-old daughter of Unbridled’s Image bred by Wild Ride LLC, while Glotona is a 5-year-old Tour d’Or mare bred by Shadybrook Farm Inc. in Morriston. Jessica Is Back was allowed to set easy fractions of 25.24 seconds for the first quarter of a mile and 48.48 seconds for a half-mile while leading by half a length early. She got to the top of the lane with a five-length lead and drew off without ever being asked. “There wasn’t really any speed in the race, and that was good for my horse,” Trujillo said. “I put her on the lead, and that was it. She did the rest.” The mare has finished in the money in five straight races, including a second-place finish behind Florida-bred Sweet Repent in the $300,000 Sunshine Millions Distaff at Gulfstream Jessica Is Park in January. She has three Back won wins and a pair of runner-up efwire-to-wire as the favorite forts in six career starts at the at Gulfstream. Ocala’s one-mile distance. Wolfson said Jessica Is Back likely will start in the $200,000 Sixty Sails Handicap (G3), a nine-furlong test for fillies and mares ages 3 and up at Hawthorne on April 17. ■ THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2010 11

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Soldier’s Dancer Likely to be Retired

JIM LISA PHOTO

Soldier’s Dancer, whose thrilling, last-to- ment will be, but they’re going to try. Acfirst running style made him a millionaire and cording to David, he has arthritis all over, a favorite of Florida racing fans, likely has run and he feels that there’s no chance that we his last race, though owner Herman Heinlein can bring him back.” Soldier’s Dancer, bred at Franks Farm, said he has a “glimmer of hope” that the 6year-old, Florida-bred gelding can return to has won 12 of his 33 career starts for $1.52 million. Most of his money came from turf the races later this year. Soldier’s Dancer sustained a fracture in races covering nine furlongs, including the lower part of his right front leg during his victories in the 2009 Sunshine Millions most recent start in the $300,000 Sunshine Turf at Santa Anita, the $150,000 Bonnie Millions Turf at Gulfstream Park in January. Heath Turf Cup Handicap at Calder in NoTrue to form, the son of Lost Soldier ran in vember, the $250,000 PTHA President’s last place early in that race, but unlike so Cup at Philadelphia Park in 2008 and many of his best performances, his late rally 2009, the $85,000 Cherokee River Stables came up short, and he finished fourth behind Turf Classic at Tampa Bay Downs in 2008 Florida-bred Jet Propulsion as the 9-5 fa- and the Calder Derby (G3) and Tropical Park Derby (G3) at Calder in 2007. vorite under usual rider Manoel Cruz. The striking gray Heinlein, a resident of gelding was one of the Plantation in South biggest bargains an Florida, said Soldier’s owner could hope for. Dancer won’t need surHeinlein purchased him gery to repair the injury for $4,200 as a weanand will be re-evaluated in ling at the 2004 Fasigthree months. He said the Tipton Kentucky fall horse also is suffering mixed sale and tried to from arthritis, which will pinhook him. Soldier’s make it difficult for him to Dancer brought a final resume his racing career. Florida-bred Soldierʼs Dancer is headed to the sidelines. bid of only $38,000 at “He is going to be on the 2005 Fasig-Tipton vacation, and they’re going to re-examine him in three months’ Kentucky fall yearling sale, prompting time, and then a final decision will be made,” Heinlein to buy him back. Since then, Soldier’s Dancer has been Heinlein said. The fracture is going to heal on quite good to Heinlein, who said he has the its own. I have a glimmer of hope.” Trainer David Vivian was less hopeful utmost respect for his talented runner. “He’s the gutsiest horse I’ve ever had,” when reached by phone, saying that Soldier’s Dancer had been retired but declining to go Heinlein said. “He always gave it his top effort. When he came around the turn and into specifics about the horse’s injury. “I think the condition that David is con- there was a horse in front, he did everything cerned with more than the fracture is the he could to pass him. He was an honest arthritic condition,” said Heinlein, adding horse, and I’ve never had another like him. that Soldier’s Dancer is resting at his farm in I don’t want to bring him back as a claimer. Paris, Ky. “They’re going to be treating him I only want to bring him back if he can perfor that. I’m not sure how effective the treat- form at a high level.” ■

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Wall Street Wonder Gets Tough in Toboggan Custom for Carlos dug in and briefly regained a slim advantage. Wall Street Wonder then re-rallied in the final half-furlong to win his third consecutive race for owner Stetson Stables and trainer John Terranova. “He’s the kind of horse who will keep his head in front,” Hill said of Wall Street Wonder. “Today, he got a real class test with Custom for Carlos, and he passed.” Wall Street Wonder was bred by Reddick’s Richard E. Wilson. Wall Street Wonder, a $325,000 purchase at Barretts as a juvenile in March 2008, improved to 3-for-3 on Aqueduct’s inner dirt track, with each of those races covering six furlongs. He began his winning streak with a two-length score in a $45,000 allowance Florida-bred Wall Street Wonder gets his first graded in December and earned stakes victory. his first stakes victory in battled with Custom for Carlos every step January in the $65,000 Paumonok Stakes. of the way in the six-furlong test, finishing Wall Street Wonder earned a career-best 109 Beyer Speed Figure in the Paumonok. in 1:09.88. “He’d been training super,” said assistant Breaking sharply from the No. 4 post under jockey Channing Hill, Wall Street trainer Tonja Terranova. “He showed no ill Wonder battled for the early lead with Cus- effects from running so fast last time. Once tom for Carlos, who started from the rail he breezed last week and went tremenunder Julien Leparoux. Custom for Carlos dously, we knew that we’d run him. He has had his head in front of Wall Street Wonder a tendency sometimes to wait on horses. I for most of the early going, carving out frac- know in the last one he drew clear. Custom tions of 22.76 seconds for a quarter of a for Carlos is a very nice horse, and he’s been battle-tested. This was a very big efmile and 45.78 seconds for a half-mile. The two runners raced side-by-side fort on our horse’s part, and we’re really around the turn to set up a hard-fought proud of him.” Wall Street Wonder has won four of stretch duel. Wall Street Wonder put his head in front at the top of the lane before his 13 starts for $216,341. ■ COGLIANESE PHOTO

Wall Street Wonder had to work hard for his money in the $98,000 Toboggan Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct on March 6, but in the end, the Florida-bred colt emerged with his first graded stakes victory, besting a game Custom for Carlos by a neck. Wall Street Wonder, a son of Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds stallion City Place,

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Stallion Halo’s Image Deceased at Age 19

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SERITA HULT PHOTO

“My personal memories of the joy this horse brought the Appleton family and Happy Alter throughout the years makes this a touch Haloʼs Image was Floridaʼs leading sire in 2004 and 2006 overwhelming and especially bittersweet at the moment. I feel like ningest Valid Appeal mare, and we chose to I just lost a dear, old friend.” breed her to Halo. All my expectations became Alter added, “The combination of his rac- true when Halo’s Image hit the racetrack.” ing career and his breeding career put him into Halo’s Image stood this season for a fee a select group of Florida horses. I trained his of $4,000. His half-brother, Unbridled’s mother, Sugar’s Image, who was the win- Image, stands at Bridlewood. ■

With Distinction Gets First Winner It’s pretty difficult to find a track with races for 2-year-olds at this time of year, but that didn’t stop freshman stallion With Distinction from getting his first winner. The stallion, who stands at Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds in Ocala, got his first winner at Hipodromo de las Americas in Mexico on March 5 when Florida-bred The Henry’s Cat captured a 2 ½-furlong maiden-claiming race. The filly covered the distance in 28 1/5 seconds and won by 1 ½ lengths. The Henry’s Cat, bred by Reata Thoroughbred Racing, owned by Cuadra Phoenix and trained by Enrique G. Perez, was purchased at the Fasig-Tipton fall sale of yearlings in Lexington, Ky., last October. She’s out of the Halo’s Image mare Wholelotofimage. Dean De Renzo of Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds said he has high expectations for With Distinction. The sire had four horses sell for an average of $112,500 at this month’s OBS sale of selected 2-year-olds in training and had one additional horse sell in February’s OBS select sale. The sire by Storm Cat stands for a $7,500 stud fee. “He’s had one starter and one winWith Distinction gets his first winner ner, so it’s a pretty good start,” De with The Henryʼs Cat. Renzo said. “We all have high hopes for him, and they’ve sold really well in the sales, so we’re excited to see how they run.” With Distinction won six of his 29 starts from ages 2 to 5 and earned $447,717. His biggest victory came in the 2006 El Conejo Handicap (G3) at Santa Anita Park. ■ SERITA HULT PHOTO

Halo’s Image, Florida’s leading sire in 2004 and 2006, died of an apparent heart attack while covering a mare last month at Bridlewood Farm in Ocala. He was 19. Halo’s Image was one of the most prolific sons of Halo at stud. Bred by the late Arthur Appleton at Bridlewood, the bay horse was owned and campaigned by his breeder and trainer Happy Alter. As a racehorse, Halo’s Image was a six-time stakes winner and finished his career as a 5-yearold in 1996 with nine wins from 26 starts and $549,891 in earnings. As a 3-year-old, Halo’s Image captured the Tropical Park Handicap (G3), the Calder Derby and the Manatee Handicap at Calder Race Course as well as the Spectacular Bid Breeders’ Cup Stakes at Gulfstream. He won the Thanksgiving Day Handicap at Calder the following year and the Broward Handicap (G3) at Gulfstream at age 5. Halo’s Image perennially was among the leading sires in Florida. From 11 crops to race, he sired 16 black-type winners – including three graded stakes winners – and his progeny have earned more than $20 million. His leading earner was Grade 1 winner Southern Image, also an Appleton homebred and a Florida champion with earnings of more than $1.8 million. Halo’s Image also sired Sir Oscar, who swept the Florida Stallion Stakes in 2003 and was a five-time stakes winner at age 2. “Halo’s Image was a lynchpin of our operation and a farm favorite,” George G. Isaacs, Bridlewood’s general manager, said in a statement. “He embodied everything we strive to accomplish here at Bridlewood: excellence on the racetrack, excellence at stud and excellence in the relationships we established through him.

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POSITIVE R While giving the industry a shot in the arm, the OBS two-day sale sale sees spikes in average, median prices. By NICK FORTUNA

Twenty-eight horses drew a final bid of into the sale would be how the sale unfolded.As fter two strong days at the OBS $200,000 or more, equaling the total from last the day progressed, I thought it remained strong. “We’ve been struggling and waiting for March sale of selected 2-year-olds March’s sale. “The sale was very good, and I thought it something good to happen, and those two in training, local horsemen were was solid all the way through,” said days were something that this industry needed echoing the words of author Mark Tom Ventura, OBS’s general man- – a boost. The horses were being sold not only Twain, saying that rumors of the ager and director of sales. “Through at the upper end, and that’s something that we Thoroughbred industry’s demise the first 25 horses that went were concerned with. You saw trainers from had been greatly exaggerated. through, there were only two that coast to coast here, and there was representaThe sale saw double-digit gains were bought back, and there was a tion from all over the country.” in the average and median prices horse right off the bat that brought a Ventura said the positive numbers have him as well as a big dip in the buyback quarter of a million dollars, so that optimistic heading into the OBS spring sale of rate, leaving horsemen hopeful that gave us hope that how we felt going 2-year-olds in training, set for April 19-22. better times are ahead for the industry after it weathered the worst of the worldwide economic crisis. “You saw trainers from coast to coast here, and there was representation from all over the country.” —Tom Ventura “I felt the sale had more sparkle and more pizzazz than any sale we’ve been to in two years,” said consignor Nick de Meric. “It was an absolute delight to see people scrapping to buy some of the nice horses being offered. It had more buoyancy and more snap to it than any sale in recent memory. I hope that the buyers took home some nice horses from the sale, and I believe they did. It was a thoroughly positive experience.” A total of 171 horses were sold for $18.34 million at the sale’s two sessions March 16 and 17, an 8.2 percent decline from last year’s March sale, where 206 head brought $19.97 million. However, this year’s average was $107,257, an increase of 10.6 percent from last year’s average of $96,947. And this year’s median rose 16.8 percent to $80,000 from $68,500 in 2009. The buyback rate at this year’s sale was 27.8 percent, a decrease from Hip No. 190 topped the sale at $525,000. 42.5 percent in 2009. LOUISE REINAGEL PHOTO

ELEANOR HANCOCK PHOTO

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RESULTS LOUISE REINAGEL PHOTO

NICK FORTUNA PHOTO

“We’re going into April, and that’s a sale 93, a Smart Strike colt “There was a lot of positive energy, and where there’s a horse for every budget, and consigned by Niall hopefully this upswing in the market will we hope we can have another sale like this Brennan Stables and continue through the April sale and on sold to Donato Lanni one,” he said. through the year.” —Barry Eisaman De Meric was the second-leading consignor as agent for $400,000. The other top sellers consigned by Leprechaun Racing and sold at the auction, selling 17 head for $1.49 million. included hip No. 323, a to Patrice Miller of EQB Inc. for $375,000; Eisaman Equine led its Giant’s Causeway colt hip No. 221, a Malibu Moon filly consigned peers with $2.54 million consigned by All in by Old South Farm and sold for $370,000 to in sales from 15 head, Sales and sold for $425,000 to Hidden Brook Mark Casse; hip No. 259, a Badge of Silver while Tony Bowling’s as agent for Paul Pompa Jr.; hip No. 310, a filly consigned by Eisaman Equine and sold All in Sales ranked third Florida-bred Indian Charlie colt consigned for $325,000 to LRK Inc.; and hip No. 291, with $1.23 million in by Eisaman Equine and purchased for Florida-bred Noble Exchange, and Exchange sales from eight head. $400,000 by Robert Sahn and Stanley Rate colt consigned by Eisaman Equine and The other top conHough; hip No. 282, a Badge of Silver Filly sold for $325,000 to Brian Koriner. ■ signors included Eddie Woods, with nine head for $934,000; “It was an absolute delight to see people scrapping to buy some of the nice horses being offered. Niall Brennan Stables, It had more buoyancy and more snap to it than any sale in recent memory.”—Nick DeMeric seven for $920,000; McKathan Bros., six for $880,000; Harris Training Center, seven for $830,000; Leprechaun Racing, seven for $820,000; Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds, five for $790,000; and Jerry Bailey Sales Agency, two for $735,000. “I thought it was a very good horse sale,” Barry Eisaman said. “There was a lot of positive energy, and hopefully this upswing in the market will continue through theApril sale and on through the year. People who were there to buy, if they saw a horse that they liked, they bought that horse. The people got good buys, there was profit in the horses, and the sale was something that the industry really needed.” The sale was led by hip No. 190, a More Than Ready filly that sold Wednesday for $525,000 to Steven W. Young as agent. The filly was consigned by Jerry Bailey Sales Hip No. 93 brought $400,000. Agency. Tuesday’s session was led by hip No. THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2010 21

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Craig and Cathy Beam

COGLIANESE PHOTO

enjoying success of Florida-bred champion Amen Hallelujah.

High

Praise

By JO ANN GUIDRY ven before graded stakes winner Amen Hallelujah, Craig and Cathy Beam had plenty of reason to sing the praises of Florida-breds. The Beams, who breed and race as Thorobeam Farm, have enjoyed long-term success with Florida-bred runners. Since entering the Thoroughbred business in 1992, they have raced such outstanding Florida-breds as stakes winners Sara’s Success, Baronage, All the Honor and

E Amen Hallelujah (above) winning the Davona Dale Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

22 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2010

homebred Thunder Louie. They also raced graded stakes-placed Jigadee and stakes-placed Favre, both Florida-breds. But Amen Hallelujah, bred by Thorobeam Farm and foaled at Ocala Stud, is definitely one of their standout success stories. Named the 2009 Florida-bred champion 2-year-old filly, Amen Hallelujah has encored that with a pair of Grade 2 victories to date in 2010. While the Beams sold Amen Hallelujah as a yearling, they raced and still own her dam Sara’s Success. “We had some horses in training with Eddie Plesa at Calder,” recalled Beam, who grew up showing Quarter Horses. “He told us about a 3-year-old filly he was training that he really like and that she was for sale.We ended up buying her privately and that was how we got Sara’s Success.” By Concorde’s Tune out of Saratogianna, by Saratoga Six, Sara’s Success turned into a lucrative purchase that’s still paying dividends. Racing for Thorobeam Farm, Sara’s Success went on to win four stakes, including the Calder Oaks, Convenience Stakes, Iowa Stakes and Aspidistra Handicap. She was also stakes-placed five times and earned a career bankroll of $422,337. “Sara was so good to us,” said Beam. “And when we

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this season, she has already earned $220,000 to bring her career bankroll to $352,370. HALLELUJAH “Of course, we want to see Amen Hallelujah go on to do well,” said Beam, adding, “Especially since we still have Sara’s Success.” The Beams, who have had as many as 10 broodmares, currently have seven mares. While they do board mares at Ocala Stud and Oak Vale Farm in Ocala, Sara’s Success is currently boarded at Fair Winds Farm, near Waynesville, Ohio. Barren the last two years, Sara’s Success was at this writing expecting a 2010 Offlee Wild foal. “We raise corn and soybeans on our farm,” said Beam of the 200-acre Ohio property. “We do keep some of our retired horses and barren mares on our farm, but we prefer to board our in-foal mares. It’s just good business.” The Beams, who sold a stone quarry and gravel business in 1999 to concentrate on their Thoroughbred enterprise, breed primarily to sell in the yearling market. But they do like to maintain a small racing stable as well. They send their young horses to Ocala-based Barry and Shari Eiasman for breaking and training while Calder-based Plesa is their longtime racetrack trainer. One of the two horses the Beams have in training with Plesa is stakes winner Mr. Silver. They bought the now 7year-old horse for $120,000 at the 2005 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s February juvenile sale from consignor and co-breeder Ocala Stud. By ConWe’ve always had good luck with Florida-breds. One of the first successful race- corde’s Tune out of Clever Lou, by horses we had was Jigadee, a Florida-bred we bought from Pug and Suzie Hart in Tri Jet, Mr. Silver has proven to be 1996. And we’ve been buying and breeding Florida-breds ever since. —Craig Beam a hard-knocking turf runner. To date, he has made 47 starts, won two stakes, been stakes-placed nine times and earned $396,004. was named the 2009 FloridaMr. Silver won the 2005 Arthur I. Appleton Juvenile Turf bred champion 2-year-old filly to Stakes at Calder and the 2006 Dayton Andrews Dodge cap off her season. Sophomore Turf Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. He races for “It was very exciting to the partnership of Thorobeam Farm and Henry Mast. Amen Hallelujah go on to have “Mr. Silver is just one of those horses who loves to run,” such a good season,” said said Beam, who recently bought a second home in Punta Beam, who with wife Cathy atCraig and Gorda, Florida. “And we love watching him run.” tended the Florida ThoroughCathy Beam The same could be said for all Thorobeam Farm’s suc(above) and bred Breeders’ and Owners’ Amen Hallelujah. Awards Dinner in mid-March cessful Florida-breds. “We’ve always had good luck with Florida-breds,” said to pick the breeder’s trophy for the honor. “We haven’t yet been able to watch Amen Hallelujah race in person yet, only Craig Beam, whose Sabina, Ohio farm is two miles from where he grew up on a livestock and grain farm. “One of the on TV, but we hope to soon.” Considering how the Florida-bred champion has performed first successful racehorses we had was Jigadee, a Floridaso far in 2010, the Beams should get plenty of opportunities to bred we bought from Pug and Suzie Hart in 1996. And we’ve see her race. Amen Hallelujah opened the season with a nearly been buying and breeding Florida-breds ever since.” The Beams paid $45,000 for Jigadee at the 1996 two-length victory in the Santa Ynez Stakes (G2) on January 16 at Santa Anita Park. Next at Gulfstream Park on February Keeneland September yearling sale. Bred by Hart Farm, the 27, she was much the best by six and a quarter lengths in the son of Prospectors Gamble went on to become a graded Davona Dale Stakes (G2). On March 20, she finished second stakes-placed earner of $193,226. In 1997, he was third in to Devil May Care in the Bonnie Miss Stakes (G2). To date both the Sanford Stakes (G3) and Sapling Stakes (G3). ■ decided to retire her, she matched up well with Montbrook at Ocala Stud. That’s where her sire, Concorde’s Tune, was also standing so that was kind of interesting.” Sara’s Success’2005 Montbrook filly was unfortunately born without a left eye. She was appropriately named Eye’ll Be Fine. The filly was broken and trained but never raced because of soft tissue issues. Now part of Thorobeam Farm’s broodmare band, Eye’ll Be Fine is in foal this year to Sharp Humor. Barren in 2006, Sara’s Success produced a 2007 Montbrook filly. The Beams, through Hidden Brook, agent, consigned the filly to the 2008 Keeneland September yearling sale. There she was bought for $40,000 by Cecil Seaman, agent. Named Amen Hallelujah, the juvenile filly made her first four starts for Stan Whisenant’s Whizway Farm and broke her maiden in her third career outing. After she won her next start by five lengths, IEAH Stables acquired an interest in the promising runner. Amen Hallelujah rewarded her new partnership owners with consecutive thirds in Grade I events. She finished third to Negligee in the Alcibiades Stakes (G1) at Keeneland and to Blind Luck in the Hollywood Starlet Stakes (G1).Trained by Richard Dutrow Jr.,Amen Hallelujah wrapped up her juvenile season with two wins, one second and two thirds for earnings of $132,370. She ELEANOR HANCOCK PHOTO

AMEN

“

LOUIE DULA PHOTO

”

24 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2010

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of the Best Best

The 50th annual FTBOA Awards Dinner took place last month at the Hilton Ocala. 1

4 By MICHAEL COMPTON Florida’s stars of 2009—both equine and human— were honored last month during a ceremony at the Hilton Ocala. Nearly 300 people turned out for the festive evening, which was emceed by Ryan Mahan. Presious Passion was recognized as Floridabred Horse of the Year, and his breeders, Joe and Helen Barbazon, and owner, Patricia Generazio, also earned year-end accolades. In addition to his Horse of the Year award, Presious Passion also collected the champion older male and champion turf horse crowns. Ocala Stud-based Montbrook won his second straight Florida Stallion of the Year award. Journeyman Stud’s Wildcat Heir claimed both the Florida Juvenile and Freshman Sire titles. The Joe O’Farrell Memorial Award as the original consignor of Macho Again went to Beth Bayer, while Milan Kosanovich, Macho Again’s breeder, received the Needles Award for outstanding small Florida Thoroughbred operation. The 2009 Leading Florida Trainer of Florida-breds by earnings ($1,806,093) and stakes wins (6) was Martin Wolfson. Stanley Gold tied with Wolfson on number of stakes wins. The Leading Florida Trainer of Florida-breds by wins was Kathleen O’Connell (75). Generazio was the Leading Florida Owner by Florida-bred earnings ($2,112,685) and stakes wins. Princesa’s Passion, the dam of Presious Passion, was honored as the 2009 Florida Broodmare of the Year. Florida’s other divisional champions, as determined by FTBOA’s Chase to the Championship, were: Amen Hallelujah (2-year-old filly); Bridgetown (2-year-old colt); Hooh Why (3-year-old filly); Vineyard Haven (3-year-old colt); and Dubai Majesty (older female). ELEANOR HANCOCK PHOTOS

28 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2010

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7 8

1) Joe Barbazon (Presious Passion) 2) Joe and Helen Barbazon, Patricia Generazio, Mary Hartmann and Dean De Renzo (Presious Passion) 3) Mark and Kenneth Hoffman, Gail Gee and Phil Matthews (Hooh Why) 4) Joe Ambrosia, Ken McPeek and Phil Hronec (Bridgetown) 5) Diane Parks and J. Michael O’ Farrell Jr. (Montbrook) 6) Ryan Mahan 7) Dan and Debora Morgan, Harold Plumley and Dean De Renzo (Dubai Majesty) 8) Richard Hancock 9) Craig and Cathy Beam and J. Michael O’Farrell Jr. (Amen Hallelujah) 10) Lynne Scace, Jimmy Bell and George Isaacs (Vineyard Haven) 11) Beth Bayer and J. Michael O’ Farrell Jr. (Macho Again) 12) Diane Parks and Brent Fernung (Wildcat Heir)

11 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2010 29

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Campbell, Plumley Sprint Ahead By JO ANN GUIDRY

start and then followed that with a second has career earnings of $493,360. American Classic didn’t make his first in the 2009 Frank Gomez Memorial quarter into the new year, Gilbert Campbell and Harold Plumley start until he was five, earning $88,420 and Stakes. Pompa purchased D’Funnybone are tied for leading Florida finishing second in the 2009 Klaq Handi- privately shortly after that stakes-placed breeder by number of Florida-bred stakes cap. The now 6-year-old gelding notched finish. For Pompa, D’Funnybone won the winners with three each. And each respec- his first stakes win this season when he Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) and Futurity tive breeder’s stakes-winning trio is headed won the Budweiser Stakes on February 6 at Stakes (G2) in 2009. He has career earnSunland Park. By Distorted Humor out of ings to date of $458,200. by a Florida-bred graded stakes winner. Storming Saint has gone from selling Campbell is represented by Florida-bred the Deputy Minister mare Barnie Fife, for $1,000 as a yearling to begraded stakes winner Fly by Phil and stakes American Classic followed coming a stakes winner. At the winners This Ones for Phil and American that with a second to Quiet 2008 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Again in the Bill Thomas MeClassic. Company’s August yearling Fly by Phil, a homebred runner for morial Stakes on March 13 at sale, Storming Saint was conCampbell, won theTropical Park Derby (G3) Sunland Park. Owned by signed by Kaizen Sales, agent, on January 1 at Calder Race Course. By Brian Mundell and trained by and sold for $1,000 to Robert Act of Duty out of the Deputy Minister Jon G. Arnett, American ClasBryan and Larry McKibben. mare True Mood, the 3-year-old gelding sic has thus far banked That duo then consigned the won the nine-furlong turf test by a head $48,920 this season. colt through Hendry Traing StaPlumley’s stakes-winning over Lost Aptitude in 1:52.89. Trained by Gilbert and bles, agent, to the 2009 OBS Kathleen O’Connell, Fly by Phil has earned trio includes Florida-bred Marilyn Campbell April juvenile sale, where he $58,280 this season and has a career graded stakes winner D’Funnybone and stakes winners was bought for $12,000 by Data Track Intl. bankroll to date of $101,100. Racing for Lathrop G. Hoffman, StormStorming Saint and The Nutz. This Ones for Phil, a graded Multiple graded stakes win- ing Saint was stakes-placed in 2009 with a stakes winner in 2009, captured ner D’Funnybone has ab- second in the Smarty Jones Stakes and a the Sunshine Millions Sprint solutely given his connections third in the Riley Allison Futurity. On FebStakes on January 30 at Gulfplenty to smile about. After a ruary 27 of this year, Storming Saint was stream Park. He prevailed by a standout juvenile season, awarded the victory in the Borderland nose over Pashito the Che, covD’Funnybone has returned as Derby at Sunland Park following the disering the six furlongs in 1:08.81. a sophomore in fine form. On qualification of Raise the Bridle. The latter A 4-year-old gelding by UntutFebruary 20 at Gulfstream drifted in front of Storming Saint in the table out of Heaven’s Gate, by Harold Plumley Park, he won the Hutcheson stretch and impeded his progress. InterestSeptieme Ciel, This Ones for Phil races for the partnership of Paul Pompa Stakes (G2) by a length over A Little Warm ingly enough, both Storming Saint and Jr., Jack Manadato and Michael Dubb. in 1:22.14 for the seven furlongs. A month Raise the Bridle are trained by Henry Trained by Richard Dutrow, This Ones for later, D’Funnybone was again much the Dominguez. Storming Saint has seasonal best in capturing the Swale Stakes (G2) at earnings to date of $60,000 and a career Phil has to date earned $110,000 in 2010. Raced by Campbell and trained by Gulfstream Park. He won by a length and a total of $91,770. The Nutz, a 6-year-old Chester House O’Connell as a juvenile, This Ones for quarter over Ibboyee, covering the seven Phil won the Seacliff Stakes and was furlongs in 1:21.98. Raced by Paul Pompa gelding out of the Seattle Slew mare Noble stakes-placed twice. His current owners Jr., D’Funnybone has earned $180,000 to Stork, has won at least one stakes race the last three seasons. On March 20, he scored bought the gelding privately at the end of date this season. By D’wildcat out of the Woodman mare his second consecutive win in the Budhis juvenile season. This Ones for Phil quickly rewarded the trio with wins in the Elbow, D’Funnybone made his first two ca- weiser-Tondi Stakes at Fonner Park. 2009 Swale Stakes (G3) and Sunshine reer starts for Plumley, his son Mike, and Owned and trained by Steve Hall, The Nutz Millions Dash Stakes. He also posted a Joseph Calascibetta He broke his maiden has earned $15,000 to date this year with a third in the 2009 Withers Stakes (G3) and by seven and a quarter lengths in his first career bankroll of $127,175. ■ LOUISE REINAGEL PHOTO

30 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2010

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Triple Crown Nominees Horse

Sire/Farm

Breeder

Yes It’s True

Brylynn Farm

Dogwood Stable

Indian Ocean (Bridlewood Farm)

Arthur Appleton

J. Robert Harris Jr.

Apriority

Grand Slam

Donald Dizney

Backtalk

Smarty Jones

Clover Leaf Farms II

Gold Mark Farm

Tapit

Milan Kosanovich

West Point Thoroughbreds

Skip to the Stone

Blommaerts & Calderazzo Susie Blommaerts

Aikenite Allez Reef

Boulder Creek Candeo Canthavehim

Graeme Hall Sienna Farms (Winding Oaks Farm) Eagle Oak Ranch

Venneri Racing &

Cool Bullet

Red Bullet

Adena Springs

Robert & Lawana Low & Winnmore LLC

D’Funnybone

D’wildcat (Vinery)

Harold J. Plumley

Paul Pompa Jr.

Rock Hard Ten

Arthur Appleton

WinStar Farm

First Dude

Stephen Got Even

Donald Dizney

Fly by Phil

Act of Duty (Bridlewood Farm)

Gilbert Campbell

Greatness

Seltzer & Durst

Houyhnhnm Stable

Hear No Evil (Journeyman Stud)

Jacks or Better Farm

Doubles Partner

Great Attack Hear Ye Hear Ye Hurricane Ike

Graeme Hall Stanley Boileau (Winding Oaks Farm)

Ike & Dawn Thrash

COADY PHOTO PHOTO

Clover Leaf Farms II bred Backtalk, a son of Smarty Jones.

Owner

32 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2010

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Bred in Florida JIM LISA PHOTO

Jacks or Better Farm bred Jackson Bend, a son of Journeyman Stud stallion Hear No Evil.

Horse Sire/Farm Jackson Bend

Breeder

Owner

Hear No Evil Jacks or Better Farm (Journeyman Stud)

Robert LaPenta & Jacks or Better Farm

Lion Heart

Sabine Stable

Ike & Dawn Thrash

Closing Argument

Donna Wormser

Klaravich Stable and Law

Dehere

Marilyn McMaster

Stinger Stable

Lido Palace (CHI)

John & Jerry Amerman Amerman Racing

No Shenanigans

Value Plus

Moreau Bloodstock & Winter Racing

Pleasant Prince

Indy King

Adena Springs

Ken & Sarah Ramsey

Repent

Clover Leaf Farms II

Kisber Dark Horse Stables

Southern Image

Luis de Hechavarria

C R K Stable

Include

Lloyd & Lisa Carnes

Flying Zee and Kona Stables

Concorde’s Tune (Ocala Stud)

Richard Averill

Averill Racing

Macho Uno

Adena Springs

JacMac Stable & Cedar Lakes

Litigation Risk Mac Dehere Nextdoorneighbor

Positive Split Privilaged Pulsion R Slick Fifty Ricky Tick Ron the Greek

Lets Go Stable

Full Mandate Jack T. Hammer (Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds)

Jack T. Hammer

Tiny Woods

Roman Ruler

Destiny Oaks

Thoroughbred Legends Stable

Trappe Shot

Tapit

Hobeau Farm

Mill House

Viva Macho

Macho Uno

Roberts, Byrne & Hall

M K Cho Stables

Who’s Up Won Fast Bullet

Graeme Hall Andrew Cant (Winding Oaks Farm)

M Racing

Red Bullet

Kuehne Racing

Adena Springs

HODGES PHOTO

Line of David

Ron The Greek is a homebred for Jack T. Hammer.

THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2010 33

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Could it be that Awesome Act isn’t the best 3-year-old being ridden by Eclipse Award-winning jockey Julien Leparoux?

Pleasant Prince Headed to Kentucky Derby After Big Effort By NICK FORTUNA

Pleasant Prince, a son of Indy King, was bred by Adena lorida-bred Pleasant Prince made his case to be Julien Springs South in Williston and purchased by the Ramseys for Leparoux’s top Triple Crown prospect by turning in a $30,000 as a yearling at OBS in August 2008. He finished fourth monster effort March 20 in the Florida Derby (G1) at and third in a pair of sprints to begin his career, then broke his Gulfstream Park, where he lost by a nose to Ice Box after briefly maiden going a mile in a $39,000 maiden special weight race at holding a lead. Though Pleasant Prince has only one win in Churchill Downs in November. Pleasant Prince has been running against top Kentucky Derby seven career starts, trainer Wesley Ward believes the colt is maturing at just the right time and has a legitimate shot to win the prospects at Gulfstream Park ever since. In his 3-year-old debut, he finished fifth behind Eskendereya in a $37,000 allowance, Kentucky Derby (G1). “I think he’s going to have a great chance,” Ward said. “I think then lost to Ice Box by half a length in another allowance at that level. Pleasant Prince then he’s bred to go the distance, made his stakes debut in the and every month that goes Fountain of Youth (G2) on by, he’s developing and maFeb. 20 and finished a credturing rapidly, and that’s itable fourth behind runshowing in each of his starts. away winner Eskendereya, He’s getting faster, and hopewho’s being pointed toward fully things continue to go the Wood. right these next few weeks.” Pleasant Prince ran in Leparoux is scheduled to ninth place early in the ride Awesome Act in the nine-furlong Florida Derby, Grade 1 Wood Memorial at then made a four-wide Aqueduct on April 3 after move around the final turn steering the son of Aweand quickly gained on pacesome Again to victory in the setter Rule. Pleasant Prince Grade 3 Gotham Stakes earbriefly gained a lead at the lier this month at the New Florida-bred Pleasant Prince appears Kentucky Derby bound. sixteenth pole, but Ice Box York track. Ward said he expects that Leparoux will ride Awesome Act in the Kentucky rallied outside of him and got up just in time. “We had a good trip, and he fought really hard down to the wire,” Derby at Churchill Downs on May 1, so he and Pleasant Prince’s Leparoux said. “He ran well last time too, and he’s getting better.” owners, Ken and Sarah Ramsey, are weighing their options. The $150,000 check for second place quadrupled Pleasant Ward said he’s been in contact with the agent for jockey Joel Rosario about a possible Kentucky Derby mount, and Elvis Tru- Prince’s earnings to $197,620 and likely earned him a spot in jillo, who has ridden Pleasant Prince twice, also is being con- the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby. Entries are awarded to horses based on their graded stakes earnings. sidered. “We were happy he ran so well but disappointed he didn’t “We’ll be looking at some options,” Ward said. “We’ll sit down come out on the right end of the photo,” Ward said. “He’s a very in a couple of weeks, see where we’re at and make a decision.” Ward said Pleasant Prince will be flown to Keeneland on easy horse to train and does everything right. He’s been a joy to train from the day we bought him.” ■ Wednesday and trained up to the Kentucky Derby. PALMER PHOTO

34 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2010

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Kentucky Derby Updated through March 20, 2010

Big Brown at Churchill Downs

Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 t-15 t-15 17 18 t-19 t-19 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 t-28 t-28 29 30 31 32 33 t-34 t-34 36 t-37 t-37 39 40 41 42 43 44 t-45 t-45 t-45 t-45 49 50 51 52 53 54 55

EQUISPORT PHOTO

Graded Earnings List Horse Trainer Owner Graded $ Lookin At Lucky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bob Baffert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Watson, Pegram & Weitman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,390,000 Vale of York (IRE) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Saeed bin Suroor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Godolphin Racing, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,114,784 Blind Luck (f) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jerry Hollendorfer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DeDomenico, Carver & Hollendorfer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$861,150 Noble’s Promise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ken McPeek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chasing Dreams Racing 2008, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$708,000 Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Todd Pletcher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .WinStar Farm, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$645,000 Ice Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Nick Zito . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Robert LaPenta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$457,500 D’ Funnybone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rick Dutrow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Paul Pompa Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$420,000 Devil May Care (f) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Todd Pletcher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Glencrest Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$364,000 Discreetly Mine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Todd Pletcher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E. Paul Robsham Stables, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$310,000 Dublin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D. Wayne Lukas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Baker, Mack & Lukas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$273,208 Interactif . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Todd Pletcher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wertheimer and Frere . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$270,450 Homeboykris (g) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rick Dutrow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lazzinnaro, Belger, Mandato, et al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$250,500 Aikenite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Todd Pletcher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dogwood Stable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$218,000 Make Music for Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alexis Barba . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ellen and Peter Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$215,000 Awesome Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jeremy Noseda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mrs. Susan Roy & Vinery Stables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$210,000 Conveyance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bob Baffert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Zabeel Racing International . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$210,000 Radiohead (GB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rick Dutrow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IEAH Stables, et al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$196,332 Uh Oh Bango . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kory Owens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Triple AAA Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$187,952 Odysseus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tom Albertrani . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Padua Stable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$180,000 Sidney’s Candy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .John Sadler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sid and Jenny Craig Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$180,000 Backtalk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tom Amoss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gold Mark Farm, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$172,566 Super Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Todd Pletcher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .WinStar Farm, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$163,832 Pleasant Prince . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wesley Ward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ken & Sarah Ramsey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$162,500 Eskendereya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Todd Pletcher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Zayat Stables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$150,000 Caracortado (g) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mike Machowsky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Blahut Racing, LLC & Lo Hi Racing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$108,000 Paddy O’Prado . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dale Romans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Donegal Racing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$100,950 Schoolyard Dreams . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Derek Ryan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Eric Fein & Anthony Mitola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$100,000 Alphie’s Bet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alexis Barba . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Teresa McWilliams & Peter Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$90,000 Connemara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Todd Pletcher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mrs. J. Magnier, M. Tabor & D. Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$90,000 American Lion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Eoin Harty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .WinStar Farm, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$87,000 Jackson Bend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Nick Zito . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Robert LaPenta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$80,000 Pulsion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Patrick Biancone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Flying Zee & Kona Stables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$80,000 The Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bob Baffert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Thoroughbred Legends Racing, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$68,000 Ron the Greek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tom Amoss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jack T. Hammer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$63,000 Tempted to Tapit (g) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Steve Klesaris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gainesway Stable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$60,000 Who’s Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jorge Periban . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .M Racing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$60,000 Cardiff Giant (g) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jorge Periban . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .M Racing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$54,000 Frozen Power (Ire) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Saeed bin Suroor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Godolphin Racing, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$50,000 *Yawanna Twist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rick Dutrow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Steel Your Face Stables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$50,000 Ibboyee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Todd Pletcher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Anstu Stables, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$45,000 Peppi Knows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tim Kreiser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Philip J. Messina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$41,000 Lentenor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Michael Matz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lael Stables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$37,500 Dean’s Kitten . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mike Maker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ken & Sarah Ramsey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$35,475 Classical Slew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Doug O’Neill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Joseph Lacombe Stable Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$33,000 Nacho Friend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kelly Breen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .George and Lori Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$32,500 A Little Warm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Anthony Dutrow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Edward P. Evans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$30,000 Dave in Dixie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .John Sadler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ike and Dawn Thrash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$30,000 Northern Giant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D. Wayne Lukas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Westrock Stables, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$30,000 Setsuko . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Richard Mandella . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wertheimer and Frere . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$30,000 Uptowncharlybrown . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alan Seewald . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fantasy Lane Stable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$29,000 Codoy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mark Hubley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bred to Win Partners LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$25,000 Mission Impazible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Todd Pletcher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Twin Creek Racing Stables, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$23,434 Gleam of Hope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tony Reinstedler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mr. & Mrs. A. C. Asbury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$22,650 First Dude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dale Romans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Donald R. Dizney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$22,500 Letsgetitonmon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Steve Asmussen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cathy & Bob Zollars & Mark Wagner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$13,000 Drosselmeyer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bill Mott . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .WinStar Farm, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$12,000

36 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2010

Bold text denotes Florida-bred

LOUISE REINAGEL PHOTO / INSET: NYRA PHOTO

History is the best guide to future success

SARAVA

Wild A gain—Rhythm of Life, by Deputy Minister

Florida’s only Belmont Stakes winner! An earner of $773,832 during his racing career, Sarava defeated leading sire Medaglia d’Oro in the 2002 Belmont Stakes (G1). Sarava is by Wild Again, sire of such champions as Wilderness Song, and Free at Last, and millionaires Milwaukee Brew, Wild Rush, Shine Again and Elmhurst ♦ 899 S.W. 85th Ave., Ocala, FL 34481 ♦ (352) 237-3834 ♦ Fax: (352)237-6069 ♦ www.doublediamondfarm.com

NOMINATED TO Florida Stallion Stakes

A l s o s t a n d i n g : A M E R I C A N S P I R I T ♦ ♦ R E Y D E C A F E ♦ ♦ W E K I VA S P R I N G S

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Calder Announces Stakes Schedule alder Casino & Race Course announced its stakes sched- chairman. “We look forward to continuing to strengthen our inules last month for both the 2010 Calder Meet and 2010 dustry through these enhancements.” The 2010 Calder Meet stakes schedule features five special racTropical Meet, the track’s back-to-back racing seasons that start onApril 25. The Calder Meet offers 33 stakes worth $4,145,000 ing event days that showcase various divisions. The Summit of and the Tropical Meet will feature 17 stakes totaling $1,915,000 for Speed, to be held on July 10, is a nationally-recognized event that presents seven sprint stakes, including four a combined stakes program worth $6,060,000. Graded stakes and two Breeders’ Cup chalCalder enters its 40th season of racing The two-year-old racing this year and will present a stakes program program at Calder is important lenge races. The Grade 1 $350,000 Princess Rooney Handicap and the Grade 2 $350,000 that includes renewals of the Summit of to our breeders and owners. We Smile Sprint Handicap are Breeders’ Cup Speed and Festival of the Sun, the 29th runlook forward to continuing to Challenge “Win and You’re In” races, with nings of the Florida Stallion Stakes series, strengthen our industry through the winner of each race automatically qualand the Florida Million. ifying for a spot in the Breeders’Cup Filly & The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and these enhancements. —Fred Brei, Mare Sprint and Breeders’ Cup Sprint, reOwners Association (FTBOA) contributes FTBOA Stakes Committee chairman spectively. funding to 13 of the stakes on the Calder Meet The Festival of the Sun, now in its 19th year, is Calder’s signaschedule for registered Florida-breds. In addition, the organization provides funding for each of the stakes of the Florida Million, a day ded- ture event and will be held on October 16. The rich finales of the icated to showcasing the Florida Thoroughbred industry, during the Florida Stallion Stakes – the $375,000 In Reality and $375,000 My Tropical Meet. Eight stakes races worth a total $1 million are held for Dear Girl – are the main features of the card that offers seven stakes registered Florida-breds on Florida Million day, scheduled for Nov. 13. races. The Festival of the Sun also features the Calder Derby and Also of interest to breeders and owners of Florida-breds are the Calder Oaks, as well as the Grade 3 $100,000 Spend A Buck Handpurse enhancements in the juvenile racing program. Through the icap, another Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” race. “Preview” days for both the Summit of Speed and Festival of efforts of the FTBOA, FHBPA and Churchill Downs, purse money for Florida-breds in maiden special weight races will be $39,000, the Sun are also on the schedule (June 12 and Sept. 25), while which includes $7,000 in Florida Owners’ Awards and $5,000 in Calder’s “Juvenile Showcase,” a day dedicated entirely to 2-yearold Thoroughbreds and the sport’s emerging stars, is slated for Florida Stallion Stakes supplements. “The two-year-old racing program at Calder is important to our Aug. 28. The Juvenile Showcase, with six stakes races, features breeders and owners,” said Fred Brei, FTBOA Stakes Committee the middle legs of the Florida Stallion Stakes program. ■

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Speak Easy Gal Wires Orchid Field at Gulfstream Park

COGLIANESE PHOTO

By MICHAEL COMPTON Lady Shakespeare at bay on the line to win by a head. She covered Florida-bred Speak Easy Gal led throughout last month’s the marathon distance in 2:28.46 over a turf course labeled good. “There wasn’t much speed in the race and I knew I was going Orchid Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park to post a wire-to-wire score in the 1½-mile turf affair. William F. and Annabel Murphy to go right to the lead,” said Trujillo. “Every time she runs, she breaks sharp, and I was able to slow things of Ocala bred the winner. down on the lead and get away from them a Winning jockey Elvis Trujillo had returned little up front. She was always going along to Florida just hours before the race after travvery comfortable, and it was a slow pace; eling to Dubai to handle riding chores on very easy going for her.” Florida-bred Presious Passion in the Dubai Winning trainer Martin Wolfson acquired Sheema Classic (G1). Speak Easy Gal made it Speak Easy Gal in January for Farnsworth worth the quick return home. Stables. The conditioner has saddled her to In the Orchid, Trujillo placed Speak Easy three straight victories since then. Gal right on the lead at the break and the 4Florida-bred Speak Easy Gal “I ran her in this race because I thought year-old daughter of Stonehedge Farm South stallion West Acre was able to dictate proceedings with a she would be the only speed, although they pressed her more than I thought,” said Wolfson. “We bought her (privately) after she finpedestrian pace. She cruised through fractions of 24.39, 50.47 and 1:16.35 for the ished second in the race here behind Tottie (Jan. 7). She ran just first six furlongs while receiving some pressure from Celtic like Golden Pond did winning the Orchid (leading all the way for Princess (BRZ). When she was asked for her best through the lane, Wolfson in 1997). I haven’t really thought of what might be next, Speak Easy Gal responded in game fashion. She held a fast-closing but I like to give my horses six to eight weeks between races.”

BENOIT & ASSOCIATES PHOTO

Florida-bred Tanda recorded in the fastest 6 ½ furlongs of the Santa Anita meet last month when she blazed her way to an impressive victory in the Santa Paula Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita. Bred by Kristine Mitchell and owned by Tommy Hutton’s Dream Stable, Tanda won the race by 4 ¼ lengths and stopped the timer in 1:14.36. Tanda was switching surfaces in the race from turf to synthetic. “The way she won today, against this type of competition is amazing,” said winning jockey Alex Solis. “I know there were only five horses, but they were very Florida-bred Tanda good horses. She won very easy and she came back like she didn’t even run. I know she’s been running on the grass, but in my opinion, she would be able to adapt to the surface. She’s a very classy filly.” Tanda is a daughter of former Florida sire Sweetsouthernsaint. She is a graduate of the OBS April sale where she sold for $145,000. Following the race, trainer Dan Hendricks thanked David Ingordo, who was responsible for picking out Tanda at OBS. Florida-bred Tanda and jockey Alex Solis ran the fastest 6 1/2 furlongs of the Santa Anita winter meet Sunday, powering to a runaway 1:14.36 victory in the Grade 3 Santa Paula Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. 40 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2010

Dan Hendricks trains Tanda, who won by 4 1/4 lengths over La Nez; favorite Sister Dawn finished third. Crisis of Spirit and Church Camp completed the order of finish. “David did a super job finding her out of a thousand horses,” Hendricks said. “I owe it all to him and the owner, Bob (Hutton). He was very patient.” The Santa Paula’s winning purse of $60,000 boosted the bay filly’s earnings to $127,710.

Cool Bullet Prevails in Hansel Stakes at Turfway Florida-bred Cool Bullet, a 3-year-old son of former Florida sire Red Bullet bred by Adena Springs, led all the way in last month’s Hansel Stakes atTurfway Park to post a 4 ½-length victory. Trained by Steve Margolis and ridden by Calvin Borel, the Sunshine State product covered the six furlongs in 1:08.97. The win was Cool Bullet’s third overall, and the second in a stakes event for owners Robert and Lawana Low and Winmore LLC. Cool Bullet previously captured the Sugar Bowl Stakes at the Fair Grounds and finished fourth in the LeComte Florida-bred Cool Bullet Stakes (G3). LANG PHOTO

Tanda Blazes to Victory in Santa Paula Stakes

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Live Auction immediately follows the conclusion of the Monday session of the OBS Two-Year-Old in Training Sale

Come on out and bid on once-in-a-lifetime packages:

• World Series • Legends Old-Timers Game at Yankee Stadium • Indy 500 • Allstate 400 at The Brickyard

For more information, contact Florida Thoroughbred Charities at (352) 629-2160

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Opal Heath, Co-owner Of Needles, Dies at 92

rarely did anything without consulting her. “After dad died in 2001, I was concerned that she might wither and kind of blow away, but she did just the opposite. She became strong and was physically active, with an exercise coach coming in three times a week. She always had something to look forward By NICK FORTUNA to, which I think helped keep her alive for as long as she was.” Bonnie Heath helped found the United Way, then known as pal Heath, the wife of influential horseman Bonnie Heath and the co-owner of Florida’s first Kentucky Derby win- United Appeal, in 1961 and was the organization’s first president. He also led the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’Association, now ner, died last month at her home in Ocala. She was 92. Opal and Bonnie Heath owned and operated Bonnie Heath Farm the FTBOA, and helped create the Florida Breeders’ Sales Co., in Ocala from the 1950s to the ‘90s. The Heaths and Jack Dudley which merged with OBS in 1984. He died at age 85 in 2001. “Mother always said that she lived a blessed life, and she loved purchased Needles, an unraced 2-year-old colt by Ponder, for $20,000, and the horse won the 1956 Kentucky Derby the following to share that not only verbally but with her actions,” Bonnie M. year. Needles also won that year’s Florida Derby, Belmont Stakes and Heath III said. “She loved the United Way, and she loved her church.” In addition to her son, survivors include two daughters, Flamingo Stakes and finished second to Fabius in the Preakness to Heather Pennington, of Sarasota, and earn an Eclipse Award as the nation’s top 3Hillary Wellborn, of High Springs; a year-old male horse. grandson, Heath Pennington, of Tulsa, Needles also won an Eclipse Award as Okla., and two great-granddaughters. the top juvenile male of 1955 after capturA memorial service was held April 1, ing the Hopeful and Sapling stakes. The which would have been Opal Heath’s 93rd horse was retired at age 4 after winning 11 birthday. Donations can be made to the of his 21 starts for $600,355. He was inUntied Way of Marion County. ducted into the National Museum of RacIn other sad news for the local Thoring and Hall of Fame in 2000. Needles oughbred industry: stood as a stallion in Florida until his ■ William A. Fabry, a former Thordeath in 1984. oughbred owner and trainer, died last Under the Heaths’ leadership, Bonnie month at age 86 at Munroe Regional Heath Farm became one of Florida’s top Medical Center. The native of Kankakee, Thoroughbred operations, raising such noIll., moved to Ocala in 1980 from table horses as 1994 Horse of theYear Holy Miami. He enjoyed golfing. He is surBull, Grade 1 winner Tsunami Slew and vived by his wife of 56 years, Dorthey E. Grade 2 winner Candi’s Gold. The farm Fabry. also stood stallions such as Blue Ensign Opal and Bonnie Heath ■ Dale W. Thirtyacre, a former Thorand Honor Grades. Bonnie Heath Farm bred and co-owned Honor Glide, who won oughbred trainer, died at age 85. The Citra resident was born the 1997 Secretariat Stakes (G1) and the 1999 Sword Dancer Invi- in Muscatine, Iowa, and moved to Florida in 1985 from Madison Heights, Mich. He was a member of Amvets Post 25 in tational Handicap (G1). The Heaths’ son, Bonnie M. Heath III, who breeds horses at Citra. He is survived by his wife, Fran Thirtyacre, of Citra; Bonnie Heath Farm in Reddick along with his wife, Kim, and sons, Dale Thirtyacre Jr., of Wellsville, Ohio, Kelly Thirtyacre, serves on the board of directors for the Florida Thoroughbred of Lowell, and Jeff Thirtyacre, who lives in Illinois; stepson Breeders’ and Owners’Association, said his mother enjoyed rais- Brian Bridges, of Citra; daughters Nancy Chandler, of Dunedin, and Sharon Mitchell of Babylon, N.Y.; brother Gale ing her children on the horse farm. “Anytime something would go wrong, she’d just laugh and say, Thirtyacre of West Liberty, Iowa; 18 grandchildren; and 14 ‘That’s life on a farm,’” Bonnie M. Heath III said. “She was prob- great-grandchildren. ■ Jacob Smith, 18, of Ocala, died in Ocala. Smith was the son ably one of the most strong-willed people I’ve ever met. I’ve never seen anyone quite as determined as she was. She had to be to put of Gordon and Lindie Reiss and Wallace Smith of New Hampup with my dad because he was tough, but they were a wonderful shire. Gordon is the marketing committee chairman of the Florida team. They were married 66 years when he died. She was always Horse Park and owns Gordon Reiss Insurance in Ocala. A memoin the background, but she commanded a lot of respect, and he rial mass was held at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church in Ocala. ■

42 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2010

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Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner 850-488-4366 • Fax 850-922-0374 e-mail: davisp@doacs.state.fl.us 407 S. Calhoun • 412 Mayo Building, Tallahassee, FL 32399

Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association 801 SW 60th Ave. • Ocala, FL 34474 352-629-2160 • Fax: 352-629-3603 www.ftboa.com • info@ftboa.com

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Growing Seasons The right things grow at the right times. remember a lot of things about Pauchie, my grandfather who passed away many years ago. He was a big man, both physically and in a larger-than-life kind of way that commanded immediate attention. Pauchie was a lifelong farmer and a perpetual jokester. He loved Granny’s homemade mashed potatoes, and he always let us grandkids drink root beer when we came to visit. Most fun of all, he often took us to the local candy store, where we filled white paper bags with as many sweets as we could carry. By the time Pauchie sent us home, we were on a sugar high that lasted for days. My favorite times spent with Pauchie were probably in his garden – particularly when carrots were ready to be harvested. I would spot the greens of each carrot poking out of the soil, trot over to the biggest clump I could find… and PULL with all my might. Sometimes the carrot would come right up, and sometimes I’d pull so hard that when the root finally loosened, I’d fall over backwards and land in the dirt, carrot in hand and a big smile on my face. Last spring, I planted my own garden. We plowed up a plot behind the barn, making rich rows of parallel raised beds, where I sowed little kernels of sweet corn, black-eyed peas, cabbage, melons, green beans, and cucumbers. We made climbing trellises for tomatoes and transplanted healthy little bell pepper plants. I was a surprisingly meticulous planner in the beginning, designing the entire plot on paper, recording where every variety was placed, fertilizing when appropriate. After a while, though, my bookkeeping got sloppy. I’d

46 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2010

find seeds that weren’t zoned for Florida, or seeds that shouldn’t be planted until the fall, and I’d plunk them in the ground somewhere, just because I could. Daddy brought me random packets that had been in his fridge for a while, and I scattered them at random. In a nostalgic moment, I even planted some carrot seeds, though it was off-season for that particular root crop. In no time, the garden took off. Delicious sweet corn popped up. The beans did well. Cucumbers got flooded. Tomatoes were hit with some fungus, but the black-eyed peas were perfect. And did I mention carrots? Well, they never even sprouted. I forgot all about them. A few days ago, though, while doing some work around the yard, I ambled over to the now-dilapidated garden to pull weeds. Guess what? Carrots. Lots and lots of carrots. Big, juicy carrots perfect for horse treats – and for salads. I was struck by the perfection of the natural process, amazed that those delicious orange roots grew magically without my help. When you think about it, farming really is analogous to our equine businesses and overall economy. We make a plan, prepare soil, plant seeds, water, fertilize, eliminate weeds, market and advertise, work hard, harvest, sell. And when the season is right, we get carrots. This year, I hope April showers will bring May flowers – and carrots – to you and yours.

It’s a privilege to journey with you. Summer Best

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Farm Service Directory Free Listing Please check the category/categories (maximum of 2 please) you would like listed for your farm/business in

THE FLORIDA HORSE FARM & SERVICE DIRECTORY:

MISCELLANEOUS

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OF S E

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IDA

s o f S e r vi c e

Serving Florida’s Thoroughbred Indu since 1958 stry

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SALES COMPANIES SCHOOLS TRAINING CENTERS TRANSPORTATION VETERINARIANS

ACCOUNTANTS APPRAISAL SERVICE ATTORNEYS BANKS & INSURANCE BLACKSMITHS BLOODSTOCK AGENTS EQUINE CHIROPRACTORS EQUINE DENTISTS EQUINE SERVICE EQUIPMENT FEED/TACK

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Please identify the breed For example - QUARTER HORSE

GIFTS & COLLECTIBLES IDENTIFIERS LODGING MEDIA & DESIGN ARTISTS

THOROUGHBRED FARM OTHER BREED FARM

Please help us keep you current RESPONSE DEADLINE APRIL 22, 2010

FARM/BUSINESS NAME: ____________________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS: ______________________________________________________________________________________ FARM/BUSINESS PHONE:

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WEBSITE: ____________________________________ EMAIL: ____________________________________________ OWNER OF FARM/BUSINESS: ________________________________________________________________________ MANAGER OF FARM:

____________________________ MANAGER’S PHONE: ________________________________

BARN PHONE: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ACREAGE: ______________________________________________________________________________________ SIZE OF TRAINING TRACK: __________________________________________________________________________ SERVICES OFFERED: ________________________________________________________________________________ STALLIONS STANDING:

____________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________ VISITING POLICY: __________________________________________________________________________________ VISITORS WELCOME FROM ________________ TO ______________ VISITORS PLEASE CALL FOR APPOINTMENT ❏ NO VISITORS ❏

RESPONSE DEADLINE April 22, 2010

DATE __________________________ SIGNATURE ________________________________________________________________________

For more information: 352-732-8858 • Fax: 352-629-3603 or 352-867-1979

RETURN TO: THE FLORIDA HORSE • 801 SW 60TH AVE., • OCALA, FL 34474 Attention: Beverly Kalberkamp

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ESI PHOTOS

HITS Horse Shows in the Sun, held each winter in Ocala as well as throughout the country, enjoyed another stellar 2010 circuit in the Horse Capital of the World.

he 2010 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit was a most successful tour for HITS Ocala Veteran Callan Solem. The accomplished equestrian found victory in the Grand Prix ring several times during the eight-week horse show circuit at HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala, including a win in the $50,000 Ring Power Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, on Allison, owned by Quiet Winter Farm/BJ Maghan. For her efforts, Solem captured the 2010 Catena Leading Grand Prix Rider Award and received a beautiful diamond-faced watch

courtesy of Catena. Solemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mount Allison was presented with the Leading Mare Award, from the Stallion Services Department of the Equine Medical Center of Ocala, and will receive a free embryo transfer performed by Dr. Corey Miller, head of reproduction at the Ocala-based veterinary hospital. Solem is now focused on qualifying for the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix that will take place at HITS-on-the-Hudson, in Saugerties, N.Y., on Sept. 12, 2010. Currently, Solem and her 18-year-old mare Allison, are sitting in the eighth spot of the Pfizer Million Eligible Rider Rankings and, with a summer schedule that includes stops at both HITS Culpeper and HITS Saugerties, she is looking to cement herself a place at the historic event. With back-to-back wins during the final week of show jumping at HITS Ocala, Tracy Fenney now sits at No. 3 in the Pfizer Million Eligible Rider Rankings on MTM Timon, with $70,750 in prize money. The Texas native used the $30,000 payout from her firstplace finish in the $100,000 DeLuca Toyota Tundra Grand Prix, presented by Great American Insurance Group, to climb the ladder in Tracy Fenney (left) ranks No. 3 in Eligible Rider Rankings with $70,750.

48 THE FLORIDA HORSE â&#x20AC;˘ APRIL 2010

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the chase for the Pfizer Million. Maryland’s Tracy Magness also moved up in the rankings, thanks to a top finish in the March 21 big-money class. She is now tied for sixth place with California’s Helen McNaught, with $43,000 in prize money aboard Tarco Van Ter Moude. Currently leading the way in the Pfizer Million Rider Rankings is decorated Canadian Olympian Jill Henselwood on Bradon Construction’s Bottom Line. DAZZLING DERBY: $10,000 DEVOUCOUX HUNTER DERBY IS A ‘HIT’

An impressive mix of professionals and amateurs took part in the all new $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Derbies, which proved to be one of the most exciting new events offered this winter at HITS Ocala. Highlighting the list of winners in the popular two-round derby was Jennifer Alfano, riding Michelle Shaulinski’s Fantabulous. Alfano, who is regarded as one of the top hunter riders in the country, also won the $10,000 Chronicle of the Horse/USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by Dietrich Insurance, aboard SBS Farm’s Jersey Boy. Other top riders who had victories in the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Derby include David Connors riding Nadia, and Kristen

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Bumpus, who scored the blue ribbon twice riding Inspired. All three hunter riders plan to show at HITS-on-the-Hudson throughout the spring and summer, and are sure to continue showing in this popular event for Marshall & Sterling League Points in order to qualify for this year’s National Finals. The all-new Devoucoux Hunter Derby was a featured event at both the HITS Ocala Win-

ter Circuit, and the HITS Desert Circuit, and represents the 13th division to count for points in the Marshall & Sterling League. In addition to the $10,000 Derby classes held at HITS winter shows in Thermal and Ocala, qualifying classes for the Devoucoux Hunter Derby Finals will be offered at the HITS Culpeper and HITS Saugerties shows this spring and summer. HITS has also invited a select number of horse shows in the Northeast to add the Devoucoux Hunter Derby to their show schedules which will help facilitate the growth of the class and provide further qualifying opportunities for the Marshall & Sterling League National Finals. The Devoucoux Derby Finals will be offered at the 2010 Marshall & Sterling League National Finals on September 16-19, in Saugerties, N.Y.. A HITS PARADE

Super Sunday at HITS Post Time Farm featured the presentation of the Antarès Grand Circuit Champion Awards, held during the ever-popular Parade of Champions, in the Callan Solem (above) captured the 2010 Catena Leading Grand Prix Rider Award. Alissa Kinsey (at left), winner of the Marshall & Sterling/Team Barber Childrenʼs/Adult Jumper Classic THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2010 49

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HITS Grand Prix ring before the start of the $100,000 DeLuca Toyota Tundra Grand Prix, presented by Great American Insurance Group. Solem was also the star of the parade that honored the circuit’s best of the best. Riding Virginia McNeil’s six-year-old Dutch Warmblood High Consul, the pair was not only awarded the Low Hunter Circuit Championship, but also the Pre-Green Hunter Reserve Circuit Championship making Solem one of the stars of both the hunter and jumper rings during the 2010 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit. “High Consul is a lovely young horse, and he came along really well this year,” Solem said. “I think he has a really bright future and I enjoy riding him. He is definitely on his way!” Also highlighting the festivities was Hunt Tosh, who won three different Circuit Championships on three different horses! Trade Winds, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Wheeler, won the Friar Tuck Perpetual Trophy given to the Circuit Champion in the Green Confirmation Hunter. Tosh was also Circuit Champion in the First-Year Green Hunters on another horse owned by the Wheelers, Good Humor. The Regular Working Hunter Circuit Championship was the grand-finale of Tosh’s wins, when he was named Circuit Champion and Reserve Circuit Champion aboard Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Wheeler’s Lone Star and Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Oare’s Rosalynn, respectively. Another shining star during the parade 50 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2010

was Chase Boggio. The up-and-coming rider had an outstanding season placing in every Hunter Derby he entered and was awarded The Ocala Style of Riding Award. Boggio was selected out of hundreds of riders as the person most deserving of the award by the jumper judges at the Ocala Winter Circuit, the horseshow personnel in positions of knowledge, including the show management, back gate personnel, stewards, announcers and others over the course of the entire circuit. This special award was given to Boggio for showing the best American style of riding and possessing the respectful, dignified, courteous and workmanlike manner of a true sportsman on the 2010 Ocala Winter Circuit.

Kendall Meijer and Casanova (above), winning the $5,000 Adult Hunter Classic. Meg OʼMara and War Eagle (below), winners of the Ronnie Mutch Equitation Championship. A TIME FOR FUN

This year’s HITS Ocala Winter Circuit was filled with good fun both inside and out of the gates of HITS Post Time Farm. Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club provided plenty of excitement away from the show grounds when they held the HITS Ocala GolfTournament, and were also gracious hosts ofThe Golden OcalaArt Reception. Other off-site entertainment included a sponsor reception at Arthur’s Restaurant, Welcome Parties at The Sanctuary Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation Center, andThe Pfizer HighPerformance Rider Reception at Ipanema. The show grounds also provided a perfect venueforexhibitorslookingforwaystohavesome fun. Headlined by the popular Purina Mills Kids Day, some of the other events includedThe HITS Ocala Star Search, Team Barber Exhibitor Party, World of the Horse with a special on-site radio broadcast by WTRS, and the HITS 5K Run. ■

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Power Powers Tom Powers brings his 30-year-old futurity to the Horse Capital of the World. he inaugural Tom Powers Triple Challenge Futurity in Ocala was held at the Ocala Equestrian Complex Feb. 19-21, 2010, offering $40,000 added money for western pleasure and hunter under saddle horses. “There seemed to be room for a spring futurity event in Ocala that showcased the AQHA hunter under saddle and western pleasure horses,” said Tom Powers, the futurity’s 1 namesake. “We are now the largest added-money pleasure horse event in the state and we hope to be able to encourage people because of that, and because of our management posture and our personality.” The Tom Powers Futurity began at Powers’ farm in Michigan in 1980, making it the oldest continuously operating pleasure futurity in the world. The original futurity included only two classes made up of 25 entries and paid out $3,500. “We’ve been around futurities for 35 years, so we know it can start out rather 4 3 conservative, which it did,” Powers said. Although the Ocala futurity was advertised as $40,000 added money, not all futurity classes were held. When the dust settled, exhibitors took home around $30,000. Futurity entries in some classes were strong, while entries in the actual Quarter Horse show varied. “I hope the Quarter Horse people will continue to show their Quarter Horses at the show to support the Quarter Horse side of it as well,” Powers said. “I know there were a lot of horses here that could have been shown at the Quarter Horse show

and were not because they were saving them for the futurity classes. I hope they’ll stop that.” Powers plans to manage the Ocala futurity and show again in 2011. “We will definitely be back next year, same time, same place and hopefully much larger,” he said. “Overall it went very well. It needs to grow for us to survive here but we expect that it will next year. Everybody was very surprised about how nice the Ocala Equestrian Center was and I did not have one negative comment on the show or the facility.” This year a little more than 200 stalls were sold, and Powers hopes they will sell 400 next year, saying he wouldn’t be happy with less than 300. One way 5 in which he hopes to accomplish this is by adding another $10,000 onto the $40,000 added money already.They also intend to add additional classes in 2011. “We will definitely add some color breed classes next year,” he said. “They are always welcome in the open classes but sometimes I think they feel a little more comfortable in their own color breed classes. We will add those next year for sure.” ■

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE EQUINE CHRONICLE

By AVERY SAMS

1) Don McDuffee and Ted McLelland 2) Carrie Grose 3) Exhibitors enjoying the party at The Sanctuary 4) Wayne Davis 5) Mike Hawkins

THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2010 51

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Primary Health Care Providers few weeks ago, while filling out a health information form in the local hospital emergency room, I was reminded of the importance of having an up-to-date relationship with Marion County a “primary health care provider,” (family doctor). livestock agent The reason for my Sunday night visit to the emerMark Shuffitt gency room was acute abdominal pain that had started as mild abdominal discomfort on Friday. Not being one who gets sick often or needs regular medication, I did not think I needed a primary health care provider. My kids have been on the books at a local pediatric clinic since they’ve been born and my wife uses a family practitioner for regular check-ups. I thought I would go to the doctor when I didn’t feel well. I did not realize doctors wanted you to build a relationship with them before you needed them for some type of emergency service. After I was released from the hospital, I got to thinking about how similar my situation was to many horse owners. It is not uncommon for some horse owners to only call a veterinarian for emergency services. For the best treatment, it is important for the health care provider to be familiar with An emergency call to a the history of the patient. In randomly selected equine my case, I had to bring the hospital staff up to speed on veterinarian or clinic is not my entire medical history. It the best way to provide seems adhesions and scar tishealth care for your horse. sue from major abdominal surgery thirty years ago were the primary reason for my emergency room visit. Looking forward, here’s what I advise for horse owners: Use a veterinarian for regular health care, so that he/she will have a better understanding of the overall condition of your horse. Keep your veterinarian involved in your horses’ regular health care. Consult with your veterinarian when planning a vaccination and deworming plan. You may want or even need to purchase vaccines and medicine from your veterinarian. Inform your horses’ primary health care provider of the type of insurance you have, and talk about the individual health needs of each horse. Some horses may require more than an annual check-up.

52 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2010

FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN SELECTING A VETERINARIAN

• Where does your horse live? Home, boarding facility, race track, training center? • What type of horse(s) do you have? Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses, Draft, Miniatures, Stallions, Geldings, Mares? • What do you use your horses for? Breeding, racing, performance, show, jumping, endurance riding, etc. • Does your horse have any special needs? • Do you have a choice? I live in the Horse Capital of the World! We have several choices. Location You may want to choose a vet whose practice • is near your horse. Check with people who have a similar size operation as • well as similar needs. Does the veterinarian have: “Horse sense,” good judg• ment and intelligence? Does the veterinarian like people and feel comfortable talk• ing and dealing with horse owners and managers? Is • the veterinarian unafraid of and able to work with horses? • Doctor’s background/experience: The veterinarian’s office staff should be able to answer most questions concerning the vet’s qualifications and education as well as years in practice. They may also be able to address specific questions you may have and provide references. Office hours/ Availability: What are the regular office • hours? Does a live person answer the phone or is it an automated system? Does the vet return calls promptly? What is the protocol for after-hour care? Are there special emergency numbers? • Is the vet in private practice or part of a group? If a group practice, who will be taking care of your horses? Who covers your horses when the primary vet is unavailable? Payment: It is very important to inquire about methods of • payment before scheduling an appointment. Find out if the vet will bill you or if they want payment when services are rendered. Ask about methods of payment, personal checks, credit cards, and installments. An emergency call to a randomly selected equine veterinarian or clinic is not the best way to provide health care for your horse. Oh, and I’ve learned my own lesson – I have an upcoming appointment with a primary health care provider of my own. ■

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HORSE COUNCIL NEWS

American Horse Council’s 2010 Horse Industry Directory

Now Available in Print and Online

The most comprehensive national directory of breed and sport organizations, equine publications, state resources and racing and gaming organizations is now available for purchase. The American Horse Council’s 2010 Horse Industry Directory is a yearly effort to bring to you a definitive source that puts the equine industry at your fingertips. This year’s Horse Industry Directory has a staggering 1,200 listings, including

equine publications, state sources of information, breed registries and associations, show and sport organizations, racing and gaming organizations, and more. The 2010 Horse Industry Directory cost $25 and is a member benefit at certain levels of membership with the American Horse Council (AHC) and may be viewed on the AHC’s member’s only page. Join the AHC or order the 2010 Horse Industry Directory by visiting the AHC

web site at www.horsecouncil.org or by phone at (202) 296-4031. This is the 17th year that Hiscox Insurance has shown its commitment to the horse industry by being the principal sponsor of the Horse Industry Directory. Hiscox has served to protect the investments of the horse industry by providing mortality and related coverages for five decades. They enjoy an A rating from the A.M. Best Company and are an admitted insurance carrier in all 50 states.

USDA Announces Voluntary CEM Testing

What is CEM? Contagious Equine Metritis is a transmissible, exotic venereal disease in horses caused by a bacteria Taylorella equigenitalis. A CEM infection usually results in infertility in mares and, on rare occasions, can cause mares to spontaneously abort. Infected stallions exhibit no clinical signs. Stallions and mares can become chronic carriers of CEM and be sources of infection for future outbreaks. The transmission rate is high and naturally occurs by

mating, but contaminated instruments and equipment may be an indirect source of infecting horses. The bacteria can also be spread via semen collected for artificial insemination. CEM can be treated with disinfectants and antibiotics.

The United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a voluntary program to test up to 3,000 breeding stallions for Taylorella equigenitalis, the bacteria that causes Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM). The program will be implemented immediately by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). APHIS is implementing this program in an effort to document that the presence of CEM is very low, if it is present at all, and to reduce or remove current testing requirements for horses and semen exported from the United States. This voluntary program is in response to the on-going CEM incident involving approximately 991 horses found in 48 states. Hawaii and Rhode Island are the only states in which an exposed or positive horse has not been found. Owners will be able to provide their stallions for testing on a voluntary basis. APHIS will pay for the diagnostic testing, but not for sample collection costs or test mares. If a stallion is found positive, the horse will be quarantined, and APHIS will pay all costs and procedures related to tracing, testing, and treatment (including practitioner fees) for horses exposed to a positive stallion. Stallion owners or accredited equine practitioners interested in participating in this program should contact a VS area office or their state animal health official’s office.

To read the complete announcement: USDA Testing of Additional Stallions to Detect CEM, visit: www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_he alth/content/printable_version/sa_cemtst.pdf

AHC Releases Report on Equestrian Access The American Horse Council recently released its 2009 Report on Equestrian Access on Federal Land. The 2009 report is intended to provide a brief overview of the responses the AHC received from equestrians to its ongoing access survey in 2009.The report can be viewed and downloaded on the AHC’s website at: www.horsecouncil.org. In July 2009, the American Horse Council launched an effort to collect information regarding equestrian access issues on federal lands. This effort was prompted by a growing concern among recreational riders around the country that they were seeing a reduction in the number of trails and trail heads open to equestrians on federal land. The centerpiece of this effort has been an AHC online form riders can use to report their personal experiences regarding trails on federal lands that have been closed to them or other access issues.This online form is located at https://www.horsecouncil.org/survey.php. Hundreds of thousands of Americans use horses and pack stock to enjoy America’s great outdoors each year. However, it is an experience that cannot be enjoyed without access to public land, trail systems, and trailheads. “The AHC will use this report to illustrate some of the challenges facing recreational riders,” said AHC President Jay Hickey.“Our federal land mangers work hard to provide recreational opportunities and we need to make sure they have adequate resource and equestrians need to work with them at all levels. However, sometimes there are issues and conflicts that need to documented and brought to there attention. This report is just one part of our efforts to ensure equestrian continue to have recreational opportunities on federal land.”

The AHC asks all recreational riders to visit the AHC website and continue to report any access issues they have had. THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2010 53

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AQHA’s New Executive Committee Announced During 2010 Convention Members of AQHA gathered in Kissimmee, Fla., for the annual AQHA Convention March 5-8, where on March 8, the AQHA Board of Directors elected the first international president for the association, Johannes Orgeldinger of Grosswallstadt, Germany. Johannes has been involved with American Quarter Horses for more than a quarter of a century and has volunteered his time and talents to the AQHA Executive Committee for the past four years. He was first elected to the AQHA Executive Committee in 2006. He divides his time between Germany and a ranch in the United States. As the international registry of the American Quarter Horse, AQHA is a worldwide organization, and Germany is the ninth-largest AQHA affiliate with 6,675 AQHA members — only seven other states and the Canadian province of Alberta have more members. Kansas ranked 10th with 6,567 members in 2009. After the United States and Canada, Germany ranks third on the list of countries by American Quarter Horse population. The American Quarter Horse was developed in the United States, but its versa-

tility has made American Quarter Horses popular worldwide. Johannes is a testament to this reach, having bred American Quarter Horses for more than 25 years. AQHA’s total international population of American Quarter Horses was 136,198 in 2009. Johannes has been very involved with AQHA, serving on the affiliate council as well as the stud book and registration and nomination and credentials committees. He also served as the discipline manager of reining for the 2006 World Equestrian Games. With his wife, Astrid, Johannes owns and operates a gravel and stone company and JOMM Ranches in Grosswallstadt, as well as Main River Quarter Horses in Gainesville, Texas. Peter J. Cofrancesco III of Sparta, N.J., was named first vice president. Peter is chairman of the Grinnell Group of Companies, which includes several entities such as solid waste and recycling, real estate and concrete products manufacturing. He was American Quarter Horse Youth Association president in 1991 and is the first youth president to serve on the Executive Committee.

PHOTO COURTESY AQHA

New AQHA Executive Committee, left to right: Johnny Trotter, Johne Dobbs, Gene Graves, Peter J. Cofrancesco III and Johannes Orgeldinger.

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Gene Graves of Grand Island, Neb., was elected second vice president. Gene is an auctioneer with Diamond G Auction Co. and is a Realtor for Century 21. Two new members — Johne Dobbs of Champaign, Ill., and Johnny Trotter of Hereford, Texas — were also named to the Executive Committee. Johne, a director from Illinois, owns Johne Dobbs Equine Insurance. Johnny, a director from Texas, is president and chief executive officer of Livestock Investors Ltd. These individuals all volunteer their five years of time to serve on the AQHA Executive Committee.

Greenwish Park to be Venue of 2012 Olympic Equestrian Events On March 23, the Greenwich Council’s Planning Committee voted in favor of the planning application submitted by the London Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) for the temporary use of land at Greenwich Park, the National Maritime Museum, the Old Royal Naval College and Blackheath Circus Field for the London 2012 Equestrian and Modern Pentathlon events. “The FEI is thrilled by the decision of the Greenwich Council’s Planning Committee in regard to the planning application for Greenwich Park,” FEI President HRH Princess Haya said. “Greenwich Park is a spectacular venue which places equestrian sport right at the heart of the 2012 Olympic Games. With just over two years left until the Games open we are looking forward to working with LOCOG to showcase the sport to the world from this spectacular location in London,” FEI Secretary General Alex McLin said.

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Important Changes to the USEF Therapeutic Drug Rule Regarding NSAIDS becomes Effective April 1, 2010 At the USEF Annual Meeting held Jan. 13-17, 2010, an important rule change was approved affecting the use of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in competition horses. Over the years, ongoing veterinary research has revealed that not only is there little or no benefit to administering more than one NSAID to a horse for most medical concerns, it can actually cause potentially harmful, even severe side effects. Motivated by its commitment to the welfare of the horse, the USEF Board of Directors voted to amend its Therapeutic Drug Rule and restrict use to a single NSAID beginning December 1, 2011. Both the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) support the rule change, and USEF joins other organizations including the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) and Equine Canada in making this important rule change. While the presence of two of the seven approved and quantitatively restricted NSAIDs in a horse will still be allowed prior to December 2011 (with the exception of the forbidden combination of phenylbutazone “Bute,” and flunixin meglumine [Banamine®]), it is important to note that new restrictions are in place concerning their use. Beginning April, 1, 2010, anyone administering two NSAIDs to a horse within five days prior to participating at a USEF-licensed competition will be required to complete and file a NSAID Disclosure Form with the USEF Steward/Technical Delegate or their Designated Competition Office Representative. This form will allow the USEF Equine Drugs and Medications Program to collect valuable data regarding the use of NSAIDs in competition horses. USEF has developed an education plan to guide management, owners, trainers, and exhibitors through the implementation of this rule change. The Federation has published an informational pamphlet and created the NSAID

Disclosure Form. Both the pamphlet and the forms will be shipped to all Competition Managers for distribution from their competition offices. Additionally, both the form and the pamphlet are immediately available online at: http://www.usef.org/documents/drugsMeds/N SAIDDisclosureForm.pdf and http://issuu.com/equestrian/docs/nsaidandyourhorseweb?mode=embed&layout=http:// www.usef.org/issuu/nsaids/layout.xml&show FlipBtn=true It is the responsibility of the competitor and their veterinarian to make certain the use of two NSAIDs within five days of competing is reported on the NSAID Disclosure Form and is properly filed with the USEF Steward/Technical Delegate or their Designated Competition Office Representative. It is important to note that a standard USEF Medication Report Form may not be used in this particular instance. It is the responsibility of USEF Stewards/Technical Delegates to collect the NSAID Disclosure Form and submit it to the Federation Office in Lexington, Kentucky. The Steward or Technical Delegate may des-

NEWS BITS ignate a person in the competition office to act as their representative and accept the NSAID Disclosure Form. The Designated Competition Office Representative must be a Federation Senior Member and an office staff person mutually agreed upon by the Competition Management and Competition Steward/Technical Delegate. The Designated Competition Office Representative will be responsible for collecting, dating, signing, and issuing receipt for all the NSAID Disclosure Forms submitted, but it is the Steward’s/Technical Delegate’s sole responsibility to inspect and return all the NSAID Disclosure Forms to the Federation Office in Lexington, Kentucky. Effective April 1, 2010, and until Dec. 1, 2011, if the use of two NSAIDs is detected in sample(s) collected, and a NSAID Disclosure Form has not been filed appropriately, the competitor will receive a letter of finding from the USEF Regulations Department. For the first offense a warning letter will be issued. The second violation may result in sanctions against the competitor. For additional information and veterinary literature regarding NSAID use and the change to the USEF rule concerning their use, visit: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/Drugs/NSAID.aspx

Floridians Named to the USEF Show Jumping Long List The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Hough and Quick Study (owned by Laura and Ad Hoc Committee on Selection has approved nam- Meredith Mateo) and Kraut and Cedric (owned by ing the horse/rider combinations of Lauren Happy Hill Farm) both jumped two immaculate clear Hough/Quick Study and Laura Kraut/Cedric to the rounds in the first two legs of the USEF Selection TriShow Jumping Long List for the 2010 Alltech FEI als for the US Show Jumping Team currently underWorld Equestrian Games to be held in way at the Palm Beach International Lexington, Ky., Sept. 25-Oct. 10, 2010. Equestrian Center in Wellington. This As per the USEF Selection Procecombination joins Sapphire/McLain dure for the Show Jumping Team, the Ward who have also been named to Selectors have the discretion to recthe Long List last week. ommend up to six of the 15 The 15 horse/rider combinations horse/rider combinations to the Long on the Long List will travel to Europe List regardless of their participation or and compete at CSIOs La Baule, placing in the Selection Trials. The reRome, St. Gallen, Rotterdam, maining nine combinations will be Aachen, Falsterbo, Hickstead and chosen according to their ranking at Dublin before final Selection for the the conclusion of the USEF Selection 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Trials for the US Show Jumping Team. Laura Kraut and Cedric Games. PETER LLEWELLYN PHOTO

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AHP Equine Industry Survey Results Positive

A total of 11,171 people who own, lease, or manage horses completed theAmerican Horse Publications’ Horse Industry Survey designed to gauge participation trends in the U.S. horse industry. This was the largest survey of handson owners and managers of horses in the United States ever conducted, and it was made possible by the sponsorship of Intervet/Schering Plough Animal Health and Pfizer Animal Health. In addition, the survey sought to gather information regarding the most important issues facing the equine industry and garner feedback from the participants about solutions to those problems. The electronic survey showed a broad geographic distribution and involvement in the equine industry. This isn’t surprising as members of the American Horse Publications who have magazines, newsletters, Web sites, Twitter and Facebook social media outreaches, and professional organizations promoted the survey from Oct. 15, 2009, through Jan. 31, 2010. This is the first time the members of AHP have cooperated to bring such a broad representation to a single survey. There were five main sections of the survey: demographics, horse ownership, horsekeeping costs, issues facing the equine industry, and horse health care. The top demographics of the survey participants showed that 92 percent are horse owners who own an average of five horses apiece. Managers took care of an average of 10.4 horses. Less than one-half of one percent of respondents leased horses. A key part of this survey was to gauge the past, present, and future involvement of the respondents in the horse industry. For example, respondents who own horses said they own approximately the same number of horses today as they did in 2007, and they anticipate owning the same number of horses in 2011. The groups participating in the survey were highest for those between the ages of 35-44 (30.8 percent) and second-highest for participants between the ages of 45-54 (25.4 percent). A total of 88.8 percent of the respondents were female. Dr. C. Jill Stowe provided consultation

56 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2010

and data analysis services for data collection and analysis to the AHP. Dr. Stowe is an assistant professor of Agricultural Economics at the University of Kentucky. “This survey shows some good news: Even during current times with a struggling economy, a majority of respondents expect to be able to continue participating in the equine industry at the same level that they are now; some even expect to increase their levels of participation over the next few years,” said Dr. Stowe. “Moreover, many horse handlers will make sacrifices in other areas of their lives to continue their involvement in the equine industry. But even though the majority of respondents will be able to continue their equine-related activities, this does not diminish the potential hardship faced by those individuals, organizations, and regions which expect to experience decreases in participation. Respondents are also clear that the welfare of the horse is of the utmost importance as individuals and policy makers make decisions regarding the future of the equine industry.” The survey was limited to men and women, 18 years of age and older, who currently own, manage, or lease at least one horse and live in the United States. This study was anonymous, meaning no one, not even

members of the research team, are able to associate survey information with responses. “We are thrilled with the response of our members and the industry in participating in this survey,” said Kimberly S. Brown, current AHP president. It was Brown who proposed the survey, which was backed unanimously by the AHP board. “This was an important project for the American Horse Publications, and showed that through cooperation we can accomplish quite a bit in our industry,” she continued. “We have been through a rough period in our economy, and there are many stories out there of unwanted horses and the decline of the horse industry. But I think the real story is the wanted horses and their owners who are still strong despite the economic downturn. “I especially want to thank Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health and Pfizer Animal Health for sponsoring this survey,” said Brown. “Both of these companies—and the people behind the companies—are supporters of the horse industry because of their love of the horse, not just because it’s their business. And I want to thank Dr. Stowe for being willing to contribute her time and expertise to ensure we have a legitimate survey with accurate statistical analysis.”

Buddy MacKay to be Keynote Speaker at Evinston Paint Out GALA Buddy MacKay, former Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Florida, will be the Keynote Speaker and Guest of Honor at the Evinston Paint Out GALA Saturday, April 24, at 6:30 p.m. at the UF President’s House. The GALA is the culmination of the week-long Evinston Paint Out where 30 of the best national landscape painters will be painting in Evinston for an entire week. The artists paint outside “en plein air,” meaning “in the open air.” Most Plein Air painters are nature lovers, using the great outdoors as their primary studio, trying to capture our rapidly vanishing landscape to preserve it for future generations. This style of painting allows the public to interact with the artists while they paint and offers a great opportunity to purchase an original work of art from a well-known artist at a reasonable price. The artists will be painting daily, Sat., April 17-Sat., April 24. Most will begin at first light and continue painting until sunset. The finished artwork will be available to view and purchase in the Wetroom/Art Gallery at the Wood & Swink Country Store & Post Office, open Saturday thru Thursday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sat., April 24. Each year the artists produce around 300 paintings during the week, all of which are for sale as soon as they are hung. The Wood & Swink is located at 18320 Southeast County Road 225 in Evinston. A portion of the proceeds from art sales will be donated to the preservation and restoration of Florida’s oldest working country store post office, the Wood & Swink Old Store & Post Office. The Conservation Trust for Florida, Inc., a non-profit land trust, is working with the Wood family to preserve this cherished community building. Tickets for the GALA event are $35 each and include hors d’ouvres, refreshments, and beer and wine. For more information about the Evinston Paint Out, go to www.evinstonpaintout.org. To purchase a ticket for the GALA, contact Vicki Leslie Duncan, CTF Development Director at Vicki@conserveflorida.org or (352) 339-6171.

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Your Consistent Canter Y ou know that feeling when you are cantering along and the horse is very relaxed and rhythmic? When the cool air passes through your helmet and the reins make contact, but horse and rider seem so together? That’s where we are at the Florida Horse Park. Our Phase One construction of the new lavatory and concession facility is underway. The permitting stage for our well and water improvement was approved by Marion County administration. The new well will be well underway by the time you read this article! I know we still have a lot of work to do but this calls for a happy dance right through the arena at the Park! The permitting of any project takes the most time and energy. We truly appreciate the fine work of Ted Graham and Tanya Easton of Specialized Services and the rest of the project management team – Lee Clymer of Farner Barley Engineering and Larry Krietemyer of KP Studio Architect. The requirements for the construction bids have been forwarded to several local contractors and the work should be underway shortly with an estimated completion in July. The Archaeological and Historical Survey of our lovely 500 acres has been completed and approved. Thank you for the fine work of our volunteers and our attorney on this matter, Arlene C. Udick. Our events have been overwhelming. Spring dressage was windy fun for all. The Sunshine State International Combined Driving Event was an incredible success with drivers representing three countries and states from across

FLORIDA HORSE PARK

the country. The weather again presented some obstacle early in the week. The Sunshine State CDE is such a lovely spectacle. Awards were again presented by Commissioner Barbara Fitos. Barbara commented on the skill and mastery of the driving. “Barbara, watch for the horse that does not like ribbons. Give it to the assistant!” Again, it is a pleasure to work with the Florida Horse Park. I encourage you to come by, take a look at our new signage directing you to the latest construction. You will see the cranes and equipment on the east side. The new tunnels under 475 and 475 A are under construction to give our trail riders, hikers and bikers a safe passage from east to west, right under the roadway. We have a lot of construction going on. Keep cantering along with us, the trails are great – Visit Cactus Jack’s trail riding, watch Polo every Saturday at 4 p.m., enjoy our events, put Day at the Park April 17 on your calendar and visit our website www.flhorsepark.com. ■

Happy trails, Connie Duff Wise, Chairman Florida Horse Park

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Sand, Stars Kim and Dennis Mitchell hosted 350 guests at their Kimberden South in Ocala Friday night, March 19, in the inaugural “Sand, Stars and Guitars.” The event, with title sponsor The Sanctuary - Equine Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation Center, was a benefit for Sister Care Charities and featured the famous Kimberden shrimp boil, music by Jimmy Buffet’s opening band, the Landsharks, and festivities for all. 2

5 6

JOAN FORR

ER PHOTOS

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& Guitars 7

12 10

1) Kim and Dennis Mitchell 2) Dr. David Menard and Joe Shanks 3) The crowd enjoying the tiki bar 4) Dylan Thomas and Lisa Engel 5) Dennis Kruegler and Mona Kylins 6) Steve and Tammy Schrader 7) Morgan Silver and Suzy DeChamplain 8) Laurie Russell, Kim Mitchell and Susan Chase 9) The Landshark Band jams in the Kimberden arena 10) Don and Brenda McDuffee, Tim Admonius 11) Kelly Moore, Lisa Engel, Jason Lister, Dylan Thomas 12) Brenda and Don McDuffee, Cherie Kirkbride, Ann Admonius

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Florida Thoroughbred Retirement Farm

Situated on 100 grassy acres in northeast Marion County,

The farm is operated in conjunction with the Florida Department of Corrections and Marion Correctional Institution and all the horses are cared for by female inmates from the Lowell Correctional Institute. The women, all non-violent offenders, spend their days learning barn management skills including grooming, feeding, doctoring, and physical therapy and they help teach the horses new disciplines. It’s a symbiotic relationship whereby the horses learn the skills they need to go on to new careers and the inmates learn about teamwork and trust. At the conclusion of the year-long program, having successfully passed 22 written tests covering all aspects of horse care, inmates graduate with a vocational certificate in equine care technology. Upon their release, some of the graduates have gone on to work in the industry as grooms and stable managers. Two famous Florida-bred champions permanently reside at the farm: Carterista, the 1993 Florida Champion Turf Horse and winner of eight stakes races, and Shake You Down, the 2003 Florida Champion Sprinter and winner of nearly $1.5 million.

Meredith Woods Photos

the Florida Thoroughbred Retirement Farm is home to more than 50 Florida-bred ex-racehorses. All of the horses arrive at the farm after their careers on the racetrack are over. Sure, their racing days are behind them, but after rest and retraining, many of the horses at the Florida TRF are ready for adoption. Many go on to enjoy second careers in dressage, trail riding, jumping, pleasure riding and other uses. Even those horses that are not rideable may find adoptive homes as companion animals. As more horses are adopted into new homes, more spaces are available for horses to join the Florida TRF program.

The Florida TRF currently has a waiting list for incoming Thoroughbreds. In order to join the list, the horse should be a Florida-bred Thoroughbred, coming straight from the track. The horse should be retired due to age or physical condition. Contact Florida Thoroughbred Charities for more information at 352-629-2160. A donation is requested along with each horse accepted into the program. Founded in 2001, the farm is supported though the concentrated efforts of Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association, Florida Thoroughbred Charities, Ocala Breeders’Sales Company, Gulfstream Park, Calder Race Course, Tampa Bay Downs, the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, the national Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, as well as by many individuals who contribute through donations and fundraising efforts. For more information on adopting a retired Florida-bred racehorse, please contact the FTBOA offices at 352-629-2160. Since 1990 Florida Thoroughbred Charities, the non-profit, charitable arm of the FTBOA has raised more than $3.5 million for a variety of community and Thoroughbred industry causes. Much of the fundraising efforts are made possible due to the support FTBOA and FTC receive from corporate sponsorship.

FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’ AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION 801 SW 60th Ave. • Ocala, FL 34474 352-629-2160 • Fax: 352-629-3603 www.ftboa.com • info@ftboa.com

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Equine Care

Stem cells, bone marrow, platelet-rich plasma, and IRAP help the body heal itself. By DENISE STEFFANUS nlisting the body’s help to heal itself is the next great frontier in medicine, and work done in equine medicine, with the horse as a model, promises to further both human and veterinary medicine. On March 4, a group of dedicated scientists met in SantaYnez Valley, California, to form the North American Veterinary Regenerative Medicine Association. One day later, they held the Association’s inaugural conference, a collaboration of the University of California-Davis, Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center in Los Olivos, California, and Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington. Twenty-five experts in the field of regenerative medicine—human and veterinary—addressed more than 300 veterinarians, researchers, physicians, and other individuals interested in furthering the use of regenerative techniques. The groundbreaking conference was moderated by

Gregory Ferraro, D.V.M., director of the UC-Davis Center for Equine Health, which established its Regenerative Medicine Laboratory on May 18, 2009. Doug Herthel, D.V.M., founder of Alamo Pintado and a pioneer in equine regenerative therapy, hosted the two-day event. Bill Casner, co-owner of WinStar Farm in Lexington, Ky., gave the keynote address, “A Horseowner’s Views and Experiences with Stem Cell Technology for the Racehorse.” ANSWERS AND MORE QUESTIONS

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), although still an enigma, may be the key to better healing of acute injuries and tissue damage. Already successfully used to treat certain types of tendon and ligament injuries, MSCs show the ability to retard the degradation of cartilage and hasten fracture repair, but much more research needs to be done in these two areas. What practitioners do know is that injecting the site

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Equine Care of an injury with MSCs significantly reduces pain within 24-48 hours, even when imaging modalities show no physical change. What they don’t know is why or how. MSCs also dramatically reduce inflammation. This combination of effects enables the horse to be more comfortable while it is healing. Work with laminitic horses indicates that MSCs address the three major components of this disease by improving circulation, decreasing inflammation, and alleviating pain. For laminitis and other conditions helped by stem-cell therapy, success is more likely to occur in acute cases treated early than in chronic cases. A big plus for regenerative therapy is its absence of adverse reactions. Because in most cases, the biological products used are derived from the patient’s own body, rejection does not occur. Even biological products from donors seldom cause adverse reactions. Bottom line, scientists are merely harnessing the body’s healing mechanisms to do the job they were designed to do. Arnold Caplan, Ph.D., director of the Skeletal Research Center at Case Western Reserve University, is one of the foremost biologists exploring MSCs in human research. In his presentation, Caplan called MSCs an “injury-specific drug store,” because he believes these messengers signal the body’s protective cells to rush to the site of injured or diseased tissue to prevent cell death and formation of scar tissue, while they promote the growth of new blood vessels and regenerate tissue. One of Caplan’s interesting discoveries is an indication that MSCs derived from fat cells need a different protein stimulus to drive them to evolve into cartilage cells (chondrocytes) than do MSCs derived from bone marrow. So MSCs of different origins may have a specificity of purpose, depending upon their environment. He also found that the quantity of stem cells in a body declines significantly with age. Because researchers have only scratched the surface of this field of science, discovering minute details about MSCs and how they function promises to improve future stem-cell therapy. 62 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2010

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Besides minute details, big questions remain: When is the best time after trauma to begin stem-cell therapy? How often should it be delivered? How many stem cells are needed per treatment? What type of environment is best to facilitate the stem cells’ work? Why do some individual patients respond better than others? The astonishing fact is that without knowing the answers to these basic questions, clinicians are still obtaining remarkable results GETTING RESULTS

One of the challenges faced by researchers and practitioners is to get stem cells to remain where they put them—at the site of the damaged tissue or fracture. Some stem cells delivered to a site will die, while others may migrate to other parts of the anatomy, presumably where the body detects healing also is needed.

Another challenge is the accurate delivery of stem cells to certain areas, such as inside the hoof, which may not be possible because imaging necessary to guide the needle cannot penetrate the hoof wall. To solve both these problems, equine medicine is using distal limb perfusion. A tourniquet is applied above the site to be treated, and stem cells are delivered intravenously below the tourniquet. This method commonly is used to confine antibiotic therapy to a particular area, and it seems to be effective in localizing and concentrating stem-cell treatment, as well. Wesley Sutter, D.V.M., a surgeon at Ocala Equine Hospital, has had success combining platelet-rich plasma (PRP) with stem cells in treating tendon and ligament injuries. During his presentation, he said his impression is that PRP alone is not sufficient for treating large lesions in tendons in racing Thoroughbreds.

Types of Regenerative Therapy Several means of regenerative therapy are used today in equine medicine: Mesenchymal stem cells: Called multipotential, because they have the potential to evolve into different types of cell lines, depending on where they are needed and what stimulates them, mesenchymal stem cells are basic building blocks of tissue. The ability of these cells to survey and support ill or damaged cells with growth factors and cytokines may be as important as their ability to be multipotent. When injected at the site of an injury, they may evolve into the type of cells that comprise the damaged tissue and can begin to regenerate healthier tissue. A misconception is that stem cells must be derived from an embryo. Most commonly, stem cells are derived from three sources: bone marrow, adipose tissue (fat), and umbilical cord blood and tissue. They can be autologous—obtained from the patient’s own body—or allogeneic—obtained from a donor. Autologous bone marrow: Bone marrow, which contains stem cells, fibrin, granulocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, and growth factors, is aspirated from the patient’s sternum or the point of its hip (tuber coxae) and immediately injected into the site of the injury. Bone marrow contains fewer stem cells than fat tissue, but the growth factors and other nutrient cells present work together to enhance healing. Recent technology has enabled bone-marrow aspirate to be significantly concentrated before it is injected into damaged tissue. Platelet-rich plasma: Platelets in blood contain growth factors that stimulate cells in injured tissue to begin healing and draw new cells to the injured area. Blood is drawn from the patient and centrifuged to separate the white and red blood cells for removal and to concentrate the platelets in the plasma to five times that of whole blood. The gel is then injected at the site of the injury. PRP is ideal for injuries where healing has plateaued and needs a jump start. IRAP: Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Protein utilizes about 50 milliliters of the horse’s own blood, drawn into a syringe containing special glass beads, and incubated for 24 hours. Then the blood is centrifuged to separate out the red blood cells. That leaves a concentrated serum rich in antiinflammatory proteins that attach to specific receptors in the cartilage to prevent them from hosting interleukin-1, an inflammatory agent that causes degradation of the cartilage.—Denise Steffanus

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He observed that PRP jump-starts the heal- ming for musculoskeletal repair. Although regenerative medicine is in its ining process by providing an anabolic effect at 30-60 days after treatment, but the control fancy, a huge vote of confidence in its ability group in his study, which did not receive PRP to enhance healing comes from an unlikely source—equine undertherapy, began to catch writers. Insurance comup within the third or fourth month. The economics of treat- panies historically have Sutter said combining a horse with stem cells shied away from paying for innovative therapies, ing PRP with stem cells and keeping it in work are but the steadily growing provides a matrix on which the stem cells huge. Insurance companies number of successful can organize regenercan save loss-of-use pay- outcomes has convinced ated tissue, and growth ments, so they may pay for many insurers that the therapy is an economifactors encourage their stem-cell therapy. cally sound alternative. replication and evolu“The economics of tion into the type cells —Doug Herthel, D.V.M. treating a horse with that comprise the tissue stem cells and keeping it in work are huge,” to be repaired. He reported a slightly higher success rate, Herthel said. “Insurance companies can save defined as making five or more race starts loss-of-use payments, so they may pay for without reinjury, in treating tendon lesions stem-cell therapy.” with a combination of PRP and stem cells than for PRP therapy alone. Sutter added that HORSES HELPING HUMANS PRP may be better suited for treating suspenScientists believe the horse is an ideal sory ligaments. model for developing new forms of treatment Chris Johnson, D.V.M., a surgeon at for orthopedic disease and injuries. The conWoodford Veterinary Clinic near Lexington, tinued success in treating arthritis and other has been treating sesamoid fractures with orthopedic injuries in the horse through rebone marrow extracted from the horse’s own generative medicine is expected to attract body. Marrow is aspirated from either the funding from sources that normally support horse’s sternum or its hip and immediately only human research. laid along the fracture line via injection. In 11 “If you can fix a horse’s joint, you can fix of 13 young horses treated, the sesamoid frac- a human joint,” Herthel said of the successful tures knitted with a bony union. work being done in arthritic horses. “The He also reported a 75-percent success rate ability to reverse arthritis is here. We are in in treating subchondral cysts in stifles of year- the process of figuring out exactly how that lings and two-year-olds with bone-marrow is happening with the use of stem cells.” aspirate and triamcinolone, a long-acting corResponse from the medical profession has ticosteroid. Within 90 days, these horses be- been overwhelming. came sound and stayed sound, he said. “I was overflowing with enthusiasm as I Other presenters included Colorado State sat there. The vet world is leading the way for University’s David Frisbie, D.V.M., Ph.D., regenerative medicine,” Los Angeles physiwho discussed intra-articular stem-cell ther- cian Steven Sampson, M.D., wrote on his apy, and Laurie Goodrich, D.V.M., Ph.D., blog upon his return from the conference. who presented her work in combining gene “The collaboration between the medical therapy and regenerative medicine; Univer- profession and the veterinary profession has sity of Georgia’s John Peroni, D.V.M., who been inspiring, and it has allowed us to move talked about the anti-inflammatory and im- forward at a more rapid rate,” Herthel said. munomodulatory effects of bone-marrowHe credited Ferraro with fostering the derived MSCs; and Cornell University’s spirit of cooperation between these two Alan Nixon, B.V.Sc., M.S., who spoke about groups—one that will benefit both horse and the role of stem-cell gene-induced program- man. ■

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Leading Florida Sires The following list includes currently active, deceased, and pensioned stallions, with racing results updated through March 30, 2010. Statistics provided by The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc.

GRAEME HALL

CHAPEL ROYAL

FULL MANDATE NA Earnings

Stk Gr Strtrs Wnrs SW's Wins SW's

Name

Sire Name

Farm Name

Graeme Hall

Dehere

Winding Oaks

$790,006

Full Mandate

A.P. Indy

Hartley/De Renzo

$635,482

Chapel Royal

Montbrook

Signature Stallions $478,968

Earnings

Leading Earner

$790,344

Sea Gaze

$69,200

$7,430

$635,482

Ron the Greek

$70,500

$2,325

$9,390

$608,147

Blyde River Boy

$46,080

$13,263

$48,364

$60,390

$20,423

$39,115

$220,000

$10,856

$36,650

Wildcat Heir

Forest Wildcat

Journeyman Stud

$592,087

Richiegirlgonewild

Montbrook

Buckaroo

Ocala Stud

$575,483

Amen Hallelujah

Leading Earnings

Yrlg Sold

Yrlg 2yo Avg Sold

2yo Avg $105,400

Put It Back

Honour and Glory Bridlewood Farm

$446,122

$540,772

Jessica Is Back

$105,000

$38,282

$19,500

D'wildcat

Forest Wildcat

Vinery

$487,966

$497,394

D' Funnybone

$180,000

$15,523

$41,661

Double Honor

Gone West

Get Away Farm

$453,847

Jet Propulsion

$192,000

$1,850

$9,940

City Place

Storm Cat

Hartley/De Renzo

$371,941

Wall Street Wonder

$99,000

$16,900

$15,335

Concerto

Chief's Crown

Ocala Stud

$367,146

Concert Stage

$43,830

$4,750

$29,200

64 THE FLORIDA HORSE â&#x20AC;˘ APRIL 2010

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Diversity

Part of Character of Breeders’ Cup rom the first glimmer of vision that materialized in what we have known for more than a quarter century as the Breeders’ Cup, the culmination of each racing season has been a movable feast. It has worked brilliantly, which makes quite troubling the inclination of the event’s current leadership to designate a permanent site. This is one of many potential changes to the Breeders’ Cup due to be announced sometime this month. The event, like most American institutions, is suffering economic hardship that will be exacerbated by declines in stallion and foal nominations in a time of contraction in the breeding industry. The Breeders’ Cup leadership will designate a permanent site at great peril, however. Such a move would be seismic, self destructive and the beginning of the event’s demise. It has appeared in the past that change has been imposed upon the Breeders’ Cup without rationale, for nothing more than the sake of change. The Marathon and turf races for juveniles, for instance, and the expansion of the format to two days have contributed nothing to the event’s character. The renaming of the Distaff to “Ladies Classic” two years ago was met with widespread derision that fell upon deaf ears. The current leadership of the Breeders’ Cup, still in search of its first good decision, appears to be smitten by Santa Anita Park, which is most certainly a fine venue but not perfect. If staging the last two runnings of the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita, where the synthetic surface is at best quirky, is widely seen as unfair if not ridiculous, designating the track as a long-term home to the event is well beyond the pale particularly since there is no legitimate argument to be made in defense of this position beyond the visual impact of the San Gabriel Mountains as a backdrop – on a clear day. Below the surface, the not-for-profit Oak Tree Racing Association, the lessee at Santa Anita during the autumn, has afforded the Breeders’ Cup more favorable division of revenue than Churchill Downs, which is the flagship of a large, publicly traded corporation, and other associations that have in the past served as host. This is a problem for the Breeders’ Cup to solve in negotiations, not reason for a change so radical. Diversity of locale, an integral part of the original vision, has since the outset been part of the Breeders’Cup’s

by Paul Moran

The Breeders’Cup is entirely dependent upon support of the industry at large. It does not exist in a vacuum. Its current leaders would do well to spend some time considering the original blueprint and embracing the founders’tenants.

66 THE FLORIDA HORSE • APRIL 2010

character. It has been run in various weathers in suburban Toronto, Chicago, Dallas and on the New Jersey shore. When Gulfstream Park was a racetrack in the true sense, it provided a more than suitable stage. All the while, New York, Louisville and Southern California – Santa Anita and Hollywood Park—formed the core of a rotation that should not be mitigated. No comparable sporting event independent of individual city-based franchises – the Super Bowl, Final Four, World Cup and Olympic Games – one of the cornerstone concepts of its founders is to expose many people in many places to racing at its best. If anchoring the Cup at Santa Anita were defensible in some important business sense there would at least be a fragile argument to be made on its behalf. But Churchill Downs has consistently provided the largest live audiences for the event and betting handle in an age of commingled international pools is dependent upon the quality and size of the fields, not location. Designation of a permanent host site would likely set the Breeders’ Cup adrift from the racetracks on which it would turn its back, specifically Belmont Park. As it is, the autumn schedule of important races run in NewYork is amounts to a staging area for horses advancing toward Breeders’ Cup races. Rescheduling those races would create chaos and probably direct competition in a setting that offers a dirt surface. This is not as far-fetched as it might appear. A good deal of acrimony festers beneath the relationship between the Breeders’ Cup and New York Racing Association, which has been eschewed since 2005. The autumn schedule at Belmont Park provides a Grade I alternative to almost every race on the Breeders’ Cup menu, each a prestigious title in its own right. The Breeders’ Cup is entirely dependent upon support of the industry at large. It does not exist in a vacuum. Its current leaders would do well to spend some time considering the original blueprint and embracing the founders’ tenants. The concept worked brilliantly long before the current officers were seated. Most recent changes to the format were ill conceived and unnecessary, exercises in change for the sake of change, which has never been and never will be a good—to use the word favored by those now steering the ship — “strategic” plan. It appears that the Breeders’ Cup has a gun in its hand and its foot in sight. ■

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