Florida Horse March 2017

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Thank You Florida Stallions for supporting

Ocala Stud

Ocala Stud

Uncaptured Ocala Stud

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Journeyman Stud

Jess’s Dream

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The Big Beast

Ocala Stud

Khozan

Ocala Stud

Fury Kapcori Journeyman Stud

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Prospective

Ocala Stud

High Cotton

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Ocala Stud

Field Commission Solera Farm

Awesome of Course

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Adios Charlie

Bridlewood Farm

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Stonehedge Farm South

Chitu

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Cajun Breeze

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Florida Thoroughbred Retirement

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Importa Important nt FTBOA A Dates and d Deadlines Deadlinees 2017

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March 2017 VOL 60/ISSUE 3

DEPARTMENTS —By Brock Sheridan

6 12

BROCK TALK

FLORIDA FOCUS

27 LATE BREAKING LEGISLATIVE NEWS 28 FTBOA LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 30 TAMPA BAY DOWNS FESTIVAL / PREVIEW DAY —Photos by Serita Hult

54

AROUND THE COUNTRY

57 64

2016 SIRES OF STAKES HORSES FTBOA NEWS

65

FTBOA MEMBER UPDATE

Country-wide Florida-bred statistics

Jane Murray named Director of Administration & Operations

—By Tammy A. Gantt

66

—By Roberto Rodriguez

68

EL POTRO

—By Mike Mullaney

90

DRIFTING OUT

—By Gene Kershner

GENE’S JARGON

FEATURES & COLUMNS 8

Double Diamond Farm and Northwest Stallions — Photos by Serita Hult

STALLION SWOWCASE

32 PEGASUS-GATE

Arrogate triumphs in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational —By Brock Sheridan

38 GULFSTREAM PARK’S SUNSHINE RACES The five events went down to the wire —By Mike Mullaney

Recap of the races at OBS Race Course in Ocala, FL.. —By Brock Sheridan

42 OBS CHAMPIONS DAY

48 EQUINE TRANSPORTATION: MAKE SMART CHOICES

Whether you are buying your own trailer or going commercial —By Cynthia McFarland

62 TRANSFORMATION MAKEOVER —By Tammy A. Gantt 4 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017

COVER PHOTO OF HY RIVERSIDE: LESLIE MARTIN CONTENTS PHOTO OF MIA TORRI: ANDIE BIANCONE

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the Brock talk

Brock Sheridan

Editor-in-Chief Florida Equine Communications

C

ongratulations to Frank Stronach, his daughter Belinda Stronach and their entire team at Gulfstream Park on the overwhelming success of the inaugural, $12 million Pegasus World Cup (G1). As Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said after Juddmonte Farms’ Arrogate took home the $7 million first prize, “the race definitely had a Kentucky Derby or Breeders’ Cup feel to it.”

It was a good crowd that paid the $100 general admission, $20 to park and considerably more for selected seats and tables throughout the track. Attracting 16,000 fans is one thing, but quite another to facilitate their wagering, eating and general enjoyment. But Gulfstream Park officials pulled it off seamlessly.

Not only was the Pegasus race itself a huge success in terms of presenting a quality field, but the entire day included full fields in good races that kept wagering challenging and enjoyable. In an age when big stakes in other states feature four, five and six horse fields, it is refreshing to have so many full and competitive races on which to wager.

The Grade 3 William McKnight featured a full field of 12 with the favorite going off at better than 3-1. The Grade 3 La Prevoyante Handicap also had 12 starters and Suffused was the relatively heavy favorite at 3-2. The $125,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint also had a full gate with the punters making Manhattan Dan the fave at more than 2-1.

Power Alert won at 3.3-1. Nine went to the post for the $125,000 Ladies Turf Sprint with Nite Delite going off as

PATRICIA MCQUEEN PHOTO

JOHN D. FILER PHOTO

Pegasus Success

6 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017

the favorite at 5-2. Pretty Perfection won as a longshot at 13-1. Imperative won against eight others including 3-5 choice Stanford in the $400,000 Poseiden Handicap.

Curlin’s Approval was the only odds-on winner during the 12-race card before Arrogate took the Pegasus at 9-10.

Curlin’s Approval won the $100,000 Hurricane Bertie.

In response, racing fans across the country and at Gulfstream Park wagered more than $40 million on the card setting a handle record for the facility. Fans bet $15.68 million on the Pegasus alone—not bad for a race that featured two heavy favorites in Arrogate and California Chrome with third choice Keen Ice going off at 16-1. The previous record was $32 million wagered on the day of 2016 Florida Derby (G1) won by eventual Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Nyquist.

Gulfstream also placed the Pegasus Trophy in the winners’ circle where fans could have their picture taken throughout the day for a $5 donation to the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.

The day also featured plenty of stars including Usher, Gene Simmons, Vanessa Hudgens, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Aaron Paul and Mike Ditka, among others.

But as attractive as the stars were, it was the day-to-day racing fans that came from far and wide to see the first Pegasus. The race was the swan song for Horse of the Year California Chrome and his “Chromies” were there for their last chance to see him run. There were fans from Europe, California, Canada and several other distant locations who made themselves known with their signs saluting California Chrome and their large numbers.

There were ladies in beautiful dresses and large hats and men in loud sport coats and bow ties smoking cigars. There were lobsters on the buffet and desserts to die for. There were legendary horses on the track, money going through the betting windows and celebrities who traveled from that “other” Hollywood on the west coast. In short, the Pegasus certainly lived up to and perhaps exceeded expectations. It definitely had a “Kentucky Derby or Breeders’ Cup” feel to it.

My hat is off to Gulfstream Park for the success of Pegasus I. ■

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2017

Stallion Showcase

Ocala/Marion County thoroughbred farms opened their doors to prospective breeders last month as the area’s popular stallion shows got underway.

PHOTOS BY SERITA HULT

Double Diamond

Farm

First Dude (above) stands for $10,000

Bahamian Squall (at left) stands for $5,000 8 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017

SERITA PHOTOS

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FIRST DUDE 2017 Fee: $10,000

BAHAMIAN SQUALL 2017 Fee: $5,000

by Stephen Got Even–Run Sarah Run by Smart Strike

Gone West—Midway Squall, by Storm Bird

58% Winners From Starters

Only Son of Gone West in Florida Raced Until 6

20 Wins in 2017

AT THREE WON

Sire of Florida Champion 3 Year Old Filly Flora Dora As of February 15, 2017

G2 Smile Sprint

AT FOUR PLACED G1 Alfred G Vanderbilt • Gulfstream Park Sprint G3 Sunshine Million Sprint • Sunshine State Stakes

AT FIVE PLACED Damascus Stakes Donald R.Dizney

https://www.facebook.com/pages/First-Dude/130049330338431

Standing: First Dude & Bahamian Squall • Contact Roger Brand, Jimmy Alexander or Melissa Anthony for stallion inquiries 899 S.W. 85th Ave., Ocala, FL 34481 • (352) 237-3834 Fax: (352) 237-6069 • visit-www.doublediamondfarm.com

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2017

Stallion Showcase Northwest

Stud

Wrote (top) stands for $3,000

Flashstorm (above) stands for $2,500

Gone Astray (middle) stands for $5,000

Duke Of Mischief (at right) stands for $2,000 10 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017

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Florida FOCUS by Mike Mullaney & Brock Sheridan The $100,000 Ruthless Stakes Jan. 14 was a done deal on the far turn where the favored Florida-bred Yorkiepoo Princess engulfed second-choice Waves of Blue, then went on to rout the field in the six-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies.

The victory was all the more impressive in that the winner broke outwardly after the ground broke from under her feet at the break.

A snowstorm kicked in during Sunny Ridge’s race but the only flurry in the Ruthless was the pummeling administered by the bargain-priced Yorkiepoo Princess, an $8,000 OBS purchase last April, who crossed the wire 7½ lengths best under Irad Ortiz.

Tiz Rae Anna was second by a half-length with Banty’s Girl third. Waves of Blue, who opened with a :23.58 quarter-mile on the fast track, faded to last in the field of six.

Yorkiepoo Princess set the remaining frac-

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‘Yorkiepoo’ Plays With Competition

Florida-bred Yorkiepoo Princess

tions – :46.91 and :59.19 – before Ortiz throttled her down to a winning time of 1:12.42.

“I knew she was going well at the threeeighths and I knew she could keep going at the pace, so I just let her keep going,” said Ortiz, who is undefeated in three starts on the

brown filly. In previous collaborations they broke her maiden by 12¼ lengths against $62,500 claiming company on Oct. 2 at Belmont and most recently won the Furlough Stakes at Aqueduct by 2¾ lengths on Nov. 24.

“I went for the lead a little early last time, so

$110G for Florida-bred Baby by ‘Bobby’

SERITA HULT PHOTO

Ocala Breeders’ Sales kicked off their 2017 auction season Jan. 25 with Into Mischief out of Pashmina, by Pentelicus. Bringing a final bid of $85,000 the first day of their Winter Mixed Sale featuring a Consignor Preferred Session from Fox Hill Farm Paso Fino LLC of Ocala, the filly is a half-sister to stakes and a Horses of Racing Age Session. winner Pashito The Che and stakes-placed Bling. She was bred by Carlos The top seller on the day at $110,000 was Hip 10, a Florida-bred, year- Morales and Joe Applebaum’s Off The Hook Partners LLC of Morriston & Vinling filly from the second crop of champion Shanghai Bobby out of the cent Perez’s Farm III Enterprises LLC also of Morriston. stakes-placed mare Yankee Victoria, by Yankee Victor. The dark bay or brown filly was consigned by Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck’s Sum- SECOND DAY LEADERS merfield, Agent and she was bred by Kris R. Del Giudice of Ocala. East HickHip No. 490, a yearling son of Yes It’s True consigned by Select Sales, Agent, man Bloodstock purchased the filly. went to Zachary Kilgus for $28,000 to top the Jan. 26 Open Session. The bay The top seller from the Horses of Racing Age Session was Hip 202, a colt is out of Datttcatsgotrhythm, by Tale of the Cat, a half-sister to graded4-year-old Munnings mare Lake Sebago that sold for $87,000. Consigned stakes-placed Tenfold, from the family of Grade 1 winner Chaposa Springs.

Hip No 473, a dark bay or brown Florida-bred

by Lisa McGreevy’s Abbie Road Farm, Agent, Lake Sebago has won three races and $243,225 durcolt by Handsome Mike consigned by Beth Bayer, ing her racing career. She is out of Aviva’s Pride, Agent, was sold to Patriot Racing for $22,000.

by Borrego. Aviva’s Pride is also a half-sister to He’s out of Clever Dancer, by Old Fashioned, a stakes winner and graded-stakes-placed runner daughter of stakes winner Ashville.

Hollinger and stakes-placed Hot and Spicy. DouWill Brewer, Agent, also went to $22,000 for glas Arnold purchased her.

Hip No. 485, My Daddy Kan, a Florida-bred chestThe Summerfield consignment also sold as an nut colt by Kantharos out of stakes placed Daddy’s Agent the third highest priced yearling on the day Honor, by The Daddy, consigned by Summerfield.

Florida-bred sale topper, Hip No. 10 in Hip 136, another Florida-bred filly, this one by ■ —Brock Sheridan 12 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017

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and that’s an advantage.”

Florida-bred Kissin Cassie was scratched. ■ —Mike Mullaney

LAUREN KING PHOTO

I didn’t want to change things. The track had been playing well for speed so I let her move a little early to try to make the lead as soon as we had an opportunity. She was ready.”

Off at 4-5, she paid $3.60.

Carrying 122 pounds and giving away from four to six pounds to the others, she earned $60,000 in the Ruthless, boosting her career earnings to $154,811. She came into the race off a 2¾-length score in the Furlough Stakes at Aqueduct on Nov. 24. She has three wins from her six starts.

Yorkiepoo Princess, who is owned by Danny Chen and was bred in Morriston by Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck, is a daughter of Kantharos out of Kickapoo Princess, by Unreal Zeal.

Eddie Barker, who trains the filly, was happy to let Ortiz call the shots.

“I left it up to Irad … he was just sitting on her. But what a turn of foot!” Barker said.

“I couldn’t get over it. Irad knows the horse,

Forever Plus

Hall of Famer Nick Zito Saddles 2,000th Winner Nick Zito saddled the 2,000th winner of his career Jan. 16 at Gulfstream Park, where Forever Plus registered a gate-to-wire victory under Nik Juarez in the second race to help

his Hall of Fame trainer reach the milestone.

“The way these young trainers win 4,000 and 5,000, I feel like the oldest guy in Little League,” said the 68-year-old trainer following a winner’s circle ceremony marking his career milestone.

Forever Plus, sent to post at 3-1, held gamely to prevail by a head in the 1 1/16 mile turf race for $16,000 claiming fillies and mares.

“It feels great. It’s been a long journey.

Thank God, we’re probably at the top of the stretch, where we still have a quarter of a mile left. That’s what we’re trying to do, keep it going,” Zito said.

Zito’s horses have earned nearly $110 million during a training career that began in 1972, when he saddled Palais for his first victory at Liberty Bell in Pennsylvania after serving as an assistant to John Campo and LeRoy Jolley.

Zito’s 2,000 career victories include a pair of triumphs in the Kentucky Derby (G1) with

THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017 13

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Florida FOCUS reer highlights at Gulfstream.

“The Florida Derbys were special, and the Donn isn’t a bad race either,” Zito said. “I’ve had a lot of great memories here and hopefully we’ll keep it going.”

Other Zito-trained graded-stakes winners at Gulfstream include Cool Coal Man (2008 Fountain of Youth) Mr. Greeley (1995 Spectacular Bid and Swale), Sir Shackleton (2005 Richter Scale), Commentator (2008 Richter Scale), S.S. Stone (2011 Skip Away), Jackson Bend (2012 Hal’s Hope), Fort Loudon (2013 Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship) and Spot (2014 Swale).

“I’m really appreciative of Gulfstream.

They do a good job with everything – horsemen, fans – so I appreciate that. This thing happened here, and I’m happy for that,” Zito said. ■

In Memoriam Rene Araya Multiple graded-stakes-winning trainer Rene Araya, a longtime veteran on the New York Racing Association, died on Jan. 26 in Florida at the age of 73.

A longtime resident of Floral Park, N.Y., Araya began his career in horse racing working for Maryland-based trainers Jack Weipert and Pedro Biones before taking out his trainer’s license in 1985.

He trained throughout the Mid-Atlantic circuit and became a regular at NYRA tracks in 1992.

Araya saddled 354 winners with career earnings of more than $9.8 million during his 31-year career, including his last with General Sham’mah in July of 2016 at Gulfstream Park.

A native of Chile, Araya saddled former claimer McKaymackenna to seven stakes victories, including a pair of Grade 3 wins in 1993, the Beaugay Handicap and Noble Damsel. He also trained Nappelon, winner of the 1995 Grade 2 Comely, who Araya claimed for $35,000 earlier that year, as well as stakes winners T Storm, Textbook Method and Standswithafist.

Araya briefly retired in 2004 and worked as a jockey’s agent before returning to training the following year. He also took a three-year hiatus from 2008-11. In 2015, he relocated his stable to South Florida with his wife, Gloria.

“Rene was a great guy,” said longtime owner Paul Pompa, Jr., who teamed up with Araya to win the 2002 Yaddo at Saratoga with Textbook Method. “He was a terrific human being. When I started [owning horses], he was my first trainer. It’s so overwhelming when you become an owner, you need to have somebody explain everything and teach you what to do, and Rene was so special. He basically tried his best to explain how to run horses, raise them in class, drop them in class.

“There’s so much to learn and he was such a gentleman,” he continued. “In the first year, I probably called him once a day, twice a day, and he never got frustrated. He was always so kind and he educated me a lot. He was always upbeat. He had the enthusiasm of a 30-year-old, which is a great quality to have. He had a lovely, lovely family and they all became good friends with my family.”

Araya is survived by his wife Gloria, daughters Carmen and Elba and son Ricardo. ■ —Mike Mullaney 14 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017

Chitu

LOUISE REINAGEL PHOTO

Strike the Gold (1991) and Go for Gin (1994), as well as successes in the Preakness Stakes (G1) with Louis Quatorze in 1996 and the Belmont Stakes (G1) with Birdstone in 2004 and Da’Tara in 2008. He also captured the Kentucky Oaks (G1) in 2003 with Bird Town.

Zito also enjoyed Breeders’ Cup success with Storm Song (1996 Juvenile Fillies) and War Pass (2007 Juvenile), both of whom were honored with Eclipse Awards.

The native New Yorker was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005, the same year in which he saddled High Fly for the first of three Florida Derby (G1) successes. He also saddled back-to-back winners of the tradition-rich Triple Crown prep in 2010-2011 with Ice Box and Dialed In, respectively.

Stephen Got Even’s victory in the 2000 Donn Handicap (G1) is also among Zito’s many ca-

First Foal is a Colt for Bridlewood’s Chitu Bridlewood Farm’s Chitu sired his first reported foal Jan. 6th when a chestnut colt was born at Hacienda De La Oca Farm in Ocala, Fla. “He is very nice and getting nicer every day. Very correct and balanced, and lots of energy,” said John Ocasio, breeder of the colt from the Silver Train mare Hailee’s Act. “In my eyes, this colt looks like a spitting image of his sire, who is an exceptional individual himself ” added George Isaacs, Bridlewood General Manager. “If Chitu stamps them all like this, we will be well on our way.”

On the track, Chitu was an undefeated 2year-old after being purchased for $300,000 at OBS March Select by trainer Bob Baffert on behalf of owner Susan Chu’s Tanma Corporation. At three, the imposing chestnut stretched out around two turns and was runner-up in the Robert Lewis S. (G2) at Santa Anita, before earning his way into the Kentucky Derby with a victory in the 1 1/8-mile Sunland Derby (G3).

Chitu returned to sprinting and won the Damascus S. on the Breeders’ Cup undercard, and he closed out his 3-year-old campaign by placing in the Malibu S. (G1) at Santa Anita, yielding late to champion Shared Belief to be beaten only three-quarters of a length in the latter. He retired to Bridlewood with earnings of $597,800.

By champion Beholder’s sire, Henny Hughes, Chitu is out of the A.P. Indy mare Sea Gift. He proved to be one of the most popular stallions in Florida in 2016, breeding 77 mares in his first book. Chitu is set to stand

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Florida FOCUS going six furlongs, and finishing second, and finishing well, to Whiteley rival The Great Ronaldo over a muddy surface last-time out going 5½ furlongs on Dec. 26. In between was a third-place finish under Paco Lopez to the talented El Areeb in the six-furlong James B. Lewis Fla.-bred, Rider a Potent Combination Nov. 19. All of his starts have been at Laurel.

High Roller, off at 5-1 and breaking from the rail in the eight-horse Hot young rider Trevor McCarthy won three stakes on the same program for the first time at Laurel Jan. 21, but it was his ride aboard field, pressed a hotly contested pace set by the longshots Generous a promising 3-year-old Florida-bred that had him thinking beyond the Jack (21-1), Blackjack Buster (22-1) and The Great Ronaldo (17-1 despite his recent win) through an opening day at hand.

Florida-bred High Roller quarter-mile in :23.15 and :46.63 as the 2-5 fa“He’s going to want to go farther, big vorite O Dionysius raced in midpack. time,” McCarthy said after winning the The pacesetters collapsed turning for home seven-furlong Frank Whiteley Stakes. as High Roller, given a heady ride along the “I can’t wait to ride him going longer. rail by McCarthy, sprang to a two-length lead We’ll see what he’s got.” coming off the turn, getting the jump on O The Whiteley was one of four stakes on the Dionysius. program, all of which carried a purse of McCarthy cleverly tilted his mount three-wide in the drive and, $75,000: the Native Dancer for older horses, the Nellie Morse for older when O Dionysius finally got untracked, they kept the favorite pinned fillies and mares, and the Marshua for 3-year-old fillies.

McCarthy’s other winners came aboard Star Super in the Marshua to the inside, prevailing by a half-length.

“We thought [O Dionysus] was the horse to beat and that’s how it and Winter in the Nellie Morse. The venerable Page McKenney won ended up,” winning trainer Dale Capuano said. “We weren’t crazy the Native Dancer with Horacio Karamanos up.

McCarthy had been aboard High Roller in two of his previous three about the one-hole for him but we thought he’d like going farther, races, breaking the High Cotton colt’s maiden at first asking Sept. 11 which it looked like he did, so it’s all good.”

High Roller paid $12.20 after hitting the wire in 1:23.86.

Butch Walker was third, 1¼ lengths behind O Dionysius.

“He broke really good for me and he was sharp. I was able to get him back a little bit,” McCarthy said. “I’ve been telling Dale he needs to go seven-eighths. He needs more [distance].”

Capuano said Laurel’s one-mile Miracle Wood on Feb. 18 will be next for the Lou Ullman and Stephen Parker-owned bay, who was bred in Florida by Adam and Suzette Parker.

Coming out of the deMeric Sales consignment, the hammer fell at $30,000 for High Roller at the spring sale of 2-year-olds in training at OBS last April. Out of the Grand Slam mare Elective, he has earned $86,620 thus far.

High Roller’s Dosage Profile of 5-8-10-1-0 speaks to his potential to go a classic distance: His Dosage Index is 3.00 and his Center of Distribution of +0.71. ■ —Mike Mullaney MJC PHOTO

his second season at Bridlewood for a fee of $4,500 stands and nurses.

For more information about Chitu, please contact George Isaacs at 352-622-5319, or visit BridlewoodFarm.com. ■

Streaking R Angel Katelyn Wins 3rd Straight

16 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017

The talented Florida-bred 3-year-old filly R Angel Katelyn just keeps on rolling, registering a 1¾-length tally in Tampa Bay Downs’ $100,000 Gasparilla. It was her third consecutive stakes victory.

The daughter of Ocala Stud stallion High Cotton was in front through most of the running and her margin at the wire was 1¾ lengths over Jumby Bay, but the most harrowing part of the journey to the winner’s circle came after the wire, when the stewards and the runner-up’s rider, Jesus Castanon, claimed foul against R Angel Katelyn and her rider, Edwin Gonzalez.

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R Angel Katelyn paid $4 for winning the Gasparilla and completed the seven-furlong race in 1:23.94 over a fast track.

“This track always slows later in the day, and when I saw she ran the half-mile in (44.32 seconds), I thought she was going a little too quick,” Bennett said, “but she has been training like a monster in the mornings, and she showed a lot of class [in this race].”

Lirica was five lengths behind Jumby Bay to get third.

R Angel Katelyn and Lirica were highweighted at 120 pounds, spotting three-to-four pounds to the rest of the field.

A $50,000 purchase at last April’s 2-year-olds and horses of racing age sale at OBS, R Angel Katelyn earned $60,000 for Saturday’s victory, bumping her career earnings to $207,120.

Bred and consigned by Craig Wheeler, she was purchased by Barry Berkelhammer. The R Angel Katelyn brown filly, who was named for one of Averill’s daughters, was produced by the Southern Halo mare Send for an Angel.

Noting the filly’s activity in recent months, Bennett didn’t commit but did indicate that the $100,000 Suncoast Stakes at a mile and 40 yards at Tampa on Feb. 11 might be next.

Her pedigree indicates she can go on: She has a solid Dosage Profile of 6-4-11-1-0 with a Dosage Index of 2.38 and a Center of Distribution of +0.68. ■ —Mike Mullaney SV PHOTOGRAPHY

Open to all 3-year-old fillies, the race was part of the Skyway Festival of Racing program, which also featured the Gasparilla’s counterpart for 3-year-old males, the $100,000 Pasco, won by The Money Monster, and the $50,000 Wayward Lass for older fillies and mares, which was won by No Fault of Mine.

The Gasparilla provided 93-1 J’s Indian Charm with her moment in the sun as she led the nine-filly field through an opening quarter in :22.02, but R Angel Katelyn, recovered from a bump at the break, took over at the half. Third-choice Jumby Bay was a handful loading into the gate but she broke alertly from the extreme outside post and was never more than a length off R Angel Katelyn early, stalking the evenmoney favorite through a half-mile in :44.32.

It became evident on the turn that the Gasparilla would be decided by these two. R Angel Katelyn appeared to have the measure of her opponent, but on two occasions crossed into the same path that Jumby Bay was taking, and it was those sidesteps that the stewards wanted to examine after the race.

Bennet, who saddled the runners-up in the two other stakes on the card, expressed confidence, and concern, while awaiting a decision from upstairs.

“She was winning easy,” Bennett said. “[Jumby Bay] wasn’t going to get by her.”

A few moments later, word came down that, yes, R Angel Katelyn was a legitimate winner of her fourth race in five starts. The victory came before her Bradenton owners, Rich Averill (of Averill Racing), Clark Freeman (of CCF Racing Stable) and Roger Smith (of K Lauren Racing).

Averill was on hand with a busload of family and friends.

“It’s hard to win a race, and it’s really hard to win in front of everybody … That’s what makes this so special. It’s very exciting for me. She ran unbelievable, and this is one of my top moments at Tampa Bay Downs,” said Averill, who has had plenty of big moments at TBD. The Gasparilla was the second consecutive ride aboard R Angel Katelyn for Gonzalez, who had teamed with her to win Tampa’s Sandpiper Stakes by 3½ lengths over Jumby Bay on Dec. 3.

R Angel Katelyn had shown a preference to be in front throughout her previous races, but Gonzalez decided to take something off her fastball in the Gasparilla.

“I didn’t want to go to the lead right away and be fighting with everybody, so I sat behind two other horses until about the three-eighths pole,” he said. “Nothing was coming behind me, and she did it pretty easy.”

After breaking her maiden at Delaware Park on Sept. 22, R Angel Katelyn suffered her only loss, a second in an optional-claiming race in which Bennett told The Florida Horse that she struggled over a greasy track while mired on the rail. After returning to Florida she took the Juvenile Filly Sprint at Gulfstream Park West on Nov. 12, leading up to her races at Tampa.

THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017 17

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So Conflated Conjures Derby Fever A year after winning Florida and Kentucky Derbys with Nyquist, you can hardly blame the happy connections of Florida-bred So Conflated for thinking about the First Saturday in May after their emphatic victory in the $100,000 California Derby at Golden Gate Fields Jan. 21.

The Hartley/DeRenzo-bred ridgling, a $70,000 purchase at last April’s OBS auction, was the 3-1 second choice to 6-5 Vending Machine when the field broke from the gate in the 1 1/16-mile event for 3-year-olds.

Leaving from post 4 in the seven-horse field, So Conflated and rider Mario Gutierrez were content to race in midpack as Vending Machine and Kent Desormeaux were entertained on the front end by Secret House through fractions of :24.18, :48.92 and 1:13.32.

While the dueling frontrunners’ pace wasn’t especially hot over the fast track, the pressure took its toll and both faded fast as challenges arose on the second turn.

More Power to Him, accompanied by Colonel Samsen, came quickly, taking over in midstretch, but Gutierrez, who had been patient while saving ground along the rail, angled his mount outside to make a late bid.

Determinedly, they ground down the top two, moved to the front and edged clear to win by three quarters of a length.

More Power to Him held second by 1¼ lengths with Colonel Simson third. So Conflated’s time was 1:44.71 and he paid $8.20.

So Conflated is based in Southern California with most of trainer Doug O’Neill’s horses. The gray/roan son of Eskendereya is owned by Paul Reddam, who, with O’Neill and Gutierrez, won Kentucky Derbys with

In Memoriam Clyde Rice

LOUISE REINAGEL PHOTO

Clyde D. Rice (79) passed on Jan. 30, at his home in Anthony, Fla. Preceded in death by his brother Don Rice, he is survived by his wife Jean (59 years married), sisters Kaye Prough and Connie Steckbaurer, sons Bryan, Wayne and Curt, and a daughter Linda. He is also survived by grandchildren Brandon, Ashley, Taylor, Kevin, Adam and Cash, and great grandchildren Clyde Wesley Harvey, Preston Rice and Baylee Rice.

He was a native of Antigo, Wi. He was born on Aug. 3, 1937.

Clyde was passionate. He loved family, horses and competition. He taught high school while racing horses in the summers. His dream of racing year round led him to Waterford Park and on to Penn National Race Course.

After several training titles under his belt he transitioned to pin-hooking of yearlings to 2-yearolds. His vision of an athlete within a young equine allowed him to forge a new direction in business.

He was one of the first horsemen that created the concept pin-hooking. He was a long time shareholder and director of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company and many high level have been sold by his consignment, Indian Prairie Ranch. His sons, “Clyde Rice was a wonderful man and one daughter, nephews, nieces and hundreds of former employees have studied his lead and of the greatest horsemen to have ever lived. I rehave found their own niche in areas of the member meeting Clyde when I first came to thoroughbred industry. Clyde was a born Ocala from Lexington, he always had time for me and I thoroughly enjoyed visiting with him at the teacher. He taught people and horses alike.

Clyde’s greatest legacy is most certainly sales both here in Ocala and Lexington. Especially enjoyed having a couple cold ones with him the people he has touched. He helped everyat the Campbell House in Lexington after the one that had an interest in helping themsales. God Bless Jean and the entire Rice family selves. He has been an inspiration to watch, who respected and adored him. We will all miss follow, learn from, live with and most of all, him.” – Jerry Parks, Jerry Parks Insurance to call family or friend. n 18 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017

VASSAR PHOTO

Florida FOCUS

Florida-bred So Conflated

Nyquist and with I’ll Have Another in 2012.

So Conflated was third in his first start, at Del Mar Dec. 3, then second but elevated to first upon the disqualification of the first across the line, the next-out winner Dabster, on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita.

“We were pretty excited after the last race” acknowledged Gutierrez. “I know it was a win by DQ, but he still showed real good promise in that race. I figured this track would suit him really good.

“Halfway through the race everything was according to plan, but from the threeeighths to the quarter pole I started worrying a little bit because all of the horses were moving, so I waited for a hole, and thankfully one opened. When I asked him to go, he responded.”

O’Neill stayed in Southern California saddling horses at Santa Anita, and he was represented at Golden Gate by assistant Leandro Mora. ■ —Mike Mullaney

‘St. Joe’ Answers Prayers, Pride of the Panhandle Cops Palos Verdes If Peter Miller plays his cards right, an invitation to be the Grand Marshal of Port St. Joe’s 20th annual Scallops and Music Festival might be forthcoming later in the year.

One of the hottest trainers in Southern California these days, he saddled Florida-bred St. Joe Bay to another exciting victory in the $200,000 Palos Verdes Stakes, a Grade 2, sixfurlong race at Santa Anita on Feb. 4.

Port St. Joe, Fla., is a coastal town of about 3,500 that sits off St. Joe Bay, an inlet on the Gulf of Mexico, and the 5-year-old gelding that Kim and Bonnie Heath bred in Ocala has become both the Pride of the Panhandle and the apple of Miller’s eye.

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“Even when he was a colt he was a real gentleman,” Miller told The Florida Horse.

“He’s just one of those horses who wants to please everyone, who wants everyone to like him and who wants to like everyone.

“Just a sweetheart, one of the favorites around the barn,” said the 50-year-old native Californian, who happens to be the leading West Coast supporter of the Florida thoroughbred breeding and sales industry.

It’s hard to get more “Florida” than St. Joe Bay, a son of the Heaths’ mare Dream Ride, herself a descendent of the fabulous Fred Hooper bloodlines, which culminated in one of America’s greatest racemares, Susan’s Girl.

Susan’s Girl is the third dam of St. Joe Bay, whom Miller purchased for $60,000 at the OBS June sale in 2014.

“I wasn’t at the sale myself, but a friend of mine, Raymie Lightner, saw the horse and called me up to tell me about him,” Miller said. “I saw the [under-tack work] video on

him and told Raymie, ‘I’m in.’”

Initially considered a Triple Crown prospect, it took time for trainer and horse to get on the same page, but since Miller has committed to a program of main-track sprints, the pair have rattled off three straight wins, including an unusual tally in the Grade 2 Midnight Lute, in which St. Joe Bay deadheated with another Miller-trained horse, Solid Wager.

St. Joe Bay has been ridden in six of his last seven starts by Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux, who has taken the horse into the winner’s circle after four of those rides.

The pair was 7-10 against three other older horses to add the Palos Verdes to their winning streak.

St. Joe Bay took the early lead, as is usually the case, but what wasn’t anticipated was that he would have Ocho Ocho Ocho at his throat through the first half-mile, accomplished after fractions of :21.48 and :44.40. Coming off the turn it became evident that this wasn’t Ocho Ocho Ocho’s day,

but St. Joe Bay wasn’t safe yet as 6-5 second-choice Moe Candy, who Miller knew to be the horse to beat, got untracked and hooked the Floridian in the stretch run.

After a few anxious moments, St. Joe Bay, reveling in the fight, emerged clear at the eighth pole and coasted home to win by 2¼.

Moe Candy held second, 4¼ lengths ahead of Ike Walker as Ocho Ocho Ocho drifted in fourth and last.

“That’s exactly the way it is, as nice a horse as he is around the barn, he wants to take on all comers when he’s on the racetrack,” said Miller, who added: “Looking at the [Daily] Racing Form it looked like we were going to be in front by two early but when I saw that ‘Ocho’ horse running that fast, that early, I said ‘Ah, geez!’ but it worked out.

St. Joe Bay finished the race in 1:08.75 and paid $3.40.

Miller owns St. Joe Bay in partnership with David Bernsen, with whom he divided the $120,000 Palos Verdes payday, which in-

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Florida FOCUS Aged Floridians Hit Desert Bingo

COADY PHOTO

A pair of long-in-the-tooth but fleet-footed Floridians bagged the two $75,000 stakes races on offer at Sunland Park Feb. 12.

The 6-year-old Redneck Humor took the Budweiser Handicap in track-record time, beating the graded-stakes winner Toews on Ice by 4½ lengths for his ninth win in 23 starts, and the 8-year-old African Rose won the El Diario Handicap for the second time in her long, lucrative career, tallying by 1½ lengths for her 18th victory in 42 starts.

Miguel Perez was aboard both winners.

Redneck Humor broke nicely and marked all the posts in the six-furlong Budweiser, clicking off fractions of :21.43, :43.28 and :55.28 en route to a 1:07.42 final.

Florida-bred Toews on Ice challenged Redneck Humor early but he was brushed off easily by the winner.

The fourth choice, Redneck Humor, paid $8.40.

Indexical was third, a halflength behind the runner-up and a neck in front of fourth-place Flashy Indian. The record that Redneck Humor broke had been set in a $20,000 claiming race by the 9-year-old Surf n Ski, who finished fifth in the Budweiser’s field of six.

The $45,000 first-place prize boosted Redneck Humor’s career earnings to 263,720.

The gelded son of Da Stoops out of Dame Sylvieguilhem, by Nureyev, is a half-brother to the 2015 Florida-bred champion 2-year-old filly Ballet Diva. Bred by Jacks or Better Farm, he is owned by Vanessa Evans, Earl Neugebauer and KW Sharp, and is trained by Justin Evans.

Redneck Humor had been in the barns of Kathleen O’Connell, Bran Smear and Stanley Gold before leaving Florida for the Southwest in 2015.

African Rose, a daughter of Bwana Charlie out of Darby Rose, by Red Bullet, was bred by Heiligbrodt Racing Stable. She has never run in her home state.

Unraced at 2, she broke her maiden for $12,500 at Sunland in her third career start as a 3-yearold. Since that humble beginning she has earned $573,774.

Florida-bred African Rose She earned $45,000 from her win in the El Diario, which she had also won in 2015.

She came from off the early pace for this latest victory, taking over at the half, which she ran in :43.17. KP Wildcat got second, a halflength in front of Bryn’s Fancy Pants.

African Rose is owned by Judge Lanier Racing and has been trained in her seven most recent starts by Miguel Hernandez, who took over from Justin Evans almost two years ago.

The bay mare is a half-sister to graded-stakes place Mewannarose. ■ —Mike Mullaney COADY PHOTO

BENOIT & ASSOCIATES PHOTO

creased the gelding’s career earnings to $377,175. It was the fifth win in 21 career starts for the son of Saint Anddan, but the biggest prize may be six weeks away: Miller said this win has him thinking that St. Joe Bay may make a great American, and Floridian, representative to the Golden Shaheen, a $2 million, six-furlong race on the Dubai World Cup card March 25.

“I’ve never taken a horse over there, but I know the horse is deserving of consideration for the race,” he said. “I wouldn’t want to go there unless it was with the right horse, and I think this is the right horse.

If a trip to Dubai becomes reality, he said he will not race St. Joe Bay until then.

Dream Ride is a 13-yearFlorida-bred St. Joe Bay old mare who resides the Heath’s farm in Ocala. Since dropping St. Joe Bay she was bred but didn’t get in foal to Elusive Quality, then gave birth to a Munnings colt who lived only a week.

The Heaths have a 2-year-old Dream Ride colt by Denman for whom they are offering a partnership in a package that includes two other colts. ■ —Mike Mullaney

20 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017

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Enfoque

EN FLORIDA

por Mike Mullaney y Brock Sheridan

Florida-bred Yorkiepoo Princess

Aqueduct el 24 de noviembre por 2 cuerpos y ¾. Obtuvo tres victorias en sus seis carreras.

Yorkiepoo Princess, propiedad de Danny Chen y criada en Morriston por Francis y Barbara Vanlangendonck, es hija de Kantharos y de la hembra Kickapoo Princess, a su vez hija de Unreal Zeal.

Eddie Barker, a cargo del entrenamiento de la potra, no tuvo problemas en dejar que Ortiz tomara las decisiones.

“Lo dejé a criterio de Irad... él es quien la estaba montando. ¡Pero qué cambio de paso!”, se sorprendió Barker. “No lo podía creer. Irad conoce al caballo, y esa es una ventaja”.

Kissin Cassie, criada en Florida, fue tachada de la carrera. ■

Nick Zito, del Hall of Fame, Ensilla al Ganador No. 2,000 Nick Zito ensilló al ganador número 2,000 de su carrera el 21 de Enero en Gulfstream Park, donde Forever Plus registró una victoria de la salida a la meta con el jinete Nik Juarez en la segunda carrera, lo que acercó a su entrenador del Hall of Fame a alcanzar este hito.

“La manera en que estos entrenadores jóvenes ganan 4,000 y 5,000 me hace sentir el tipo más viejo de la Little League”, dijo el entrenador de

LAUREN KING PHOTO

El clásico Ruthless Stakes de $100,000 del 14 de enero se definió cuando Yorkiepoo Princess, la favorita criada en Florida, hundió a la segunda opción Waves of Blue y, luego, terminó derrotando a sus compañeras en esta carrera de seis furlongs para potras de 3 años.

La victoria fue aún más sorprendente si se tiene en cuenta que la triunfadora salió por afuera después de que el suelo cedió bajo su peso en la salida.

Se desató una tormenta de nieve durante la carrera de Sunny Ridge, pero la única ráfaga en la Ruthless fue el batacazo que dio Yorkiepoo Princess, con precio negociado, adquirida en OBS por $8,000 el pasado abril. Esta yegua cruzó la meta primera con 7 cuerpos y ½ de distancia, montada por Irad Ortiz.

Tiz Rae Anna salió segunda por medio cuerpo, con Banty’s Girl tercera. Waves of Blue, que abrió con un cuarto de milla de 0:23.58 en la pista rápida, terminó última de las seis.

Yorkiepoo Princess marcó las fracciones restantes – 0:46.91 y 0:59.19 – antes de que Ortiz la llevara a toda prisa para marcar la llegada en 1:12.42.

“Supe que iba bien a los tres octavos, y sabía que podía mantener el ritmo, así que la dejé seguir”, explicó Ortiz, que se mantiene invicto en tres carreras con la potra de color castaño. En colaboraciones previas, lograron su primera victoria por 12 cuerpos y ¼ en la Belmont del 2 de octubre de $62,500 con reclamo y, más recientemente, ganaron el clásico Furlough Stakes en Aqueduct por 2 cuerpos y ¾ el 24 de noviembre.

“Intenté tomar la delantera un poco precipitadamente la última vez, así que no quería cambiar las cosas. La pista permitía una buena velocidad, por lo cual la dejé avanzar un poco antes para intentar tomar la delantera tan pronto como surgiera la oportunidad. Ella estaba lista”.

Habiendo salido con 4-5, pagó $3.60.

Con un peso de 122 libras y cediendo entre cuatro y seis libras a las demás, ganó $60,000 en la Ruthless, con lo cual las ganancias de su carrera ascienden a $154,811. Participó de esta carrera después de ganar la Furlough Stakes en 22 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017

COGLIANESE PHOTO

Yorkiepoo Corre con Competencia

Forever Plus

68 años después de una ceremonia organizada para conmemorar este récord de su carrera.

Forever Plus, que salió con 3-1, se mantuvo resuelta y prevaleció por una cabeza en la carrera de 1 1/16 millas sobre hierba de $16,000 con reclamo de potras y yeguas.

“Es una sensación fantástica. Ha sido un largo camino. Gracias a Dios, probablemente estemos en la parte superior de la recta, donde todavía nos queda un cuarto de milla por delante. Eso es lo que intentamos hacer, seguir adelante”, explicó Zito.

Los caballos de Zito han ganado casi $110 millones durante su carrera como entrenador, que comenzó en 1972, cuando ensilló a Palais para su primera victoria en Liberty Bell, Pensilvania, después de haber trabajado como asistente de John Campo y LeRoy Jolley.

Las 2,000 victorias de Zito incluyen un par de triunfos en Kentucky Derby (G1) con Strike the Gold (1991) y Go for Gin (1994), además de los casos de éxito en la Preakness Stakes (G1) con Louis Quatorze en 1996 y en la Belmont Stakes (G1) con Birdstone en 2004, y con Da’Tara en 2008. También se adjudicó la Kentucky Oaks (G1) en 2003 con Bird Town.

Zito también cosechó un éxito en la Breeders’ Cup con Storm Song (1996, potras juveniles) y War Pass (2007 juveniles), ambos ganadores del premio Eclipse Award.

Este neoyorquino ingresó en el Hall of Fame en 2005, el mismo año en que ensilló a High Fly en el primero de sus tres triunfos en el Florida Derby (G1). También ensilló a ganadores consecutivos de la tradicional Triple Crown prep en 2010 y 2011, con Ice Box y Dialed In, respectivamente. La victoria de Stephen Got Even en la Donn Handicap (G1) del 2000 también se encuentra entre los numerosos momentos destacados de la carrera de Zito en Gulfstream.

“Los Florida Derbys fueron especiales, y el Donn tampoco está nada mal”, declaró Zito.

“Tengo hermosos recuerdos de esta pista y, si Dios quiere, seguiremos adelante”.

Otros ganadores de carreras clásicas en Gulfstream entrenados por Zito son Cool Coal Man (Fountain of Youth 2008), Mr. Greeley (Spectacular Bid y Swale 1995), Sir Shackleton

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(Richter Scale 2005), Commentator (Richter Scale 2008), S.S. Stone (Skip Away 2011), Jackson Bend (Hal’s Hope 2012), Fort Loudon (Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship 2013) y Spot (Swale 2014).

“Estoy muy agradecido con Gulfstream.

Hacen un buen trabajo con todo (caballistas, fanáticos) y lo valoro mucho. Esto sucedió aquí, y me alegro por ello”, concluyó Zito. ■

La primera cría de Chitu, de Bridlewood, es un potrillo

Potente Combinación de Jinete y Ejemplar Floridiano Florida-bred High Roller

Chitu

LOUISE REINAGEL PHOTO

MJC PHOTO

Chitu, de Bridlewood Farm, se convirtió en padre de su primer potrillo registrado el 6 de enero, cuando nació un potro color castaño en Hacienda De La Oca, en Ocala, Florida.

“Es un muy buen ejemplar y, cada día que pasa, mejora aún más. Es muy correcto y equilibrado, y tiene mucha energía”, afirmó John Ocasio, criador del potro, cuya madre es la yegua Hailee’s Act, hija de Silver Train.

“Para mí, este potro es la viva imagen de su padre, un ejemplar excepcional”, añadió George Isaacs, Gerente General de Bridlewood. “Si todos sus hijos heredan lo mejor de Chitu, como en este caso, estaremos bien encaminados”.

En la pista, Chitu se mantuvo invicto hasta los dos años después de haber sido comprado por $300,000 en March Select de OBS por el entrenador Bob Baffert, en representación de Tanma Corporation de Susan Chu. A los tres años, el imponente castaño tomó velocidad en dos curvas y quedó segundo en la Robert Lewis S. (G2) de Santa Anita, antes de ganarse un lugar en el Derby de Kentucky con una victoria en el Derby de Sunland (G3) de 1 milla y 1/8.

Chitu volvió a correr y ganó la Damascus S., carrera secundaria de la Breeders’ Cup, y cerró su campaña de 3 años al clasificar en la Malibu S. (G1) de Santa Anita, donde lo superó el campeón Shared Belief por solo tres cuartos de un cuerpo. Se retiró a Bridlewood

con ganancias de $597,800.

Hijo del padrillo campeón Henny Hughes (cuyo padre es Beholder), la madre de Chitu es la yegua Sea Gift, hija de A.P. Indy. Demostró ser uno de los sementales más populares de Florida en 2016 al aparearse con 77 yeguas en su primera asignación. Chitu pasará su segunda temporada en Bridlewood por una tarifa de $4,500 con garantía de potrillo vivo.

Para obtener más información sobre Chitu, por favor, póngase en contacto con George Isaacs al 352-622-5319 o visite BridlewoodFarm.com. ■

El joven y popular jinete Trevor McCarthy ganó tres clásicos en el mismo programa por primera vez en Laurel el 21 de enero, pero fue su desempeño sobre un prometedor ejemplar de 3 años criado en Florida lo que lo motivó a pensar en el futuro.

“Va a querer correr una distancia mayor, a lo grande”, afirmó McCarthy después de ganar el clásico Frank Whiteley Stakes de siete furlongs.

“Estoy ansioso por montarlo en distancias más largas. Veremos qué puede ofrecer”.

La Whiteley fue una de las cuatro clásicas del programa, que en total tuvieron un premio de $75,000: la Native Dancer para caballos de más edad, la Nellie Morse para potras y yeguas mayores, y la Marshua para potras de 3 años.

Las otras victorias de McCarthy fueron sobre el lomo de Star Super en la Marshua y el de Winter en la Nellie Morse. El venerable Page McKenney ganó la Native Dancer con el jinete Horacio Karamanos.

McCarthy había montado a High Roller en dos de sus tres carreras anteriores. Logró la primera victoria del potro High Cotton el 11 de septiembre en seis furlongs, y terminó segundo y bien ante el rival The Great Ronaldo de Whiteley, en una superficie lodosa de 5 furlongs y ½, el 26 de diciembre, en su última performance.

En medio hubo un tercer puesto con Paco López ante el talentoso El Areeb en la James B. Lewis de seis furlongs, el 19 de noviembre. Todas sus carreras habían sido en Laurel.

High Roller, que comenzó con 5-1 y salió del lado del barandal en la pista de ocho caballos, mantuvo un ritmo muy peleado marcado por los improbables ganadores Generous Jack (21-1), Blackjack Buster (22-1) y The Great Ronaldo (17-1 a pesar de su reciente victoria) durante un cuarto de milla inicial de 0:23.15 y 0:46.63, cuando el favorito con 2-5, O Dionysius, corría en el medio.

Los que marcaban el ritmo colapsaron al tomar la curva hacia la meta cuando High Roller, con un galope emocionante a lo largo del barandal con McCarthy como jinete, tomó una ventaja de dos cuerpos al salir de la curva, dejando atrás a O Dionysius.

McCarthy, astuto, inclinó su montura y, cuando O Dionysius finalmente sacó lo mejor de sí, mantuvieron al favorito pegado en el interior, con una ventaja de medio cuerpo.

“Pensamos que [O Dionysus] era el caballo vencedor y al final terminó así”, declaró el entrenador ganador Dale Capuano. “No nos enloquecía la idea del hoyo uno para él, pero creímos que le gustaría correr una distancia mayor. Así pareció, de modo que todo está bien”.

High Roller pagó $12.20 tras haber llegado a la meta en 1:23.86.

Butch Walker quedó tercero, 1 cuerpo y ¼ detrás de O Dionysius.

“Empezó muy bien, rápido. Logré retenerlo un poco”, explicó McCarthy. “Le he estado diciendo a Dale que necesita pasar a siete octavos.

Necesita más [distancia]”.

Capuano anunció que la Miracle Wood del 18 de febrero, que se correrá en Laurel, será la próxima para este bayo propiedad de Lou Ullman y Stephen Parker, que fue criado en Florida por Adam y Suzette Parker.

Parte de la consignación de deMeric Sales, High Roller se vendió por $30,000 en la venta de primavera de ejemplares de 2 años en entrenamiento en OBS el pasado abril. Hijo de la yegua Elective, a su vez hija de Grand Slam, ha ganado $86,620 hasta ahora.

El perfil de Dosage de 5-8-10-1-0 que tiene High Roller habla de su potencial para completar una distancia clásica: su índice Dosage es 3.00 y su Centro de Distribución, de +0.71. ■ THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017 23

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La Veloz Katelyn Gana su Tercera Recta

SV PHOTOGRAPHY

La talentosa potra de 3 años criada en Florida, R Angel Katelyn, sigue su camino ascendente tras haber registrado una victoria por 1 cuerpo y ¾ en Gasparilla, por $100,000, en Tampa Bay Downs. Fue su tercera victoria consecutiva en clásicos.

La hija del semental de Ocala Stud High Cotton se mantuvo a la cabeza durante casi toda

R Angel Katelyn

la carrera, y su margen en la meta fue de 1 cuerpo y ¾ sobre Jumby Bay, pero la parte más angustiosa del trayecto hasta el podio vino después de la meta, cuando los comisarios y el jinete de la segunda, Jesus Castanon, acusaron a R Angel Katelyn y a su jinete, Edwin Gonzalez, de una jugada sucia.

Abierta para todas las potras de 3 años, la carrera formó parte del programa de Skyway Festival of Racing, que también contó con la versión de Gasparilla para machos de 3 años, la Pasco de $100,000 donde The Money Monster salió victorioso, además de la Wayward Lass de $50,000 para yeguas y potras mayores, donde ganó No Fault of Mine.

La Gasparilla le posibilitó a Indian Charm (93-1 J) su momento de gloria cuando logró liderar la competencia de nueve potras durante el cuarto inicial, marcando 0:22.02, pero R Angel Katelyn se posicionó a la cabeza en la mitad, tras reponerse de un tropiezo inicial. Jumby Bay, la tercera opción, tuvo dificultades al salir pero se separó, alerta, del extremo externo y nunca estuvo más de un cuerpo atrás de R Angel Katelyn desde el principio, acechando a la favorita con dinero parejo durante la media milla, en 0:44.32.

En la curva, se hizo evidente que alguna de estas dos ganaría la Gasparilla. R Angel Katelyn parecía haber medido a su oponente, pero en dos ocasiones se cruzó en el camino que tomaba Jumby Bay, y fueron esos pasos al 24 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017

costado lo que los comisarios quisieron evaluar después de la carrera.

Bennet, que ensilló a los segundos puestos en los otros dos clásicos del evento, expresó su seguridad y su preocupación mientras esperaba una decisión del piso de arriba.

“Estaba ganando con facilidad”, observó Bennett. “[Jumby Bay] no iba a ignorarla”.

Unos momentos más tarde, bajaron a decir que sí, que R Angel Katelyn era la ganadora legítima de su cuarta carrera sobre cinco. La victoria llegó antes que sus dueños de Bradenton, Rich Averill (de Averill Racing), Clark Freeman (de CCF Racing Stable) y Roger Smith (de K Lauren Racing).

Averill estaba con un gran grupo de familiares y amigos.

“Es difícil ganar una carrera, y mucho más frente a todo el mundo... Eso hace que este acontecimiento sea tan especial. Fue muy emocionante para mí. Corrió increíblemente. Este es uno de mis mejores momentos en Tampa Bay Downs”, explicó Averill, que ha tenido una gran cantidad de momentos memorables en TBD. La Gasparilla fue la segunda carrera consecutiva con R Angel Katelyn para Gonzalez, que había formado equipo con ella para ganar el clásico Tampa’s Sandpiper por 3 cuerpos y ½ frente a Jumby Bay el 3 de diciembre.

R Angel Katelyn había demostrado cierta preferencia por mantenerse al frente en sus carreras anteriores, pero Gonzalez decidió “bajarle un cambio” en la Gasparilla.

“No quería ir a la cabeza de inmediato y pelear con todo el mundo, así que nos acomodamos detrás de otros dos caballos hasta más o menos el poste de las tres octavas”, explicó. “Nadie venía detrás de mí, y a ella le resultó bastante fácil”.

Después de la victoria que acabó con su condición de máiden en Delaware Park el 22 de septiembre, R Angel Katelyn sufrió su única derrota: salió segunda en una carrera de reclamo opcional, sobre la cual Bennett le dijo a Wire to Wire que se vio afectada por una pista engrasada y quedó atascada en el barandal. Después de regresar a Florida, ganó la Juvenile Filly Sprint en Gulfstream Park West el 12 de noviembre, antes de sus carreras en Tampa.

R Angel Katelyn pagó $4 por haber ganado la Gasparilla y completó la carrera de siete furlongs en 1:23.94 en una pista rápida.

“Esta pista siempre se hace más lenta hacia el final del día, y cuando la vi correr en la media milla en (44.32 segundos), me pareció que iba un poco rápido”, comentó Bennett, “pero ha estado entrenando como una bestia en las mañanas, y demostró mucha clase [en esta carrera]”.

Lirica quedó cinco cuerpos detrás de Jumby Bay y salió tercera.

R Angel Katelyn y Lirica tuvieron un peso de 120 libras, entre tres y cuatro libras de diferencia con el resto de las competidoras.

Comprada por $50,000 en la venta de OBS del pasado abril para caballos de 2 años en edad de correr, R Angel Katelyn ganó $60,000 por la victoria del sábado, con lo cual sus ganancias totales ascendieron a $207,120.

Criada y consignada por Craig Wheeler, fue comprada por Barry Berkelhammer. La potra castaña, que fue bautizada en honor a una de las hijas de Averill, es hija de la yegua Send for an Angel, cuyo padre a su vez es Southern Halo.

En relación con la actividad de la potra en los últimos meses, aunque Bennett no se comprometió, señaló que el clásico Suncoast Stakes de $100,000 en una milla y 40 yardas, en Tampa el 11 de febrero, podría ser la próxima.

Su pedigrí indica que puede seguir: tiene un sólido perfil de Dosage de 6-4-11-1-0, con un índice Dosage de 2.38 y un Centro de Distribución de +0.68. ■

So Conflated Evoca la Fiebre de Derby Un año después de haber ganado los Derby de Florida y Kentucky con Nyquist, no se puede culpar al feliz equipo de So Conflated, ejemplar criado en Florida, por pensar en el primer sábado de mayo después de su empática victoria en el Derby de California de $100,000 que tuvo lugar en Golden Gate Fields el 21 de enero.

El medio castrado, criado por Hartley y DeRenzo, fue comprado por $70,000 en una subasta de OBS el pasado abril. Era la segunda opción con 3-1 frente a Vending Machine, con 6-5, cuando los competidores salieron de la meta en este evento de 1 milla y 1/16 para ejemplares de 3 años.

VASSAR PHOTO

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Florida-bred So Conflated

Partiendo de la meta 4 en la pista para siete caballos, So Conflated y su jinete Mario Gutierrez estuvieron bien, corriendo en el medio mientras Vending Machine y Kent Desormeaux eran entretenidos en el frente por Secret House, mientras se marcaban las fracciones en 0:24.18, 0:48.92 y 1:13.32.

Aunque el ritmo de los favoritos que se batían a duelo no era especialmente veloz en la pista rápida, la presión hizo lo suyo y los dos quedaron deslucidos cuando se presentaron dificultades en la segunda curva.

More Power to Him, acompañado por Colonel Samsen, venía rápido y tomó la delantera a la mitad de la recta, pero Gutierrez, que había sido paciente mientras corría por el barandal interno, inclinó su montura hacia afuera para apostar a último momento. Con determinación, pasaron a los dos primeros, se colocaron a la delantera y llegaron primeros, con una ventaja de tres cuartos de cuerpo.

More Power to Him llegó segundo por 1 cuerpo y ¼, con Colonel Simson en tercer lugar. La marca de So Conflated fue 1:44.71 y pagó $8.20.

So Conflated vive en el sur de California con el resto de los caballos del entrenador Doug O’Neill. El hijo gris-ruano de Eskendereya es propiedad de Paul Reddam, que, con O’Neill y Gutierrez, ganó Derbys de Kentucky con Nyquist y con I’ll Have Another en 2012.

So Conflated salió tercero en su primera carrera, que fue en Del Mar el 3 de diciembre, y luego salió segundo pero fue ascendido a primero tras la descalificación del ganador inicial de Dabster, el 26 de diciembre en Santa Anita.

“Estábamos bastante entusiasmados después de la última carrera”, reconoció Gutierrez. “Sé que fue una victoria de DQ, pero aun así se mostró muy prometedor en esa carrera. Me di cuenta de que esta pista le sentaría muy bien.

En la mitad de la carrera todo venía saliendo de acuerdo con el plan, pero desde las tres octavas hasta el poste del cuarto comencé a pre-

ocuparme un poco, porque todos los demás se movían; así, esperé a que se abrieran un poco, lo cual por suerte sucedió. Cuando le exigí que se metiera, respondió”.

O’Neill se quedó en el sur de California el sábado, ensillando caballos en Santa Anita, y fue representado en Golden Gate por su asistente Leandro Mora. ■

‘St. Joe’ Responde a las Plegarias.

El Orgullo de la Florida se Lleva Palos Verdes y le Echa el Ojo a Carrera en Dubai por $2M Si Peter Miller juega bien sus cartas, podría llegarle una invitación a Port St. Joe para ser el Grand Marshal en el vigésimo Scallops and Music Festival anual de este año.

Uno de los entrenadores más populares de estos días en el sur de California, ensilló a St. Joe Bay, criado en Florida, y le permitió lograr una emocionante victoria en la carrera de seis furlongs Palos Verdes Stakes de $200,000 (Grado 2), en Santa Anita, el 4 de febrero.

Port St. Joe, Florida, es una ciudad costera de alrededor de 3,500 habitantes que se encuentra cerca de la bahía St. Joe, una ensenada del golfo de México; y el capón de 5 años que Kim y Bonnie Heath criaron en Ocala, para Miller, se ha convertido en el orgullo de la región y la luz de sus ojos.

“Ya de potrillo era todo un caballero”, declaró Miller para The Florida Horse. “Es uno de esos caballos que quiere complacer a todo el mundo, que quiere agradar a todos.

Es adorable, uno de los favoritos del establo”, señaló el californiano de 50 años, que resultar ser el principal productor de la Costa Oeste en la industria de cría y venta de pura sangre en Florida.

Es difícil encontrar un ejemplar más representativo de Florida que St. Joe Bay, hijo de la yegua de los Heath llamada Dream Ride. Esta misma yegua desciende de la estirpe del fabuloso Fred Hooper, que culminó en una de las mejores yeguas de carrera de los Estados Unidos, Susan’s Girl.

In Memoriam Clyde Rice Clyde D. Rice (79) falleció el 30 de enero en su hogar de Anthony, Florida. Su hermano Don Rice falleció antes que él; lo sobreviven su esposa Jean (59 años de casados), sus hermanas Kaye Prough y Connie Steckbaurer, sus hijos Bryan, Wayne y Curt, y su hija Linda. También lo sobreviven sus nietos Brandon, Ashley, Taylor, Kevin, Adam y Cash, y sus bisnietos Clyde Wesley Harvey, Preston Rice y Baylee Rice. Era originario de Antigo, Wisconsin. Nació el 3 de agosto de 1937.

Clyde era apasionado. Amaba a su familia, a los caballos y la competencia. Trabajaba como profesor de nivel secundario mientras montaba a caballo en el verano. Su sueño de dedicarse a las carreras todo el año lo llevó a Waterford Park y, de allí, a Penn National Race Course.

Después de haber obtenido varios títulos de entrenamiento, pasó a dedicarse al pinhooking de potros a ejemplares de dos años. Su concepto de un atleta en un equino joven lo ayudó a forjar un nuevo rumbo de negocios. Fue uno de los “Clyde Rice era un hombre maravilloso y uno de los primeros caballistas en crear el concepto de mejores caballistas de todos los tiempos. Recuerdo que lo pinhooking. Durante mucho tiempo fue ac- conocí cuando vine desde Lexington a Ocala por primera cionista y director de la empresa de ventas de vez. Él siempre tenía tiempo para mí y yo disfrutaba mucho Ocala Breeders, y muchos ejemplares de alto de visitarlo en el puesto de ventas, tanto aquí en Ocala nivel se vendieron por su consignación, Indian como en Lexington. En especial, disfrutaba de tomarme Prairie Ranch. Sus hijos, sus sobrinos y cientos un par de cervezas con él en Campbell House en Lexington después de las ventas. Que Dios bendiga a Jean y de sus empleados se han inspirado en su lid- a toda la familia Rice, que lo respetaba y lo adoraba. Todos erazgo y han encontrado su propio nicho en lo extrañaremos”. – Jerry Parks, Jerry Parks Insurance áreas de la industria de los pura sangre. Clyde era un maestro nato. Enseñaba tanto a los caballos como a las personas.

El mayor legado de Clyde es, sin duda, la gente sobre la que ha influido. Ayudaba a todo aquel que estuviera interesado en ayudarse a sí mismo. Ha sido una inspiración observarlo, seguirlo, aprender de él, vivir con él y, sobre todo, haber sido su familiar o amigo. ■ THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017 25

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BENOIT & ASSOCIATES PHOTO

Susan’s Girl es la bisabuela de St. Joe Bay, a quien Miller compró por $60,000 en la venta de junio de OBS en 2014.

“No fui a la venta en persona, sino que un amigo mío, Raymie Lightner, vio el caballo y me llamó para hablarme sobre él”, explicó Miller. “Vi su video [del trabajo con arreos] y le dije a Raymie que lo quería”.

Inicialmente se lo consideró un posible competidor para la Triple Crown, pero al entrenador y al caballo les llevó un tiempo estar en la misma sintonía. Sin embargo, desde que Miller se comprometió a un programa de carreras en pistas principales, la dupla se ha llevado tres victorias, incluido un triunfo poco usual en Midnight Lute, de Grado 2, en la cual St. Joe Bay empató con otro caballo entrenado por Miller, Solid Wager.

En seis de sus últimas siete carreras, St. Joe Bay ha sido montado por Kent Desormeaux, del Hall of Fame, que ha posicionado al caballo entre los ganadores después de cuatro de dichos eventos.

El equipo obtuvo 7-10 contra otros tres caballos mayores para añadir Palos Verdes a su racha ganadora.

St. Joe Bay se posicionó a la delantera desde el principio, como suele hacerlo, pero no anticipó que Ocho Ocho Ocho estaría pegado cuello a cuello durante la primera media milla, lograda tras las fracciones 0:21.48 y 0:44.40. Al salir de la curva, quedó claro que ese no era el día de Ocho Ocho Ocho, pero St. Joe Bay aún no estaba seguro, ya que la segunda opción con 6-5, Moe Candy, el cual Miller sabía que era el caballo más difícil de vencer, ganó potencia y se enganchó al criado en Florida en la recta.

Tras unos momentos de ansiedad, St. Joe Bay, disfrutando de la lucha, emergió del octavo poste y llego a la meta. Ganó por 2 cuerpos y ¼. Moe Candy quedó segundo, 4 cuerpos

Florida-bred St. Joe Bay

26 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017

In Memoriam Rene Araya El entrenador Rene Araya, ganador de múltiples clásicos de grado y antiguo veterano de la New York Racing Association, falleció el 26 de enero en Florida a los 73 años.

Antiguo residente de Floral Park, Nueva York, Araya comenzó en las carreras de caballos trabajando para los entrenadores de Maryland Jack Weipert y Pedro Biones antes de obtener su licencia de entrenador en 1985. Entrenó en todo el circuito del Atlántico Medio y se convirtió en un asiduo de las pistas de NYRA en 1992.

Durante sus 31 años de carrera, Araya ensilló a 354 ganadores con ganancias totales de más de $9.8 millones, incluyendo la última victoria, la de General Sham’mah en julio de 2016 en Gulfstream Park.

Originario de Chile, Araya ensilló al antiguo ejemplar de reclamo McKaymackenna en siete victorias en clásicos, incluso un par de triunfos de Grado 3 en 1993, la Beaugay Handicap y la Noble Damsel. También entrenó a Nappelon, ganador de la Comely de Grado 2 de 1995, al que Araya había reclamado por $35,000 ese mismo año, así como a los ganadores de clásicos T Storm, Textbook Method y Standswithafist.

Araya se retiró brevemente en 2004 y trabajó como agente de jinetes antes de regresar al año siguiente. También tuvo un impasse de tres años entre 2008 y 2011. En 2015, mudó su establo al sur de Florida con su esposa, Gloria.

“Rene era un gran tipo”, señaló el propietario de mucho tiempo Paul Pompa, Jr., quien se asoció con Araya para ganar la Yaddo de Saratoga en 2002 con Textbook Method. “Era un excelente ser humano. Cuando empecé [a tener caballos], él fue mi primer entrenador. Es tan abrumador dedicarse a esto que necesitas a alguien que te explique todo y te enseñe qué hacer, y Rene era muy especial.

Básicamente, se esforzaba al máximo para explicar cómo hacer correr a los caballos, cómo criarlos con clase, cómo retirarlos con clase”.

“Tenía mucho que ofrecer y era todo un caballero”, continuó. “Durante el primer año, lo llamaba una vez al día, o dos, y a él nunca le molestaba. Siempre fue muy amable y me enseñó mucho. Siempre estaba de buen ánimo. Tenía el entusiasmo de alguien de 30, lo cual es una cualidad admirable. Tenía una familia realmente adorable, y con mi familia nos hicimos todos muy amigos”.

Araya deja a su esposa Gloria, sus hijas Carmen y Elba y su hijo Ricardo. ■ y ¼ adelante de Ike Walker, mientras que Ocho Ocho Ocho terminó cuarto y último.

“Así es él: es muy amable en el establo, pero en la pista quiere llevarse a todos por delante”, explicó Miller, y añadió: “Tras mirar el Daily Racing Form, parecía que íbamos a estar a la cabeza desde el comienzo, pero cuando vi a ese caballo ‘Ocho’ correr tan rápido y tan al principio, me agarré la cabeza... Al final salió bien”.

St. Joe Bay terminó la carrera en 1:08.75 y pagó $3.40.

Miller es dueño de St. Joe Bay en sociedad con David Bernsen, con quien dividió el pago de Palos Verdes de $120,000, lo cual incrementó las ganancias históricas del capón a $377,175. Fue la quinta victoria en 21 carreras para el hijo de Saint Anddan, pero el premio mayor puede darse dentro de seis semanas: Miller señaló que esta victoria lo hizo pensar que St. Joe Bay puede ser un gran repre-

sentante de los Estados Unidos, en particular de Florida, en la Golden Shaheen, una carrera de seis furlongs por $2 millones que forma parte de la Dubai World Cup del 25 de marzo.

“Nunca he llevado a un caballo hasta allí, pero sé que este merece ser tenido en cuenta para la carrera”, afirmó. “No querría ir, a menos que fuera con el caballo indicado, y creo que este es el indicado”.

Si el viaje a Dubai se hace realidad, decidió que St. Joe Bay no correrá hasta entonces.

Dream Ride es una yegua de 13 años que vive en el establo de Heath, en Ocala. Después de parir a St. Joe Bay, fue apareada con Elusive Quality pero no quedó preñada. Después dio a luz a un potro de Munnings que solo vivió una semana.

Los Heath tienen un potro de dos años, cuya madre es Dream Ride y su padre, Denman, por el cual ofrecen una sociedad en un paquete que incluye a otros dos potros. ■

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LATE BREAKING LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

An Eventful Week FEBRUARY 23, 2017

By FTBOA LOBBYIST MATT BRYAN his last week of legislative committee meetings before the session officially opens on March 7 was certainly eventful. On Feb. 23, the House Tourism and Gaming Control Subcommittee took up its bill related to gaming — Proposed Committee Bill (“PCB”) 17-01. In many ways, this bill is an improvement on measures released in the House in past years.

The bill takes a very narrow approach to the multitude of gaming issues facing the state, focused on a new compact with the Seminole Tribe and on an overall reduction of the gaming footprint in Florida. More importantly for thoroughbred breeders and owners, the bill does not allow decoupling for any Florida tracks, including Calder. In addition, although revoking all other inactive permits, the bill recognizes the importance of the breeding industry in Marion County by allowing the continued existence of the County’s resident non-profit thoroughbred permit (Ocala Thoroughbred Racing). Since the bill does not provide for decoupling, the bill does not address the proposed supplemental purse pool we have been advocating to counter this threat. FTBOA CEO Lonny Powell testified in support of the bill, and the Committee approved the bill by the vote of 10-5.

At the exact same time the House Tourism and Gaming Control Subcommittee was debating its bill, the Senate Appropriations Committee was considering Senate Bill (“SB”) 8 by Senator Bill Galvano. This bill takes a dramatically different approach. While providing for a new compact with the Seminole Tribe, SB 8 would also: allow slots in eight additional counties around the state; allow widespread decoupling, including the decoupling of thoroughbred tracks within a very tight 30-day window; create two new casinos in South Florida; and create a statewide supplemental purse pool. SB 8 also provides a path for Ocala Thoroughbred Racing to pick up any live racing that might be abandoned at any point in the future by Gulfstream or Tampa, although both tracks have strongly expressed their intention not to decouple. The Committee approved the bill by a vote of 14-2.

It will next be heard on the floor of the Senate.

If you would like detailed information on either bill, please go to https://www.ftboa.com/ and click on the “Decoupling Update” tab on the right side of the homepage, which takes you to the links for the current text of both bills.

Because of the vast difference between these two bills, we do not anticipate the full legislature will approve PCB 17-01 or SB 8 as currently written. It will certainly be a challenge for the House

T

and Senate to settle their different philosophical approaches in attempting to develop a compromise bill over the course of the session. It is an encouraging sign to see both legislative bodies advancing comprehensive gaming bills so early in the process, but there is still a great deal of work to be done to arrive at a bill acceptable to both bodies and to the FTBOA. It is also very encouraging to see that our efforts to educate all of our state legislators about the perils of decoupling seem to be having an impact.

We will continue to advocate for legislation that improves thoroughbred industry stability and viability for our breeders and owners in Florida. We will provide you with another update at the midpoint of the session. ■

We will continue to advocate for “ legislation that improves thoroughbred industry stability and viability for our breeders and owners in Florida. – Matt Bryan

”

THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017 27

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Florida Legislative Committees D

ecoupling was once again in focus in Tallahassee with Senate Regulated Industries Committee taking up and passing the Senate’s initial gaming bill, Senate Bill 8 (SB 8), during the Committee’s meeting on Wednesday, January 25. SB 8 is sponsored by Senator Bill Galvano (R – Bradenton), who is slated to become Senate President for 2019-2020. This action was followed on Thursday morning by a panel discussion concerning pari-mutuels before the House of Representatives’ Tourism and Gaming Control Subcommittee.

On SB 8, Lonny Powell, CEO of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association, was the only pari-mutuel thoroughbred representative to approach the dais and speak to the senators on the Committee. SB 8 is a far reaching gaming proposal with many components, including issues involving the Seminole Compact and “decoupling” – the elimination of live racing as a requirement for tracks to offer other forms of gaming like cardrooms and slot machines. SB 8 is intended to fully decouple most pari-mutuels, but with much more

28 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017

restricted opportunities for decoupling on beth Benacquisto (R), Sen. Randolph Bracy (D), Sen. Jeff Brandes (R), Sen. the thoroughbred side.

Video of Powell’s testimony before the Oscar Braynon II (D), Sen. Audrey Gibson Senate Regulated Industries Committee (D), Sen. Keith Perry (R), Sen. Greg and before the House Tourism & Gaming Steube (R), Sen. Perry Thurston Jr. (D), and Control Subcommittee is available Sen. Dana Young (R). Senator Dorothy at https://www.ftboa.com/articles/Category- Hukill (R) was absent.

The Senate Regulated Industries Com/Legislative%20Updates. You can also visit FTBOA.com, select Though the FTBOA supplied the only thorNEWS dropdown and then Legislative Update. oughbred industry principal in attendance or at Also testifying before the microphone for these meetings, we voiced not the Senate Regulated In- just our own needs and concerns as breeders and dustries Committee were owners, but the needs of our partner Florida City Council member tracks and trainers as well. We have to all be in and Mayor of Miami this together. – Lonny Powell Gardens Oliver Gilbert III (representing the municipal government mittee voted 10-0 to approve SB 8 and send where Calder Casino is located); Melanie it forward to the Senate Appropriations Bostick of the Florida Attractions Associa- Committee. Outside of decoupling, other tion; Jeff Kottkamp and Ramon Murray of notable items in SB 8 include: In light of decoupling, attempt to boost the Florida Greyhound Association; John Sowinski of No Casinos, Inc.; and Bryan thoroughbred racing by supplementing purses at Florida tracks for at least the next Pitts of Justice for Jesus.

The members of the Senate Regulated 20 years to the tune of at least $30 million Industries Committee are the Chair, Sen. annually.

Travis Hutson (R); Vice Chair, Sen. LizReduce taxes, particularly for dog racing and for slot machines.

Revoke dormant pari-mutuel permits and prohibit the state from issuing new ones.

Create a fund of $20 million for the state to buy back pari-mutuel permits.

Resolve pending litigation with the Seminole Tribe and others by allowing all pari-mutuel cardrooms to offer playerbanked card games.

Authorizes limited blackjack, with a maximum of 25 tables, at the current parimutuel slot machine facilities in South Florida.

Authorizes two additional slot machine licenses in South Florida.

In his remarks, Powell highlighted the significant economic impact of the Florida

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Talk Pari-Mutuels, Gaming FTBOA’s focus at the state capital, Powell thoroughbred industry, as well as its national There remains much heavysaid: “This was a well-timed and high-proand global reputation. He emphasized that lifting ahead. We need to keep file opportunity for us to get our message out the FTBOA is opposed to decoupling, espethe message loud and strong on to state legislators. It was particularly posicially as it pertains to Florida’s Thoroughbred the importance of live racing, a tive for the FTBOA and the thoroughbred intracks. Pointing out the need for further work on the specifics of SB 8, Powell also comstate-wide purse and awards dustry to be one of only five panelists invited mended Galvano for embracing key conpool, and the need for decou- to engage in this focused dialogue with key cepts necessary for the industry’s protection pled slots and cardrooms to members of the Florida House of Represenand growth, such as: likewise contribute to purses tatives. It was quite an enlightening discus• Supporting the continuance of live racing and awards for the Thorough- sion. Though I hated to miss the OBS races and sale, it was crucial to be in Tallahassee, at Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs; bred breeders, horsemen, and where it’s imperative that our industry’s con• Creating a statewide supplemental purse tracks that remain committed to cerns be heard. and awards pool for thoroughbred racing live racing. Our best hopes will “Though the FTBOA supplied the only with $20 million in Seminole Compact revlargely depend on all thorough- thoroughbred industry principal in attenenues; and bred stakeholders speaking with dance or at the microphone for these meet• Also dedicating revenue from decoupled one voice, delivering ings, we voiced not just our own needs and slots and cardrooms to help supplement purses and one unified and con- concerns as breeders and owners, but the needs of our partner Florida tracks and trainawards for Thoroughbred sistent message. ers as well. We have to all be in this together.” racing.

– Lonny Powell “There remains much heavy-lifting The Jan. 26 meeting of the Corcoran (R). Absent were ahead. We need to keep the message loud House Tourism & Gaming James Grant (R) and Jared and strong on the importance of live racing, Control Subcommittee was a state-wide purse and awards pool, and the Evan Moskowitz (D). designed as a panel discusPowell explained the dif- need for decoupled slots and cardrooms to sion, allowing for an open diferences between the various likewise contribute to purses and awards for alogue between invited panelists and the legislators Lonny T. Powell, FTBOA CEO horse breeds, in particular the thoroughbred breeders, horsemen, and & Executive Vice President their distinct market econom- tracks that remain committed to live racon the Subcommittee.

The invited panelists included the ics, while also responding to numerous pro- ing. Our best hopes will largely depend on FTBOA’s Lonny Powell, the sole representa- decoupling remarks made by the panel’s all thoroughbred stakeholders speaking tive of the state’s horseracing industry; Tony greyhound track representative. Powell also with one voice, delivering one unified and Glover, the Director of the Division of Pari- commended the panel for their supportive consistent message.

“We must also applaud the efforts of many Mutuel Wagering; Dan Adkins of Mardi comments on the importance of safeguardkey legislators to keep the thoroughbred inGras Casino and Racetrack (dog racing); ing the state’s thoroughbred industry.

Reflecting on the flurry of legislative ac- dustry out of the decoupling crosshairs. This is Carey Thiel of Grey2K; and John Sowinski tivity during the past week that demanded the most critical piece on the chess board.” ■ of No Casinos, Inc. Committee members in attendance were Chair Mike La Rosa (R), Vice Chair Mike Miller (R), Joe Geller (D) (Minority RankOn February 15, the FTBOA Board of Directors was in Tallahassee to conduct reging Member), Janet Cruz (D), Dane Eagle ular business and to interact with policymakers, including but not limited to House (R), Tom Goodson (R), Joe Gruters (R), Al Speaker Richard Corcoran, Senator Keith Perry (R), District 8; Senator Denise GrimsJacquet (D), Sam Killebrew (R), Amy Merley (R), District 24; Representative Stan McClain (R), District 23; Senator Dennis Baxcado (D), Alexandra Miller (R), Scott ley (R), District 12; Representative Mel Ponder (R), District 4; and Representative Plakon (R), and Holly Merrill Raschein Mike LaRosa (R); District 42.

(R), as well as well as Speaker Richard

“

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From the FTBOA Boardroom

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Tampa Bay Downs FESTIVAL/PREVIEW DAY

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Presented by Lambholm South It was fun and excitement for all during Tampa Bay Downs Festival & Preview day 1

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5

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1. McCraken jockey

& trainer Brian Hernandez Jr. (left) & Ian Wilkes

2. McKracken 3. Janis Clay Whitman 4. Jacob, Mia and Angela Palacios

5. Isabella Sings

6. Janis Whitman & Julian Serna Jr.

7. Roy Lerman &

8 7

Tim Wickes

8. FTBOA CEO Lonny Powell and wife Karen with Editor-in-Chief Brock Sheridan and wife Sue

SERITA HULT PHOTOS

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By BROCK SHERIDAN

Hallandale Beach – t was billed as the battle between Horse of the Year California Chrome and champion 3-yearold male Arrogate with the ten other challengers set to battle it out for the remainder of the $12 million purse.

Arrogate continued his three-race streak of awe inspiring races as he drew off to win the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) in track record time while California Chrome ran his worst race since finishing sixth in the 2014 Pennsylvania Derby (G2) and finished ninth.

Shaman Ghost rallied to get second and Neolithic was third. The final time was 1:48.83 for the 1 1/8 mile race over Gulfstream Park’s main track.

I

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Both Arrogate from post 1 and California Chrome from post 12 broke well but Noble Bird was the first into the Clubhouse turn. Arrogate and Neolithic were a joint second on the inside while California Chrome got caught six-wide while racing in fourth. Noble Bird got away from the others down the backstretch after the first quarter in :23.46 and was a length ahead of Neolithic in second and Arrogate third on the rail with California Chrome just to his outside in fourth.

Arrogate and California Chrome matched strides momentarily down the backstretch but Arrogate began to pull away from his rival at the nine-sixteenths pole and move closer to Noble Bird on the lead as they went a half-mile in :46.14.

As the field began to race around the far turn, Arrogate was on even terms with Noble Bird but Arrogate had little trouble disposing of the frontrunner before they reached the top of the stretch.

By this time California Chrome had fallen out of contention.

ANDIE BIANCONE PHOTO

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MCQUEEN PHOTO

Down the stretch, Mike Smith had little to do on Arrogate as he pulled away to eventually win by 4¾ lengths over Shaman’s Ghost in second and Neolithic another 2¾ lengths further back in third. California Chrome finished ninth, 29½ lengths behind Arrogate.

After the race, it was reported that trainer Art Sherman was going to schedule x-rays for the right front knee of California Chrome, which later proved to be negative.

“Down the backstretch he didn’t look comfortable,” Sherman said. “He didn’t really break like he can and then got caught six-wide on the first turn.

But he didn’t really have any excuses down the backstretch. He just wasn’t himself today and ran a bad race for the first time in his career.

“It has been quite a ride though and I just hope I can train some of his babies in three years when they get here.”

Smith said after the race that it took him awhile before he was sure California Chrome was not going to come at him again.

“Down the backstretch I looked at Victor [Espinoza] and thought Chrome didn’t look comfort-

able. Even when I got the lead I kept looking at him out of the corner of my eye but could see that that is not the California Chrome I know.

“Once I got out and made the move around the far turn and got the lead, I knew I was loaded.”

Arrogate’s trainer Bob Baffert said he was elated to win the world’s richest horse race and that before the race he was more concerned than one might expect.

“I was pretty nervous before the race,” Baffert said. “There was quite a vibe around this race and it had a Kentucky Derby feel to it.

“Down the backside [Arrogate] was just galloping along and I could see that California Chrome was having trouble. And when Mike [Smith] made that little cut to the outside, I knew right there that [Arrogate] was running his race. I knew it was going to take something special to run him down. He is a superior race horse. We’ve seen that since the Travers.”

The Travers (G1), which was run at Saratoga in August, was a break out race for Arrogate as he won by 13½ lengths in a track record time of 1:59.36 for the ten furlongs. Following the Travers, Arrogate went to the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1)

Arrogate (pink cap) triumphs in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational

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Taghleeb takes charge on his way to winning the W. L. McKnight

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and caught California Chrome in deep stretch to win by 1½ lengths ahead of California Chrome in second.

Owned by Juddmonte Farm, Arrogate is by Unbridled’s Song out of Bubbler, by Distorted Humor. It was the sixth win in seven starts for the 4-year-old colt who suffered his only loss in his first race against special weight maidens at Los Alamitos in April. He earned $7 million for winning the Pegasus which increased his career earnings to $11,084,600.

McKNIGHT

Taghleeb put in a late rush in the stretch and held off another late bid from Sadler’s Joy to win the Grade 3 W.L. McKnight. The W.L. McKnight featured 12 older horses who went 1½ miles on the turf.

During the early stages of the McKnight, Diamond Bachelor led by a length over Patterson Cross in second,

Twilight Eclipse third with Charming Kitten fourth.

Meanwhile Tyler Gaffalione had Taghleeb racing comfortably in seventh as the leaders ran fractions of :24.72, :49.31 and 1:13.35.

The field began to bunch up around the far turn but Patterson Cross, Twilight Eclipse and Charming Kitten emerged to battle it out as they raced down the stretch.

Meanwhile, after saving ground on both turns, Taghleeb was making a late run and caught the leaders inside the final 110 yards. He raced to the finish a length in front with Sadler’s Joy in second with Charming Kitten third, another 2¾ lengths further back. Time for the McKnight was 2:25.90.

Taghleeb is a 6-year-old horse by Hard Spun out of Judhoor (GB), by Alhaarth (Ire). He is trained by Michael Maker for Michael M. Hui and picked up his sixth win in 24 starts. He earned $115,320 for the win which boosted his career book to $448,329.

Florida Thoroughbreds Promoted on History-Making Day

The FTBOA partnered with Pegasus World Cup Day management to use the high profile status of the

event and platform as a way to promote Florida-breds and Florida racing. As a supporting industry sponsor, Florida-breds were recognized in the Commemorative Handicapper Program, a popular souvenir of the event and official program, in a big way. Florida Horse of the Year and Breeders’ Cup Classic champion Mucho Macho Man was prominently featured in full color toward the 34 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017

front of the publication, with the message “Join the Winners’ Circle: Own a Florida Thoroughbred.” The yearlong campaign is geared to promote thoroughbred ownership and to showcase Florida-breds as part of that equation both at in the sales ring and from the farm. In addition, a Florida-bred banner was prominently displayed at the top of the stretch and Florida-breds were featured as part of Pegasus sponsor branding leading up to and following the world class event. ■

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LA PREVOYANTE

(above) Suffused wins the La Prevoyante (below) Imperative triumphs in the Poseidon.

JACOBS PHOTO

Suffused (GB) went off as the 3-2 favorite and did not disappoint as she overcame a claim of foul by runner-up jockey Joel Rosario on Arles to take the $200,000 La Prevoyante Handicap (G3) by a length. The La Prevoyante featured a full field of 12 older fillies and mares going 1½ miles on the turf.

Gypsy Eyes led the others around the first of three turns with Try Your Luck in second, Quiet Kitten third and Arles fourth as Suffused bided time racing in sixth. The field stayed pretty much in the same order as they galloped through fractions of :24.87, 48.88 and 1:13.92.

Jockey Jose Ortiz was content to run mid-pack until the far turn when he went to the outside and began to pass horses. By the time they turned for home, Suffused was in front and was never threatened as he ran to the wire a length in front in a time of 2:26.04. Arles, who also had to withstand a claim of foul lodged by Tyler Gafflione on third-place finisher Quiet Kitten, was second.

Suffused is trained by Bill Mott for Juddmonte Farms Inc. who picked up the winner’s check of $115,320 for the La Prevoyante victory.

Suffused is by Champs Elysees (GB) out of *Scuffle (GB), by Tale of the Cat. It was his sixth win from 15 starts and he now has $537,429 in career earnings.

“A little wide on the first turn, but other than that, no problem,” Mott said. “The post position—if you scratch, where are you going to run? He was able to get into the two path after the first turn. It looked like she had them whenever she wanted them.”

The La Prevoyante is the third stakes victory for Suffused since coming to the United States from Britain last year. The 5-year-old mare took the $196,000 Belmont Coronation Invitational at Belmont Park in June and the Grade 3 Glen Falls at Saratoga in September.

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POSEIDON

It took a photo finish camera to separate the top two finishers but Imperative got the head bob at the wire ahead favored Stanford to win the inaugural running of the $400,000 Poseidon Handicap for 4-year-olds and older going 1 1/8 miles on the main track.

Ridden by Antonio Gallardo for trainer Bob Hess, Imperative was making his first start outside of Southern California since finishing fourth in the Charles Town Classic (G2) won by Stanford in April of last year.

Imperative broke well from post three and Gallardo let him race about two lengths behind the front-running Ranger in Paradise as they went the first two furlongs in :23.83 while Florida-bred Hy Riverside and Stanford were just behind Imperative in third and fourth respectively.

Going into the far turn after a half-mile in :48.10, Stanford’s jockey John Velasquez let him challenge the leader from the inside while Imperative had to race threewide. As they made their way out of the turn, Imperative

36 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017

HURRICANE BERTIE

Curlin’s Approval sat behind a trio of frontrunners, circled the leaders around the far turn and fought off Bodacious Babe at the top of the stretch on her way to winning the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie Stakes. The Hurricane Bertie featured eight older fillies and mares going seven furlongs for the winner’s share of the $100,000 purse.

Linda Linda and Bodacious Babe broke on top and were quickly joined by Improv and those three led the field through a first quarter in :23 and a half-mile in :46.46. Little changed until they went into the turn when Bodacious Babe tried to shake loose from the others while Curlin’s Approval began to make her move with Louis Saez aboard.

Curlin’s Approval and Bodacious Babe turned for home in tandem but Curlin’s Approval showed he was the better of the two before they hit the eighth pole on his way to a three-length victory. Genre came from far back to get up for second as did Distinta, who was third.

Running time was 1:10.76.

MARTIN PHOTO

(above) Curlin’s Approval captures the Hurricane Bertie (below) Pretty Perfection earns a win in the Ladies Turf Sprint

JASKO PHOTO

PEGASUS

was just to the outside of Stanford and those two began to draw off. Approaching the final furlong, it appeared as if Stanford was beginning to get an advantage but Imperative fought back on the outside. Stanford lead by as much as a half-length inside the final sixteenth of a mile, but Imperative put in a late surge and just got the victory by a head in a running time of 1:48.97.

Imperative races for Looch Racing Stables Inc. and Imaginary Stables. The 7-year-old gelding earning $238,080 for the win and increased his bankroll to $2,240,790 from five wins in 35 starts. Imperative is by Bernardini out of Call Her, by Caller I.D. “[Co-owner] Ron [Paolucci] gave me a call about 2½ weeks ago and said, ‘Do you have an empty stall?’

So, he bought the horse,” winning trainer Bob Hess Jr. said. “[Former trainer] Richard Baltas was very forthright and told us about his quirks. We brought him out here and he worked really well. I think he likes a little sandier track surface.

“I’m speechless,” he added. “It’s great to compete on the biggest day in racing, and to be able to compete against and beat Todd Pletcher is fun an exciting. [Imperative] kind of runs with his head up a little so I thought we might have lost the head bob, but luckily he dropped in time. No complaints.”

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“She broke good. We got behind the three [horses] and got her to a good spot. I slipped out and once we got to the outside, she started running. I thought we had it at that point,” Saez said.

Curlin’s Approval is trained by Martin Wolfson for breeder Happy Alter’s Alters Racing Stable, who picked up $60,760 for the win. She is a 4-year-old daughter of Curlin out of Withmom’sapproval, by With Approval. It was her fourth career win from seven starts and her second stakes win after taking the $75,000-added Elegance Stakes at Gulfstream Park in August. Curlin’s Approval now has career earnings of $184,735.

LADIES TURF SPRINT

Power Alert (Aus) held off a furious late run by Rainbow Heir to win the $125,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint for the second consecutive year. The Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint featured 12 older horses going five furlongs on the grass.

Ridden by Julien Leparoux for trainer Brian Lynch, who co-owns the 7-year-old gelding with AJ Suited Racing Stable LLC, Power Alert broke best of all from his 11 post position. However, it quickly became a race for the early lead as Pay Any Price, Platinum Price and Doctor J Dub were also trying for the pace-setting position. As they hit the first quarter in a rapid :20.86, Pay Any Price was ahead of Doctor J Dub in second and Power Alert in third. Power Alert took over in the stretch and was a length in front until Rainbow Heir made a late run from eighth while Pay Any Price gave chase in third. Power Alert and Rainbow Heir raced under the wire together and it took the photo finish to give

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Pretty Perfection nearly duplicated her last race when defeating allowance-optional claimers at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 4 as she again came from off the pace, this time to win the $125,000 Ladies Turf Sprint. A full gate of 12 older fillies and mares went five furlongs on the turf in the Ladies’ Turf Sprint.

Everything Lucky went to the lead right out of the gate and quickly put a length on Nite Delight, My Sister Caro and Blue Bahia while jockey Nik Juarez let Pretty Perfection race midpack. Going around the far turn Everything Lovely and Nite Delite put daylight between them and the rest after clipping off a quarter-mile fraction in a quick :21.27. Those two kept at each other into the stretch as Pretty Perfection found room between rivals and began her rally. With less than 50 yards to run, Pretty Perfection got to the lead and raced under the wire 1½ lengths in front of Everything Lovely in second with Triple Chelsea third in a final time of :55.31.

“The plan was to let them go early so she could relax,” Juarez said. “She really felt herself out there. When it was time to make the move it went just perfect. She’s been working real well in the morning and she’s a fast horse But the key is to get her to relax.”

Pretty Perfection is a 5-year-old mare by Majesticperfection out of the Mazel Trick mare Suchaprettygirl. The Ladies’ Turf Sprint is her fifth career victory from 12 starts for the Kelly Breen trainee who is owned by Stoneway Farm LLC. She earned $74,450 for the win to increase her career earnings to $184,450.

TURF SPRINT

the victory to Power Alert in a running time of :54.90.

“I’m very proud of this horse,” Lynch said. “He comes from the small country town where I came from in Australia. For him to show up on these big days like this means a lot to me. He’s such an honest campaigner. When he’s right, he’s a very fast horse over five-eighths of a mile.

“Initially, I thought he [won], but when I watched the replays I thought [Rainbow Heir] might have. It was a head bob and I had a gut feeling that our head was down and his was coming back.”

It was the second consecutive win for Power Alert, who took the $78,000 Turf Dash at Tampa Bay Downs on Dec. 31 in his previous race, and it was his 11th victory from 30 career starts. Power Alert is by Alert (Arg) out of Gold Locket (Aus), by Lochrae (Aus). He earned $72,075 for the win to increase his bankroll to $618,231. ■

Power Alert takes the Turf Sprint

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By MIKE MULLANEY

F

lorida’s breeders and owners – the ones who spend hour upon hour poring over pedigrees, campaigning their horses and paying the bills – have plenty to be proud of in the aftermath of Sunshine races at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 21.

Certainly the customers should be satisfied: Of the five events, the largest margin of victory was a half-length; three of the races were decided by a neck, and the quintet’s finale, appropriately, the Classic, was decided by a nose after several minutes of study.

CLASSIC

Live Oak Plantation’s Awesome Slew made his debut against fellow state-breds in the nine-furlong, $200,000 Classic and most of those handicapping the race saw neither the company nor the distance to be much of a problem for the graded-stakes winner, but second-choice Hy Riverside and rider Jose Ortiz had other ideas.

Laying off the 3-5 favorite as they both stalked the pacesetting longshot Nauset Beach, Ortiz and his 5-year-old mount barged in be38 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017

tween those two in drive to the wire and prevailed in a thriller. The 34-1 Nauset Beach, who gained and regained the lead three times during the race, edged away from Awesome Slew to gain third by three-quarters of a length.

Tiger of Wales, who recently had been running in Puerto Rico, got fourth, followed

by Piloting, We’re All Set, Uncle Vinny and Joshua’s Comprise.

Hy Riverside – a gelding by Macho Uno out of Sarcasm, by Distorted Humor, bred by Amy Dunne – is owned by Mar Racing Stable and is trained by Antonio Sano, who had some prerace words of advice for his rider.

“Antonio told me to warm him up good. He said try to put him close to the pace, and he will give you a run at the three-eighths pole,” Ortiz said. “At that point I didn’t want to go around because I felt like I had a lot of horse. I waited, waited, waited and made my way through a hole, and my horse was very, very brave.

“I knew I was there, but I wasn’t sure about the head bob. He gave me everything he had.”

The Classic served as a showcase for Ortiz to display the form that saw him win a nation’sbest 351 races last year.

After getting the distance in 1:49.39, Hy Riverside paid $8.80.

The Classic was the first stakes victory for Hy Riverside, who was fourth to Mr. Jordan Nov. 12 in the Classic Preview at Gulfstream Park West. In subsequent races he was fifth in a pair of Grade 3, the Harlan’s Holiday and Hal’s Hope.

Sano spent the day saddling horses in Tampa and Jesus Prada deputized for him at Gulfstream.

“The horse is a good horse. The horses are here to run, and Antonio said if the horse is good, run him,” said Prada. “In the first moment, I thought he lost, but on the replay, I thought he won. The jockey rode an excellent race. He is an excellent jockey.”

Hy Riverside earned a first prize of $120,280, which came close to doubling his career total, which is now $273,790. From 16 career starts he has a 5-3-2 record.

Hy Riverside was sold to Mar Racing Stable for $190,000 at OBS’ 2014 Spring Sale of 2-year-olds and horses in training, taken out of the Stephens Thoroughbreds consignment.

He has two older, named siblings, Dark

Chocolate and Lintlaw. The latter placed in a stakes race at Northlands Park in western Canada.

TURF

Trainer Jimmy Bond knew his promising late bloomer Our Way would be in good hands as soon as he secured Johnny Velazquez to ride the promising 4-yearold gelding.

And Velazquez was in his typical Hall of Fame form.

Just a bit wide and well out of trouble in the run down the backstretch of the 1 1/16-mile race, Velasquez asked his mount for more on the final turn and Our Way responded with a long, grinding run that carried him to the front approaching the wire, edging the game Enterprising by a neck with Reporting Star 1¾ lengths back in third.

“Perfect trip,” Velazquez said. “[Bond] told me he didn’t want me too close, but if it’s slow enough, get close enough. He broke well, so it worked out perfect. I just put my hands down and followed the horse on the

lead. He responded when I asked him down the lane.”

Go Round was fourth, a neck behind Reporting Star, the runner-up in the two previous Turf renewals.

Starship Zorro, Two Step Time and Beneficiary followed.

Our Way finished in 1:41.81 over a firm course. Third choice in the field of seven, he paid $10.20.

Go Round, favored at 8-5, set a leisurely pace, tripping the timer in :25.07 for the opening quarter-mile, followed by :49.23 for the half and 1:12.28 for three-quarters.

“Johnny is the master of all masters,” an admiring Bond said. “If you want a masterful ride on turf, you call Johnny. That was the difference in the race, Johnny had him in the right spot.

Hy Riverside prevails in the Classic

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There was no pace up front. This horse usually needs a pace to close into, and Johnny had him in the right spot and saved every inch of ground he could.”

Co-highweighted at 121 pounds with Enterprising, spotting the others from two to four pounds, Our Way scored his third win in the last four starts, the only blemish in that run being a sixth over a soft course in the English Channel Stakes at Belmont on Oct. 23. His record reads 4-1-2 from 11 starts with earnings of $224,484.

Although absent in the afternoons, he had been busy in the mornings, working for this race under the supervision of Bond’s son Ryan.

Bond indicated he is thinking of a try against Grade 1 in the near future, namely the Maker’s 46 Mile at Keeneland in April.

“I don’t think he’s a good one-turn horse.

I think he’s a better two-turn horse,” he said.

Bred by Farm III Enterprises, Our Way came out of the Parrish Farms consignment and was sold for $140,000 at OBS’ March, 2015 sale of 2-year-olds in training. His Dosage Profile is 2-1-3-0-0, with a Dosage Index of 3.00 and a Center of Distribution of +0.83.

He’s a son of Tizway out of the Point Given mare She’s Sensational.

SPRINT

Give Kathleen O’Connell time to work on a horse and she can work wonders. The latest example is Early Entry, a 6-year-old who

LAUREN KING PHOTO

Sunshine MILLIONS

Florida-bred Our Way captures the Turf

made the Sprint his first stakes success.

The Tommy Roberts Racing Stable horse returned from an 11-month layoff to stretch his unbeaten streak to four over Gulfstream Park’s main track, tallying by a half-length after running down the accomplished Delta Bluesman. Awesome Banner was third.

The second- and third-place finishers were hard to separate in the pools, Delta Bluesman having a slight edge as the 8-5 favorite and Awesome Banner going off at 9-5.

The payoffs went to supporters of Early Entry, who went off at 4-1 and returned $10.20.

“He had a few problems and the owner’s good about giving horses the time that they need. When they come back sometimes they get sick or have a foot issue,” O’Connell said.

“He was sharp. He was up to the task.”

Ridden by Paco Lopez, Early Entry

chased Delta Bluesman down the backstretch and around the far turn before asserting himself near the wire.

Delta Bluesman had a neck on Awesome Banner to save second.

Yourdreamsormine, Extravagant Kid, Schivarelli and Sing Praises completed the order of finish.

Early Entry got the six-furlong Sprint in 1:09.50. Delta Bluesman’s fractions were :21.98 and :44.49.

It was Early Entry’s ninth win in 23 starts with two seconds and two thirds. The $60,760 first prize pushed his earnings to $299,642.

Despite this victory at three-quarters of a mile, O’Connell said, “We’re just going to enjoy this for a while. He’s a seven [-furlong] specialist. He is what he is and we’re satisfied with that.”

Bred by Kathryn Standard, Early Entry is a son of Keyed Entry out of Bright ‘n Early,

by Northern Jove, who did not attain his $32,000 reserve at OBS’ selected sale of 2year-olds in training in 2013.

LESLIE MARTIN PHOTO

FILLY & MARE TURF

40 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017

Florida-bred Early Entry winning the Sprint

Family Meeting, a sixth-generation homebred for Ocala’s Glen Hill Farm, edged away near the wire following a thrilling stretch duel with Frosty Friday to win by a neck.

Family Meeting ($3.80), favored at 4-5 in a field of six older horses under jockey Jose Lezcano, ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.18 over a firm turf course for her first victory since taking the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante in November 2015 at Del Mar.

Florida-bred Family Meeting takes the Filly & Mare Turf

Rontos Lily completed the order of finish.

Mom’s on Strike, the 2-1 program favorite, was scratched.

DISTAFF

Phillip Sagan’s Mia Torri took the lead at the top of the stretch and held off the fastclosing You Brought Her to earn her first stakes victory by a neck with Javier Castellano up.

You Brought Her finished 1¼ lengths clear of third-place finisher, Moment of Delight, in the six-horse field of filly and mare sprinters. Jamie’s Dancer, Lucky Switch and Flutterby completed the order of finish.

Mia Torri, a 4-year-old daughter of General Quarters, is trained by Jorge Navarro.

She came into Navarro’s care late last year with a record of 1-3-1 in five starts, which

LESLIE MARTIN PHOTO

“It was really nice to win. She was [37-1] when she won her last stake,” said Craig Bernick, president and CEO of Glen Hill Farm.

“We always thought she was a pretty nice filly but she had never won another race since, so I’m really happy she won another stakes race.”

Glen Hill was founded by Leonard Lavin, Bernick’s 97-year-old grandfather who also owned and raced Family Meetings’ mare, Family Plan, and the previous four mares: Deep Discount, Supplier, Conveniently and the ultra-classy Convenience, who edged Typecast in a famous 1972 match race at Hollywood Park.

Rontos Lily sprang to the lead through a quarter-mile in :24.54 and a half in :49.07 with Frosty Friday tracking in second and Family Meeting unhurried in fourth. When Frosty Friday moved up to overtake the pacesetter for the lead she was followed by Family Meeting moving effortlessly to her outside.

“I was really worried. She has a wild run in her but I thought he used her a little bit down the backside and I was afraid that she wasn’t going to get by that horse in the stretch,” Bernick said. “She hasn’t made an early move and won before, so I was happy that she did. She’s a come-from-behind turf horse and they need to get their trip.”

Family Meeting hooked Frosty Friday after turning for home and they battled the length of the stretch before Lezcano urged his 4-yearold filly clear. Frosty Friday was a clear second, three lengths ahead of EB Ryder.

Elizabeth Aurora, Sumfloridasunfun and

Florida-bred Mia Torri triumphs in the Distaff

KENNY MARTIN PHOTO

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included a runner-up finish in the Charles Town Oaks (G3) last September. In her first race for her new trainer, she easily won a state-bred optional claimer at Gulfstream Park Dec. 19.

Flutterby, the pacesetter, was pushed along

by Mia Torri through an opening quarter of 22.15. After a half-mile in 44.99, Flutterby was retreating, and Mia Torri had assumed the lead while Moment of Delight was making her presence felt.

Navarro said he was surprised by how the race unfolded early.

“When I saw our filly that close, I thought ‘Oh my God, we’re in trouble now,’” he said, “but hey, she can run.”

Castellano acknowledged that Mia Torri was keen to grab the bit.

“I took a little bit of a hold of her on the backside because she wanted to dictate the pace,” he said. “I didn’t want to hook up with the speed because I know [Flutterby] has the speed …

I wanted to save something for the end.”

You Bought Her, fourth down the backstretch, was rolling and appeared poised to pass Mia Torri, who had already put Moment of Delight away, but the winner had more in the tank.

The winner returned $6 as the 2-1 favorite, and she completed the distance in 1:10.32. It was her third win in seven starts, with three seconds and a third, and the $61,380 first prize boosted her earnings to $193,020.

Bred by Shadybrook Farm, Mia Torri is a daughter of the Birdstone mare Flip the Stone. ■ THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017 41

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By BROCK SHERIDAN

M

aster Plan came from far off the pace to catch Convict Pike in deep stretch on his way to winning the colts and geldings division of the $100,000 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Championship held at

42 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017

the OBS Race Course in Ocala Jan. 24.

The OBS Championship featured 3-yearolds which have graduated from an OBS sales ring going 1 1/16 miles on the Safetrack surface. It was the last of four thoroughbred stakes that anchored an 11-race card.

SALLY MOEHRING PHOTO

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THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017 43

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OBS Champions Day

COGLIANESE PHOTOS

Master Plan triumphs in the colts and geldings division at OBS Champions day

Trained by Todd Pletcher for Al Shaqab Racing, WinStar Farm LLC and The China Horse Club, Master Plan broke last in the eight-horse field and raced in seventh for much of the early parts of the race.

“I was not confident at all,” jockey John Velasquez said after the race. “He was going very well down the backstretch but when we went around [the second] turn, he didn’t run at all. So I had to really get after him and let him know he needs to get after it a little. By the time we hit the quarter pole, he was running and all I had to do was find some room.

We found a hole between horses and asked him to go and he responded right away. He was the only horse to come from off the pace today at OBS, so he was very impressive.”

Master Plan won by 2½ lengths over Convict Pike in second with Sailing Home third.

Harlan’s Quest set the pace for much of the race with fractions of :24 2/5, :48 2/5 before Sailing Home took over with six furlongs in 1:12. Master Plan finished up in 1:44 over the fast track.

Master Plan is by Twirling Candy out of Sage Mist, by Henny Hughes. He was consigned by Dr. Barry Eisaman’s Eisaman 44 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017

Equine at the 2016 OBS March Sale for 2year-olds in training where he brought $850,000 from the current owners. Master Plan has now won two of Dynatail wins the four starts with earnings Filly Division of $97,350. He broke his maiden at Gulfstream Park West on Oct. 22 against maiden special weight company before finishing second to Tapwrit in the $75,000 Pulpit Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 10.

OBS CHAMPIONSHIP FILLY DIVISION

In the filly division of the OBS Championship also at 1 1/16 miles, Dynatail broke on top and never looked back on her way to taking down the $60,000 winner’s share of the $100,000 purse.

Ridden by Orlando Bocachica for trainer

Mike Dini, Dynatail was a length in front of On Her Honor after a quarter-mile in :24 1/5.

Those two raced as a team through a :48 2/5 half-mile and six furlongs in 1:12 4/5 before finishing up in 1:46.20.

She beat Lady Racer to the wire by 1¾ lengths in 1:46 2/5. Heart Astray was third.

“I can’t work her by herself because she needs somebody to run at,” Dini said. “You can see today that when she made the lead [at the top of the stretch], she stopped running a bit. That’s why I was so happy to see her dig in like she did late.”

Dynatail is by Hightail out of Southern Dynamo, by Dynaformer. She earned $60,000 for owner Ballybrit Stable and pushed her career earnings to $89,600.

Ballybrit purchased her for the bargain price of $5,000 out of the OBS June Sale of 2-yearolds in training last year from the consignment of Hoppel’s Horse and Cattle Co. It took Dynatail four tries to break her maiden, but she has not lost since winning a maiden special weight at Tampa Bay Downs on Dec. 3.

She followed that race with a win against entry-level allowance optional-claiming horses at Tampa Bay on Jan 1.

OBS SPRINT-FILLY DIVISION

Salvador Hernandez purchased Florida-bred Yes I’ll Go out of the 2015 OBS Winter Mixed Sale as a yearling for $40,000 from Richard Kent’s Kaizen Sales consignment.

Hernandez then tried to pinhook her during the 2016 OBS April Sale of 2-year-olds in training but she never made her reserve. If he was disappointed after she did not sell, Hernandez did not mention it in the winners’ circle after Yes I’ll Go won the $50,000 filly division of the OBS Sprint.

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Yes I’ll Go had shown plenty of promise in winning a maiden special weight in wire-towire fashion by nine lengths at Gulfstream Park West on Nov. 16. But she did not repeat that effort when fifth to winner Bode’s Dream in the $75,000 House Party Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 10.

It may have been that she did not like the sloppy track in the House Party or it could have been that she did not get the lead as she did in her maiden race.

Whatever her excuse was in her second race, it did not matter in her third start, as she won the OBS Sprint while leading most of the way.

Ridden by Luis Saez for trainer Armando De la cerda, Yes I’ll Go was a half-length in front of Star Gala after a quarter-mile in :22 1/5 but could not keep up down the backstretch as Star Gala took the lead while going the half-mile in :45. Yes I’ll Go fought back on the far turn while racing on the inside and went to win by 2½ lengths in 1:10.80 for six furlongs.

Lady Racer got up to finish second with Heart Astray third to complete the Floridabred trifecta. Star Gala was fourth.

Yes I’ll Go earned $29,760 for the victory and increased her bankroll to $49,942 for Hernandez’s Hernandez Racing Club based in Chicago. She has now won two of three career starts.

“I thought she looked very strong,” Her-

Uncle B drew off in the stretch to take the Sprint-Colt & Gelding Division

Florida-bred Yes I’ll Go wins the Sprint-Filly Division

nandez said. “I’ve had a few people come to me with offers to buy her, but so far nobody has shown up with any money. Regardless, I’m very happy with her performance.”

Bred in Florida by Dorothy Raffa, Yes I’ll Go is by Yes It’s True out of Walkinforkisses,

by Kissin Kris.

OBS SPRINT-COLT & GELDING DIVISION

Uncle B had to fight with Florida-bred Stormin My Way for much of OBS Sprint as those two were never more than a head apart during the first four furlongs after setting fractions of :21 4/5 and :44 2/5. But Stormin My Way could not keep up around the far turn and Uncle B drew off down the stretch to win by three lengths in a track record time of 1:08 3.5 for the six furlongs.

My Friend got up for second while Stormin My Way came home another 11⁄2 lengths in third.

Uncle B is trained by Nicholas Gonzalez for Lucio Tucci and wife Martha Gonzalez.

Paco Lopez rode.

Uncle B won for the second time in five starts and earned $30,380 to increase his career earnings to $78,188.

Uncle B became eligible for the OBS Sprint after selling for $25,000 to Hidden Brook, agent, during the 2016 OBS Open Sale of 2-year-olds in training last June. He was consigned by SGA Sales.

Uncle B is by Zensational and is out of the Honour and Glory mare Graziella. ■ THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017 45

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EQUINE TRANSPORTATION

By CYNTHIA MCFARLAND

“If you want something done right, do it yourself.”

Y

ou’ve heard the old adage many times, but does it always apply to hauling horses? That depends.Many thoroughbred farms have their own trailer or van, but still hire a commercial carrier at times to transport horses, especially for long distance travel. Safety and convenience are main reasons for a farm to have its own way to transport horses. This provides the security of knowing there’s always a way to get a horse to the veterinary clinic in case of an emergency.

On the other hand, there are definite benefits to using a reputable commercial shipping company. They’re familiar with all the necessary procedures and paperwork, and will let you know what’s needed. Good shipping companies have well-maintained equipment and hire professionals who are adept at handling horses, know how to take care of them on the road, and are knowledgeable about road emergencies.

LOCAL EXPERIENCE

In Ocala’s horse country, it’s not unusual at all for a farm to use both their own truck and trailer/van and commercial equine transportation companies. It’s a matter of convenience and safety.

For example, at Ocala Stud, one of the area’s oldest thoroughbred farms, which has been in business 61 years, the farm utilizes commercial shippers, as well as their own box truck.

“We’re unique in that our business runs on three separate farms; we have about 300 head on the three farms combined. We have a four-horse box truck that we use for local transportation, but for anything that 46 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017

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The representatives of each company all offered similar advice on making sure the trip goes smoothly. This includes: Making sure the horse is healthy and not running a fever.

Making sure the horse is well-hydrated. leaves the county, we hire a commercial van,” Providing hay the horse is familiar with. says farm manager David O’Farrell.

Not using bandages/shipping boots unless When sending horses between their own the horse is very accustomed to them. farms, to the clinic, the breeding shed, or over Having all paperwork/contact information to Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company, it’s conin order. venient to use their own transportation.

“Once the horse is on the truck, we take care “If you have your own transport at your of everything. Our drivers are all horsemen and disposal, you may as well use it,” says we have cameras that scan the truck while we’re O’Farrell. “You can pretty much go whengoing down the road, so we can see what each ever you want to, rather than make a call and individual horse is doing,” says Copeland. wait, but if we need to go out of our area, we Boyer adds that when a company suggests CARRIERS WEIGH IN hire a commercial van. We mostly use Lorshipping in a box stall, it’s not because they raine and Sallee.”

“Feasibility wise, it’s often better for a want to make more money. “We’re trying to Ocala Stud sends broodmares to Kentucky farm to have their own vehicles for local look out for the horse, so we recommend the for breeding and does a lot of shipping of train- farm-to-farm and breeding shed runs, and so box stall, especially if you’re shipping to a sale. ing horses all over the country. O’Farrell ap- they can get to the clinic fast in an emer- A box stall is more comfortable than a standing preciates the efficiency and professionalism of gency,” says Keith Boyer, office manager at stall and the horse gets to move around more.” going commercial for long distance shipping. the Ocala division of Lorraine Horse Trans Always read the Bill of Lading, front and “There are some private haulers who (www.lorrainehorsetrans.com). back. Commercial equine carriers note a “dehave great attention to detail, but the comBoyer adds that it doesn’t make sense for clared value” for each horse they are transmercial companies do this freporting, as noted on the Bill of quently. They have the staff and Lading. This means, in the event of If we need to go out of our area, we equipment that is needed to ship the horse’s death/destruction, the hire a commercial van. We mostly use easily and without any real risk; carrier is only liable to pay that deLorraine and Sallee. —David O’Farrell they do a great job,” he notes. clared value, so it’s wise to have in“In most cases, they have good communi- most farms to send their employees on the road surance on your horse, just as a precaution. cation, not only with the sender, but also with for long distance trips, which is one of the reaDOING IT YOURSELF the receiver. They give plenty of heads-up sons they turn to a commercial shipper. time to receiving end and are usually on Having your own trailer provides a meas“We do a lot of local hauling for big time,” says O’Farrell. “It makes life easier farms. You’d be surprised how many don’t ure of comfort and security in that it provides having that service provided for us.” have their own trailers or don’t want to be the option of hauling your horse to the clinic bothered with local runs. Whether it’s to the in case of emergency. It also offers a way to GOING COMMERCIAL breeding shed or the clinic, they call us 24 evacuate horses in the event of a natural disMany problems can be avoided by choos- hours a day,” says Brian Roberts, manager in aster or other dangerous scenario.

When you start looking at trailers, however, ing a shipping company with a good reputation the Ocala office of Brook Ledge Horse you’ll find the choices are almost endless. So and longstanding history, not just the carrier Transportation (www.brookledge.com).

Commercial carriers understand that how do you make the right choice, one that is that offers the least expensive price. Shipping with a properly licensed carrier means you can sometimes horses must ship at the last minute safest and most practical for your situation? trust that their drivers are qualified to operate because of an emergency, but overall they Trailer manufacturers don’t perform the particular rigs they are piloting, and that prefer to have at least several days’ notice be- “crash tests,” so there’s no simple way to do safety comparisons between makes and their hours of services are logged and tracked. fore your horse needs to travel.

“We appreciate a few days notice, but we models as you can with vehicles. This means Commercial horse transportation companies continually have to meet a number of re- have transportation available 24/7 in case of it’s up to you to carefully inspect and purquirements in order to legally ship horses. Not emergency,” says Pete Copeland, agent with chase the safest trailer you can afford and only is there the financial obligation of be- Sallee Horse Vans Inc. (www.salleehorse- then do everything possible to keep it wellmaintained. coming and remaining a licensed carrier, but transport.com).

EQUINE

Transportation

they must comply with state and Federal laws, including drug testing protocol. In order to remain licensed, their equipment must also pass periodic inspections.

You can verify that the company you are considering is a member of the National Horse Carriers Association by visiting their website (www.nationalhorsecarriers.com) and clicking on the members section.

In order to be a member in good standing, transportation companies must meet the filing and insurance requirements of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and relevant states. Members are also required to meet rigid safety standards established by the DOT, which governs both vehicles and drivers.

“

”

48 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017

• • • • •

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there’s a safety feature as you can get to each horse individually, and second, the straight“The first thing I ask a customer is, load trailer gives a horse more room in the ‘What kind of horses do you have, what size stall because in a slant load, the stall is only as are they and what are you doing with them?’ long as the width of the trailer on an angle.

The second thing is I ask what tow vehicle Especially for a big horse, a straight load is they are using,” says Kevin Scott, a salesmore roomy and comfortable.” man at Nelson’s Trailer Sales & Service in “You also need to consider trailer height,” Ocala, Florida, which has been in business says Scott. “Seven feet is standard and that’s since 1965. fine for breeds like Quarter Horses, but if you Scott finds one of the biggest mistakes peohave bigger horses, you’ll ple make is thinking want a 7’6” height. Stantheir tow vehicle has It’s up to you to carefully inspect and purchase the dard stall width is about 32 more pulling capacity safest trailer you can afford and then do everything inches, but for a larger horse than it actually does. possible to keep it well-maintained. you’d want 40 inches.”

Bob Kennedy of Ramp or step-up is personal preference, Coast to Coast Truck & Trailer Sales in Ocala for increased safety and stability.

Trailers are either straight-load (horses and can influence the door style. Although encourages anyone shopping for a trailer— new or used—to do their homework first. face straight ahead while traveling) or slant- the weight of a ramp may be a drawback, it does make loading easier for some horses.

This includes knowing how you’ll use the load (horses stand on an angle). trailer, what type of hauling you plan to do, “The straight-load trailer business has A ramp with “Dutch” doors offers additional size and number of horses, and what kind of turned around over the last ten years, and we ventilation because you can opt to leave the sell more of these than slant load now,” notes upper portion open, while solid back doors tow vehicle you’ll be using.

Kennedy. “I think that’s because, first, increase the heat inside a trailer.

“We try to be a good listener and let the customer tell us what they want,” he says.

“Then we try to direct them to what they really need. With the price of horse trailers any more, you can save thousands if you buy the trailer that’s right for you the first time.”

For example, Kennedy notes that someone who’s going to be doing a lot of hauling on the interstate will likely appreciate a gooseneck over a bumper pull, because the weight is distributed over the axle of the tow vehicle

NARROW THE CHOICES

“

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THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017 49

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EQUINE

Transportation When it comes to materials, you have three options: aluminum, steel or a combination of steel and aluminum. The two major advantages of all-aluminum are that it never rusts and is lighter in weight than all steel trailers.

For these exact reasons, an all-aluminum trailer will cost significantly more than an allsteel trailer of the same size and style.

Today’s trailers also have flooring options.

While wood floors topped with rubber mats are common, you can also get a poured-in rubber material such as WERM. Another option is Rumber® instead of wood flooring.

Made from 100% recycled tire rubber and plastics, this composite material is cut into “boards” and bolted directly to the trailer frame. Rumber® doesn’t crack, rot or split, is impervious to fluids, oil, and ultraviolet rays, and provides a cushioning surface.

SMART SHOPPING

One of the advantages of shopping for a trailer in our area is the number of dealerships/manufacturers available.

“You go anywhere else in the country and you have to drive for hours to go from one trailer dealer to another,” says Kennedy, noting that both new and used trailers are popular at Coast to Coast. “People here get spoiled; they can look at ten different manufacturers within a couple miles and have a lot of quality options.

“When shopping for a trailer, you’re not only buying the product, but the services and reputation of the dealer representing it,” he adds.

“Your best bet is to buy from a dealer because even if you’re buying a used trailer, they will have inspected it and fixed anything they find that needs attention,” advises Scott. “If you’re buying a used trailer privately, have it inspected by a reputable shop before you purchase it.”

Dealerships may offer financing on both new and used trailers, but before you talk figures, you should thoroughly inspect any trailer you’re considering.

50 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017

“The only standards for trailers in the U.S are for axle quality, trailer wheels and tires and these are minimal standards, so you need to do a careful inspection,” observes Rebecca Gimenez, PhD, instructor and president of Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue (TLAER), which has compiled a database of over 1,000 wrecks over 20 years. Based in Macon, Ga., TLAER provides courses around the country, teaching the intricacies of rescuing horses and other large animals from entrapments, such as trailer wrecks, ditches, barn fires, etc.

“When you go look at trailers, take a piece of plastic to lie on or one of those wheeled dollies so you can slide under the trailer and look, and bring a flashlight,” says Gimenez.

EXTERIOR OBSERVATION

Seams/Welds – Any place where various sections of the trailer come together should be solid with no cracks, broken welds or deep rust.

On a steel trailer, surface rust is not unusual on an older trailer, but any deep rust is a red flag.

Hitch – Although there are several different methods for locking the hitch onto the ball, whatever the style of hitch, make sure it’s well-lubricated, moves freely and works properly. Make sure your receiver ball matches the trailer hitch. An incorrect ball size is commonly the reason a trailer will come unhitched. “We’ve seen many horrific wrecks, but if the ball is the correct size and the trailer is hitched correctly, it

Things to Consider When Buying a Trailer

• Budget?

• Number of horses?

• Type and size of horses will you typically be hauling?

Towing capacity of your tow vehicle?

• Bumper pull or gooseneck?

• Straight load or slant load?

• Door Style?

Ramp or step-up?

• What type of climate will you be • hauling in the majority of the time?

• Interior height of the trailer? (Don’t go less than 7 ⁄ ft. for large breeds.)

Width and length of stalls?

• Trailer material and construction?

• Floor type?

• • Ventilation features?

1

2

will not come apart,” says Gimenez.

Safety Brake Cable – Unless it’s an older trailer, it should have a safety brake cable designed to engage the brakes should the trailer ever come un-hitched. In order to function, the cable needs a battery, so look for this and check to see that it is in working order.

Safety Chains – Should be a heavy-duty chain with large, heavy-duty snaps. These chains should be welded to the trailer as their sole purpose is to keep your tow vehicle and trailer together long enough for you to slow down and stop if the hitch fails. These chains should be criss-crossed when in use.

Tires - “Look at the sidewalls,” says Scott.

“A tire can have all the tread in the world, but have dry-rot or weather-rot, and most of the time you can see this on the sidewalls, and sometimes between the tread. Also check the valve stems; if you can push on them and air comes out, they need to be replaced.” Look for the date on the tire; all tires have one. If the date is older than five years, you’ll want to replace them even if the tread is good, because older tires start to break down from the inside where you can’t see. If tires are in good shape, look to see if they’ve been balanced.

This will be obvious if you see the small, oblong metal weights along the rim.

Wheel Bearings – “Facing the trailer, push and pull back and forth on the tire. If there is any play in it, this tells you the bearings probably need to be replaced,” says Scott. Pop off the cap and see if the bearings are lubricated. If this has not been done, Gimenez says, it tells you the trailer has not been well-maintained. A dry bearing can lock up and if hot enough, even start a fire.

Brakes – Most trailers today have electric brakes, but just pulling the trailer won’t tell you if they are working right. A professional inspection is recommended to ensure that the brake assembly is in good shape and working properly.

Lights – You’ll need a second person to sit in the tow vehicle and operate the brakes and turn signals while you walk behind the trailer to check that the lights are working. (Note: Lights not working shouldn’t be the deciding factor on buying a used trailer, as they often go out, but are relatively easy and inexpensive to get working.)

Reflective tape – Is there enough to make

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the trailer safely visible in the dark? Most trailers don’t have enough, but you can easily remedy this by buying a roll of reflective tape at a farm supply store and applying it to the sides and rear of the trailer.

GET UNDERNEATH

The trailer may have a pristine paint job and look fine, but get underneath to take a close look at the following: Axles – Should be straight with no bends.

Look to see that the “U” bolts holding the axle onto the frame are present and intact. (If ordering a new trailer, Gimenez strongly recommends getting heavy-duty axles.)

Frame – If aluminum, look for broken welds or corrosion. If steel, look closely for pitting or rust that is deep enough to damage the frame’s overall integrity.

Wiring – Should be heavy-duty wire in conduit. You don’t want to see unprotected wires stapled or taped in place. A problem with wiring can lead to tiny electrical “shorts,” which your horse can feel.

Floor – If wood, check for damage or rot by pressing a screwdriver against the wood

wherever it touches the frame. These are the first places wood will start to rot and affect the integrity of the floor. Even when made of pressure-treated wood, floors should generally be replaced every 10 years, more often if heavily used or in regions where roads are salted in winter, notes Gimenez.

GO INSIDE

If the trailer passes your exterior/underneath inspection, check out the interior: Doors – Check for any rust or broken welds; observe hinges for stability. Make sure latches close securely.

Ramp (if present) – A ramp is like a floor, says Gimenez, so it must be sturdy and made of quality material.

Head Room – Your horse should have a minimum of at least 2-1/2 feet above his withers to the ceiling, preferably more.

Interior Floor – Pull up any mats to inspect the floor from the inside and look closely at the frame and floor. Moisture can cause aluminum to pit and corrode, while it can cause steel to rust.

Bulkhead – Check the welds/seams

where it attaches to frame.

Roof – Are there adequate vents to provide air flow? What is the material? Many people like fiberglass because it makes the interior lighter, but Gimenez is not a fan, noting “fiberglass fails horrifically in a wreck.”

Ventilation – Trailer interiors can really heat up, especially with horses’ body heat.

While you can add ventilation to any steel or aluminum trailer, this will increase the cost, so look at what’s already in place. Are there roof vents? Do the windows slide open and/or drop down? (Safety note: NEVER haul horses with windows open so horses can put their heads outside the trailer! This is an extremely dangerous practice and horses have been seriously injured and even killed by something striking their heads. Window bars should only be dropped when the trailer is parked.)

Walls – Should be smooth, free of anything a horse can injure himself on. You can always add mats to the wall. Vinyl or leather “lean” pads offer extra comfort.

Chest/Butt Bars – Should be sturdy, easy to operate and thickly padded or wrapped for protection and horse comfort. ■

THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017 51

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FLORIDA DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES Adam H. Putnam, Commissioner • 850-617-7289 • Fax 850-617-7281 e-mail: Paul.Balthrop@freshfromflorida.com • 407 S. Calhoun The Mayo Building, Tallahassee, FL 32399

FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’ AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION Lonny T. Powell, CEO and Executive Vice President 801 SW 60th Ave. • Ocala, FL 34474 • 352-629-2160 • Fax: 352-629-3603 www.ftboa.com • info@ftboa.com • www.facebook.com/thefloridahorse

EconomicImpact_Word.qxp_Layout 1 8/23/16 12:24 PM Page 2

$1 BILLION INDUSTRY 12,000 DIRECT JOBS $2.6 Billion+ Overall Economic Impact* 19,000+ Direct/Indirect jobs* *Equine Marion County

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Florida-Breds Aro

The Country und

■FLORIDA-BREDS AROUND THE COUNTRY ————By Race Type/Grade ————

■FLORIDA-BRED FINISHERS—STAKES RACES Win/Place/Show Horse Name

Sex Age Sire

Dam

Breeder

Date

Track Off ID Pos Race Name

Grade/ Value

Earnings

St. Louie Guy

G

3

Kantharos

Red Hot Jul

Lucy Edwards and Randell Edwards

1/29/17

HOU

3

Space City S.

$50,000

$5,500

Yes I''ll Go

F

3

Yes It's True

Walkinforkisses

Dorothy Raffa

1/24/17

OTC

1

OBS Sprint (Fillies Division) S.

$50,000

$29,760

Lady Racer

F

3

Biondetti

Fantasy Forest

Woodford Thoroughbreds

1/24/17

OTC

2

OBS Sprint (Fillies Division) S.

$50,000

$9,600

Heart Astray

F

3

Gone Astray

Disperse a Star

Marcial Galan

1/24/17

OTC

3

OBS Sprint (Fillies Division) S.

$50,000

$4,800

Storming My Way

C

3

High Cotton

Picturemewithroses

Marion G. Montanari

1/24/17

OTC

3

OBS Sprint (Colts and Geldings Div.) S. $50,000

$4,900

Wildcat Wish

G

4

Wildcat Heir

Rahy's Wish

Charles Kent Cantrell & Beth Bayer

1/21/17

DED

1

Fremont S.

$70,000

$42,000

R Angel Katelyn

F

3

High Cotton

Send for an Angel

Craig Lawrence Wheeler

1/21/17

TAM

1

Gasparilla S.

$86,000

$60,000

Family Meeting

F

4

Sky Mesa

Family Plan

Glen Hill Farm

1/21/17

GP

1

Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf S. $100,000

$61,380

Mia Torri

F

4

General Quarters

Flip the Stone

Shadybrook Farm Inc

1/21/17

GP

1

Sunshine Millions Distaff S.

$100,000

$61,380

Early Entry

H

6

Keyed Entry

Bright 'n Early

Kathryn Standard

1/21/17

GP

1

Sunshine Millions Sprint S.

$100,000

$60,760

Our Way

G

4

Tizway

She's Sensational

Farm III Enterprices LLC

1/21/17

GP

1

Sunshine Millions Turf S.

$100,000

$60,760

So Conflated

R

3

Eskendereya

Donnie's Secret

Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds

1/21/17

GG

1

California Derby

$100,450

$60,000

Hy Riverside

G

5

Macho Uno

Sarcasm

Amy Dunne

1/21/17

GP

1

Sunshine Millions Classic S.

$200,000

$120,280

High Roller

C

3

High Cotton

Elective

Adam Parker & Suzette Parker

1/21/17

LRL

1

Frank Whiteley Jr S.

$75,000

45000

Royal Jewely

M

5

City Place

Sheila's Outback

Shamrock Thoroughbreds Helen Reynolds & Michael Reynolds

1/21/17

TAM

2

Wayward Lass S.

$50,000

$10,000

Frosty Friday

M

5

Eskendereya

Frosty Promise

Bridlewood Farm

1/21/17

GP

2

Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf S. $100,000

$19,800

You Bought Her

M

7

Graeme Hall

Striking T

CLDelaplane & RGDelaplane Trust UA 6/1/92 & Shade Tree Thoroughbreds 1/21/17

GP

2

Sunshine Millions Distaff S.

$100,000

$19,800 $19,600

Delta Bluesman

G

7

Wagon Limit

Smoke Alarm

Denis A. Dwyer

1/21/17

GP

2

Sunshine Millions Sprint S.

$100,000

Enterprising

G

6

Elusive Quality

Indy Blaze

Glen Hill Farm

1/21/17

GP

2

Sunshine Millions Turf S.

$100,000

$19,600

Nauset Beach

H

6

Scat Daddy

Outstanding Info

Patricia Generazio

1/21/17

GP

2

Sunshine Millions Classic S.

$200,000

$38,800

Lirica

F

3

Kantharos

Romantic Surprise

Cherie M. Abner & Michael A. Bossio

1/21/17

TAM

3

Gasparilla S.

$86,000

$10,000

E B Ryder

M

7

Bluegrass Cat

Back to Earth

Farnsworth Stables LLC

1/21/17

GP

3

Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf S. $100,000

$9,900

Sweetness

Jimmy Randolph

1/21/17

GP

3

Sunshine Millions Distaff S.

$100,000

$9,900

Jacks or Better Farm Inc.

1/21/17

GP

3

Sunshine Millions Sprint S.

$100,000

$9,800

Moment of Delight M

5

A. P. Warrior

Awesome Banner

4

Awesome of Course Miranda Stands

C

Reporting Star

G

7

Circular Quay

Classic Beauty

Gilbert G. Campbell

1/21/17

GP

3

Sunshine Millions Turf S.

$100,000

$9,800

Awesome Slew

C

4

Awesome Again

Slewfoundmoney

Live Oak Stud

1/21/17

GP

3

Sunshine Millions Classic S.

$200,000

$19,400

Stallwalkin'' Dude

G

7

City Place

Chelle Spendabuck

Maria M. Haire

1/16/17

AQU

3

Toboggan S.

3/$125,000

$12,500

Imperial Hint

1

Fire Plug S.

$75,000

$45,000

$100,000

$60,000

C

4

Imperialism

Royal Hint

Shade Tree Thoroughbreds Inc

1/14/17

LRL

Yorkiepoo Princess F

3

Kantharos

Kickapoo Princess

A. Francis Vanlangendonck & Barbara Vanlangendonck

1/14/17

AQU

1

Ruthless S.

Shane''s Girlfriend

F

3

Adios Charlie

Western Tornado

Ocala Stud

1/8/17

SA

3

Santa Ynez S.

Wildcat Kate

F

3

Kantharos

Kombat Kitty

El Batey Farm LLC

1/7/17

GP

1

Old Hat S.

2/$200,000

$24,000

$100,000

$61,380

Talk Logistics

C

3

High Cotton

Alotofappeal

Ocala Stud & Edward Wiest

1/7/17

GP

3

Mucho Macho Man S.

$100,000

$9,400

Dalmore

C

4

Colonel John

Silver Breeze

Sally J. Andersen

1/1/17

SA

3

San Pasqual S.

2/$196,000

$24,000

Delta Bluesman

G

7

Wagon Limit

Smoke Alarm

Denis A. Dwyer

1/1/17

GP

3

Mr. Prospector S.

3/$100,000

$9,900

54 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017

LAUREN KING PHOTO

Early Entry/Sunshine Sprint

LESLIE MARTIN PHOTO

Family Meeting/Sunshine Filly & Mare Turf

LESLIE MARTIN PHOTO

Hy Riverside/Sunshine Classic

AroundCountry_March.qxp_Layout 1 2/24/17 12:35 PM Page 55

■FLORIDA-BRED FINISHERS—ALLOWANCE Win/Place/Show Horse Name

Sex Age

Asdrubal M Code Warrior F The Strip M Somethingelse F Brighton Lane C Fast Karma G Montauk Cove G She''s Incredible F Whogoosedthemoose M Devil Rising G Malibu Princess F Philoctetes G Forever Wandy F All Summed Up F City Without Pity F Farleys Mandate G Telling Metzie F Map Room G Conquest Wildcat C Habilidoso C Quick and Silver G Code Warrior F Runaway Que G Pure Lemon F Foileen G Rick''s Boy G Denim Blue G The Strip M

5 4 5 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 4 5 4 4 4 7 4 4 3 3 6 4 6 4 6 5 4 5

Sire Suave Society's Chairman Quality Road Leroidesanimaux (BRZ) Hear No Evil High Cotton Circular Quay High Cotton Spring At Last Wildcat Heir Malibu Moon A. P. Warrior Hold Me Back In Summation City Place Full Mandate Telling Artie Schiller Wildcat Heir Greatness Dunkirk Society's Chairman Leading the Parade Eskendereya Chapel Royal Flashstorm In Summation Quality Road

Dam Maid of Oak Lady Natalie Cottage Link Gamecents Sexy Stockings West Acre Waltz Awanda Undistorted Melo Sophie Book the Devil Royal Damsel Grand Episode Advance Glory Load Up Baliwink Hines Farley Rules Kahlua Bay Holidaysatthefarm Vee Cee Dancing Southern Dance Royal Confection Lady Natalie Killisnoo Unicorn Kid Eva Maria Repentina Montana Jordana Cottage Link

Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’s Associattion •Lonny Powell – CEO, Executive Vice President •Brock Sheridan – Editor-in-Chief •Taammy Gantt – Associate Vice President, Membership Services, Events Director, Contributing Editor, Industry and Community Affairs

Breeder J. K. McFayden Pamela Edel Machmer Hall & Milan Kosanavich Family Broodmares III LLC Jacks or Better Farm Inc. Mr. & Mrs. Marty Hershe Janet Erwin Centaur Farms Inc. Ric Deg Farm & Luisa Degwitz Bridle Oaks Farm Inc. Kuehne Racing Tim James Mawhinney & Karen Faye Mawhinney Pamela Edel Oakleaf Farm Carol Hershe Jack Treadway & Sharon Treadway Family Broodmares III Glen Hill Farm A. Francis Vanlangendonck & Barbara Vanlangendonck Seymour Cohen Elizabeth P. Whelan David J. Whelan Teresa Murphy & Steve Murphy Pamela Edel Lambholm Sally J. Andersen L. Richard Kent & John Waterman Mayo West Farm & Liam Benson Northwest Stud William E. Beaty & Shari L. Beaty Machmer Hall & Milan Kosanovich

Gulfstream Park •Michael Costanzo – Claims Clerk •Peter Aiello IV – Track Announcer Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park •Heather Belmonte – Executive Assistant

Date

Track ID

Pos

Off Value

Grade/ Earnings

1/29/17 1/29/17 1/28/17 1/26/17 1/25/17 1/23/17 1/23/17 1/21/17 1/21/17 1/20/17 1/20/17 1/20/17 1/19/17 1/19/17 1/18/17 1/16/17 1/15/17 1/14/17 1/14/17 1/13/17 1/8/17 1/8/17 1/8/17 1/7/17 1/6/17 1/6/17 1/3/17 1/3/17

TUP GG SUN GP DED MVR MVR PRX PRX CT AQU FG CMR PEN TP MVR OP TAM OP CMR GG GG CMR CMR PEN PEN MVR SUN

2 2 2 2 3 1 2 1 3 1 1 3 1 2 2 1 2 2 3 1 1 2 3 1 1 2 2 3

$16,000 $38,280 $34,456 $41,000 $30,820 $18,000 $18,000 $56,080 $56,080 $24,500 $67,000 $43,276 $9,163 $29,500 $18,405 $19,500 $74,000 $20,500 $74,000 $9,163 $34,413 $34,413 $11,746 $11,746 $29,500 $29,500 $18,500 $34,456

$3,104 $6,600 $6,732 $8,200 $3,190 $10,800 $3,600 $30,600 $5,610 $14,700 $40,200 $4,730 $5,423 $5,900 $2,180 $10,500 $14,800 $4,500 $7,400 $5,423 $19,800 $6,600 $1,250 $7,247 $17,700 $5,900 $3,500 $3,060

Tampa Bay Downs •Allison DeLuca – Racing Secretary Breeder •Rick Heatter Trainers •Toodd Pletcher •Chuck Simon

Ocala Breeders’ Sales •Tom Ventura – President •Kevin Honig – Mutuels THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017 55

und The Country

Florida-Breds Aro

AroundCountry_March.qxp_Layout 1 2/24/17 12:35 PM Page 56

Florida-Breds Aro

The Country und

■FLORIDA-BRED FINISHERS—ALLOWANCE Win/Place/Show continued Horse Name

Sex Age Sire

Dam

Breeder

Date

Track ID

Off Pos

Grade/ Value

Earngs

Video Mov Distinction Bird

G F

Betsy Blue Dare I Dream

Michael T. Beach Dr. Rick Erwin & Janet Erwin

12/25/16 12/24/16

CMR CMR

3 2

$8,830 $8,828

$901 $1,878

4 2

High Cotton With Distinction

■FLORIDA-BRED FINISHERS—MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT Win/Place/Show Horse Name Sex Age Sire

Dam

Breeder

Areocentric Dilettante Glacier Rill in the Hills U Can''t See Me Captain Ron Day by Day Lonesome Palm Art Institute Anyportinastorm It''s a Dude He''s the One Gust Lumumba Sunfest Northern Cotton Sails Animal Quiet Toss the Tub Difference Maker Kittycat Rodeo Starship Tribbles Helen Virginia Lozen Cotton Tooyah Unbridled Holiday Ultron Spelling Bee King Santini Dupree Cairenn Dark as Midnight Apartfromthecrowd Anotador Hitters Park Aquamarine Majestic Maiara Forman the Foreman Collective Wisdom Party On Dude Look It Linda Credit Alert Joyful Noise Sadie Be Good Loxley Nothin But Trouble Wait Flaget Braves Fine Cat In Closing Discreet Deceit Cairenn

Actcentric Royal Ancestry Haddie Be Good Sequoyah Hills Cierra's Junebug Supposedly Dobra Gale Warning Louvakhova La Defense Faithful City Thunder Jewel Back to Basics Angel of Bataan Timuquana Vicky She's a Ketch I Be a Cover Girl Bet On the Blue Provocative Danceforcarol Starship Voodoo Palace Emblem Total Wonder Greeleylikealady Song of Royalty Twilight Service I Already Know River Glow Readybdancing Expect Nothing Pretty Imposing Glencoe Church Terrace Road Pat's Sister April True Maiara Donnie's Secret Toccet Over Song for Annie De Danann Credit Sacred Psalm Miss Grandiose Shake Off Kim Ain't No Saint Wait a While Niblett's Bluff Fine Fashion Erin Rose Take Me to Zuber Expect Nothing

Bruno Schickedanz Donald R. Dizney LLC & The Unbridled''s Song Syndicate Hal Snowden Jr. Jacks or Better Farm Inc. Lori Smock Lambholm & Speightstown Syndicate Mr Amore Stables Woodford Thoroughbreds Glen Hill Farm Sally J. Andersen Shade Tree Thoroughbreds Inc JSL Thoroughbreds Ocala Stud Lisa McGreevy Donald R. Dizney LLC Dale Kalmar & Lynn Kalmar Alfonso N. Figliolia Wesley Ward Hal Snowden Jr. GoldMark Farm LLC Bryan R. Baker Starship Stables Maria M. Haire Mary Beth Stanton DVM & Edward Seltzer Ocala Stud Don L. Ming Vegso Racing Stable Rolling Meadows Farm Inversiones FI LLC Fernung Sebastian Flanigan & Cahalan Best A Luck Farm LLC Patricia Generazio Maxxam Alliance LLC Haras Chillon Louie Rogers Thoroughbreds LLC H & A Stables LLC Just For Fun Stable Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds Hickstead Farm Charisma Stable Kerri Szegi Jeff Cook & Sally Cook Jacks or Better Farm Inc. Carl Bowling Arindel Farm Red Oak Stable Arindel Farm LeAnne M. Robbins Dr. & Mrs. Cornelius A. Link Thomas Moore Ocala Stud Best A Luck Farm LLC

G C C F C C F F F C C G F C F C C G C G F F F F F C C G C C F C C C G C F G G C F F F F F F C G G C F F

4 3 3 3 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 5 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 3 3 4 3 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 5 3 3 3

Sardegna Unbridled's Song Broken Vow Brooks 'n Down Repent Speightstown Awesome of Course Biondetti Arch City Zip First Dude General Quarters Kantharos First Dude Union Rags Adios Charlie High Cotton Iqbaal The Factor Wildcat Heir Cowtown Cat Macho Uno First Dude Field Commission High Cotton Harlan's Holiday Proud Citizen Student Council Maclean's Music Caleb's Posse First Dude Midnight Lute Gio Ponti Dialed In Cowtown Cat Gemologist Majestic Warrior Cool Coal Man Quiet American First Dude Creative Cause Overdriven Hear No Evil Big Drama Awesome of Course Biondetti Distorted Humor Gone Astray Cowtown Cat In Summation Discreetly Mine First Dude

56 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017

Off Date Track ID Pos 1/29/17 1/29/17 1/28/17 1/27/17 1/24/17 1/22/17 1/22/17 1/22/17 1/21/17 1/21/17 1/21/17 1/21/17 1/21/17 1/21/17 1/21/17 1/21/17 1/21/17 1/21/17 1/20/17 1/20/17 1/19/17 1/18/17 1/18/17 1/18/17 1/18/17 1/16/17 1/16/17 1/16/17 1/15/17 1/15/17 1/15/17 1/14/17 1/14/17 1/14/17 1/14/17 1/13/17 1/12/17 1/11/17 1/11/17 1/10/17 1/7/17 1/7/17 1/6/17 1/6/17 1/6/17 1/6/17 1/5/17 1/5/17 1/5/17 1/5/17 1/1/17 1/1/17

TAM OP SA DED MVR GG GP GP TAM GG GP GP GG GP GP GP GP LRL CT GP CT GP GP TAM GP GP GP GP GP OP LRL PRX AQU TAM SA SA GP GP GP MVR TAM TAM DED GP GP GP GP GP FG GP LRL LRL

1 1 3 3 1 2 2 3 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 1 1 1 1 2 3 3 1 2 3 1 1 3 1 1 3 3 1 3 2 3 1 2 3 1 1 2 3 1 2 3 3 1 2

Grade/ Value

Earnings

$21,750 $72,000 $56,415 $27,000 $18,500 $27,836 $38,000 $38,000 $21,750 $28,079 $38,000 $38,000 $32,915 $38,000 $38,000 $38,000 $38,000 $42,520 $23,000 $46,000 $23,000 $36,000 $36,000 $20,250 $36,000 $36,000 $36,000 $36,000 $46,000 $72,000 $40,000 $50,500 $60,000 $20,000 $54,690 $54,690 $38,000 $38,000 $38,000 $17,000 $20,750 $20,750 $28,000 $38,000 $38,000 $38,000 $38,000 $38,000 $38,000 $38,000 $40,000 $40,000

$13,750 $43,200 $6,480 $2,970 $10,200 $5,200 $7,980 $4,180 $13,350 $15,600 $22,800 $22,800 $5,200 $7,600 $7,980 $3,800 $3,800 $4,400 $13,740 $30,800 $13,620 $21,600 $7,560 $2,450 $3,960 $21,600 $7,920 $3,960 $30,800 $43,200 $4,400 $30,000 $36,000 $2,200 $6,480 $32,400 $4,180 $7,980 $4,180 $10,200 $4,500 $2,250 $16,800 $22,800 $7,980 $4,180 $22,800 $7,980 $4,180 $3,800 $22,800 $8,400

SiresOfStakesHorses_redo.qxp_Layout 1 2/17/17 11:38 AM Page 2

All Caps Denotes Stakes Winner A. P. WARRIOR MOMENT OF DELIGHT My Lerler ADIOS CHARLIE Conquest See Ya SHANE'S GIRLFRIEND ARCH Fundamental ARTIE SCHILLER Promotional ASTROLOGY Envoyer AWESOME AGAIN AWESOME SLEW I Am Awesome AWESOME OF COURSE AWESOME BANNER Fellowship SWIFT LADY Woot Woot BENNY THE BULL TORMENTA DE ORO BIG DRAMA Colombian Queen Drama Club Mr. Kisses R KINSLEY DOLL Rontos Lily BIRDSTONE MEXIKOMA BLACK MAMBO DAD'Z LAUGH GRANDE SHORES BLUEGRASS CAT Bonita E B Ryder

2016 Sires of Florida-bred Stakes Horses

CONGRATS Amaluna BLUE BOMBER Fabulous Kid Magnificent Margo Private Money Game Sacred Ovation

FORMAL DINNER ETIQUETA

CONSOLIDATOR El Botas

GIANT'S CAUSEWAY Souper Lucky

COOL COAL MAN Competitive Player

GONE ASTRAY Alice B Winkle Bullet Gone Astray Minute Madness Pretty Boy Flash THREE RULES

CORINTHIAN PANCAKE COWTOWN CAT Rashette CROWN OF THORNS Swagger Jagger D'WILDCAT AMELIA'S WILD RIDE D'cajun Cat GUNS LOADED Kinda Kinda Wildcat Red DA STOOPS REDNECK HUMOR DARK KESTREL STORMOFTHECENTURY DISCREETLY MINE CONTROL STAKE I'm No Secret Sheikh of Sheikhs DOMINUS Bitacora DOUBLE HONOR And the Eagle Flys

BOB AND JOHN Brothersofthetime

EL PRADO (IRE) LORI'S STORE

BROOKS 'N DOWN Silent Prayer

ELUSIVE BLUFF C. Zee

BURNING ROMA SHEER DRAMA

ELUSIVE QUALITY ENTERPRISING

BWANA CHARLIE AFRICAN ROSE Charlie Mops Mewannarose

EXCHANGE RATE R Naja VICTORY TO VICTORY

CIRCULAR QUAY Hollywood Angel Lu Lu Laura REPORTING STAR SILVER DIVA Square Dancer Stormy Embrace CITY PLACE ROYAL JEWELY STALLWALKIN' DUDE CITY ZIP CARIBOU CLUB Lindisfarne COLONEL JOHN DALMORE Little Nick V. CONCORD POINT My Point Exactly CONCORDE'S TUNE Concorde's Fizz CONCORDE'S QUEEN

EXCLUSIVE QUALITY Quality Guy R Sassy Lass EXPRESS TOUR Saraguaro FIRST DEFENCE Sunnysammi FIRST DUDE Devilish Romance Dixieland Dudes DUDE FANTASY Fleet Dude FLORA DORA Mom's On Strike FLASHSTORM ABOUNDING LEGACY FLASHY BULL Flashy Appeal Runs With Bulls FORESTRY FOREST FUNDS

FORTY GRAMS Chief Attraction GENERAL QUARTERS Mia Torri

GOTTCHA GOLD Hows My Gold GRAEME HALL Boheme de Lavi Draxhall Woods Li'l Meatball Winning for Sarah YOU BOUGHT HER GREATNESS Lord of Greatness HAL'S IMAGE ELSIE'S PRINCESS HALF OURS Double Ours HARD SPUN BIG JOHN B DIADURA HEAR NO EVIL BALLET DIVA HEATSEEKER (IRE) CATHOLIC COWBOY SPEED SEEKER HIGH COTTON APRIL GAZE Call to Honor Dont Come Knockin DREAM OF ME Giddy Up He's Cotton High Roller KAREN'S SILK Kelly With a Twist Legacy Azteca R ANGEL KATELYN SHE'S INCREDIBLE Storming My Way Surprise Wedding Talk Logistics HOLD ME BACK MY MISS VENEZUELA HOLY BULL City of Weston IMPERIALISM IMPERIAL HINT IN SUMMATION Calculator Formal Summation PUNTROOSKIE R GIRLS A CHARMER Summation Time INDIAN OCEAN INDIAN SPLENDOR J P'S GUSTO Cali Cat Epic Journey

KANTHAROS Blessed Halo CAJUN DELTA DAWN DANBURY Express Jet Front Loaded Kandoo Katie's Kiss LIRICA Mitos Y Leyendas MR. JORDAN Perfect Kay SAVINGTIME Southern Sis Wildcat Kate X Y JET YORKIEPOO PRINCESS KEYED ENTRY E Z Entry EARLY ENTRY GROSS MISCONDUCT Pass Key KISS THE KID Extravagant Kid LEROIDESANIMAUX (BRZ) Abbyboo Bootleggers Wife Dancinanimaux GONE AWAY JOSDESANIMAUX MOM'Z LAUGH LEWIS MICHAEL AIN'T TELLIN' LIMEHOUSE Cement Clement LONHRO (AUS) HOLDING GOLD LOOKIN AT LUCKY Lucky Switch MACHO UNO Hy Riverside MAIMONIDES Sweet Khaleesi MAJESTIC WARRIOR GREAT MAJESTIC MAJESTIC GALE Pinson MALIBU MOON Chiseled MARCO BAY Lory's Star MASS MEDIA Liberty Fuze MEDIA MELEE MEDAGLIA D'ORO Den's Legacy GO AROUND MIDSHIPMAN SQUADRON MIZZEN MAST Second Mate MONTBROOK Schivarelli MORE THAN READY Alfredo Romana LIFE IMITATES ART More Royalty MR. SEKIGUCHI YOURDREAMSORMINE

BREEDING

MUNNINGS CATALINA RED

THE DADDY MANCHURIAN HIGH

NORTHERN AFLEET WORLD APPROVAL

THE FACTOR NOTED AND QUOTED

OLMODAVOR Persuasive Paul

TIZ WONDERFUL Don't Be So Salty

OVERDRIVEN Red Crescent

TIZNOW PINK POPPY

PATRIOT ACT Colonel Mary

TIZWAY OUR WAY

PIONEEROF THE NILE Conquest Cobra

TO HONOR AND SERVE Salute With Honor

PLAN First Illusion

TWIRLING CANDY IRON ROB Rare Candy SWEETONTHELADIES

PLEASANT STRIKE HUMO CARO POMEROY Pomeroy's Package Quijote POSSE BRANDY'S GIRL

TWO STEP SALSA Lift Me Up MUMBLES Salsita TWO STEP TIME

PUT IT BACK El Charro GLORIOUS ANGEL GRANT PIAS PROMISE

UNCLE MO ABIDING STAR Forevamo Uncle Vinny

REPENT Discreet Lover SORRYABOUTNOTHING

UNITED STATES U S Diva

ROCK HARD TEN HARDROCK ELEVEN

VALID REPRIZED Naughtytoo

ROCKPORT HARBOR Thoughtless

VALUE PLUS Extreme Caution Valueable Charmer

SAINT ANDDAN ST. JOE BAY THEGREATCOLLECTION

WAGON LIMIT DELTA BLUESMAN

SCAT DADDY Crackdown SHAKESPEARE SHAKESPERIAN DREAM SKY MESA Family Meeting Stormy Sky SMART STRIKE EVIDENTLY SMARTY JONES Old Time Hockey SOCIETY'S CHAIRMAN Code Warrior SONGANDAPRAYER Filberto SUMMER BIRD SECOND SUMMER

WAR FRONT COMPELLED Simon Bar Sinister WEST ACRE ALWAYS SUNSHINE FAST FLYING RUMOR WILDCAT HEIR Brahms Cat Chief Lion DARING KATHY Doodetta Hot and Wild Jewel of a Cat Legal Laura My Dear Venezuela Negrito WILD DUDE WILDCAT WISH

TALE OF EKATI PERHAPS A PIE

WITH DISTINCTION Distinctive Lady TOO CLEVER BY HALF Too Fast to Pass WE'RE ALL SET

TALE OF THE CAT J S Bach

YES IT'S TRUE CIARAN'S PRIZE

TAPIT Piloting

YESBYJIMMINY COPPA

TEUFLESBERG Good Bye Greg

ZENSATIONAL PURE SENSATION

SWEET RETURN (GB) DADDY'S BOO

THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017 57

AcceleratedEarningPower_Revised_No2.qxp_Florida Horse_template 2/27/17 11:04 AM Page 58

Opportunities Abound in 2017 Breeders’ Awards The highest percentage offered in the Florida Thoroughbred industry

AcceleratedEarningPower_Revised_No2.qxp_Florida Horse_template 2/27/17 11:04 AM Page 59

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For more information go to www.ftboa.com or e-mail floridasirestakes@ftboa.com

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FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’ AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION

Adam H. Putnam, Commissioner • 850-617-7289 • Fax 850-617-7281 e-mail: Paul.Balthrop@freshfromflorida.com • 407 S. Calhoun The Mayo Building, Tallahassee, FL 32399

Lonny T. Powell, CEO and Executive Vice President 801 SW 60th Ave. • Ocala, FL 34474 • 352-629-2160 Fax: 352-629-3603 • www.ftboa.com • info@ftboa.com

AUSTIN BEITIA PHOTO

FLORIDA DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

AcceleratedEarningPower_Revised_No2.qxp_Florida Horse_template 2/27/17 4:02 PM Page 61

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Opportunities Abound in 2017 Stallion Awards The highest percentage offered in the Florida Thoroughbred industry

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TransformationMakeover.qxp_Florida Horse_template 2/27/17 2:56 PM Page 62

Creating the

Retired Thoroughbred

O

n March 24 through 26, Florida will host its first thoroughbred makeover - the Florida Thoroughbred Transformation Exposition - at the Florida Horse Park near Ocala. A fitting place since it is the hotbed of the thoroughbred breeding industry and the Horse Capital of the World with more equines than any other county in the United States. The event is presented by Run For The Ribbons Inc., a charitable organization dedicated to providing off- track thoroughbreds, commonly referred to as OTTB’s, the foundation needed to ensure a smooth transition into their next career and home.

“Run for the Ribbons Inc. realizes that horse racing and thoroughbred sales are a vital part of Florida’s economy, producing more than 2,000 thoroughbred foals every year. Our goal is to create an outlet for the horses post racing. We also hope to encourage racetrack owners and trainers to pave the road to successful futures for these transfor62 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017

mation horses through proper training techniques and strong foundations,” said Laurine Fuller-Vargas, the founder of the charity.

Produced by Fuller-Vargas and a team of dedicated equine professionals from a variety of disciplines, the expo features competition in eight disciplines dedicated to thoroughbreds who came off the track or from race training within the last two years. The event also includes a Celebration of Thoroughbreds show, similar to America’s Got Talent but for thoroughbreds, a vendor fair and market-

NANESSA ROGERS PHOTO

By TAMMY A. GANTT

place, educational seminars and award ceremonies. The end goal is that the expo will increase the demand of thoroughbreds and encourage people to develop a “project horse” showcasing a thoroughbred’s versatility, intelligence, and character traits. The event will also be livestreamed by event partner EQTV Network that has the capability of reaching 50,000 online viewers. They most recently produced the Ocala Jockey Club’s International Three Day eventing coverage.

The event is modeled in parts like the successful National Thoroughbred Makeover and Symposium hosted by the Retired Racehorse Project and headed by RRP President Steuart Pittman. The 2017 Thoroughbred Makeover at the Kentucky Horse Park on October 5-8 is being called the greatest multi-discipline gathering of horse trainers and is a racehorse retraining competition. Trainers are approved based on their skills in a primary discipline, but may compete at the makeover in one or two of ten depending on aptitude shown during the

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training process. Sports include eventing, show hunter, show jumper, dressage, barrel racing, competitive trails, field hunters, polo, working ranch, and freestyle.

Last year’s National Thoroughbred Makeover winner was Fairway King, a Florida-bred son of Leroidesanimaux (BRZ) who was retrained in the disciplines of dressage and eventing by Lauren Turner of River Birch Farm in Jasper, Georgia. Out of the Robyn Dancer mare Par Golfer, Fairway King was bred by Frank Bertolino and sold as both a yearling at the 2013 Ocala Breeders’ Sales August Sale and later at the OBS June TwoYear-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale the following year. The gelding raced nine times as a 3-year-old for owner Leo S. Nechamkin II, winning once and earning $20,327 before retiring in the summer of 2015.

“Our goal has always been to increase the demand, and ultimately the value, of retired

to the show, promoting the Florida thoroughbred and retirement programs both at the expo and throughout the state, and to encouraging vendors to participate in this large-scale event.

The FTBOA has long supported thoroughbred retirement having worked to create the Second Chance Farm with the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and the Florida Department of Corrections in 2000. The farm is now in its 17th year and has given homes to hundreds of retired thoroughbreds, retrained and placed thoroughbreds into second careers, assisted with placement of thoroughbreds at other facilities, and has changed the lives of the women participating in the educational part of the program.

The farm is located on the grounds of the Lowell Correctional Institute near Ocala.

sense responsibility shared by all who participate in the racing and breeding industry, “ said Lonny Powell, FTBOA CEO. Vendor space, entries for horses, sponsorships, live streaming and other opportunities are still available by contacting Fuller-Vargas at 774-328-1760, or fax 352-690-6966 or email runfortheribbons@gmail.com or visit http://runfortheribbons.org/florida-thoroughbred-transformation-expo/ .

“We anticipate over 100 horses, and aspire to have the Florida Thoroughbred Transformation Exposition be the biggest and most anticipated annual OTTB event in Florida.

The Expo will strive to provide a competitive, educational and fun environment to celebrate the thoroughbred breed that we love, “FullerVargas added. ■

FILE PHOTO

FTBOA staff also work regularly at the national level with the Retired Racehorse Project and the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation to assist and promote their programs, along with its own retired thoroughbred committee.

FTBOA also recognizes annually at the Florida Horse of the Year Gala, the recipient of the Thoroughbred Charities of America award of merit . In 2015, Amy Tarrant, of Hardacre Farm based in Ocala, was recognized for her high profile dedication and funding of TRF programs and in 2016 John Evans, farm manager of the Second Chance farm - who is instrumental in the program’s, women’s and horses’ success - was honored.

“The FTBOA believes the care and support of retired thoroughbreds is a common

FILE PHOTO

SALLY MOEHRING PHOYO

Market

racehorses for the benefit of both racehorse owners and retired racehorse owners. I think we’re starting to see that happen,” said Pittman.

Fuller-Vargas agrees, “We want to encourage the community and the thoroughbred racing industry to support our efforts, as well as other charitable organizations in Florida who also dedicate their time and resources to positively impact the lives of these horses.”

The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners’ Association was one of the first to show support of a Florida-based retired thoroughbred show – first serving as a show sponsor for several years and now as an OTTB Hero sponsor for the Florida expo.

In addition to the sponsorship, FTBOA is dedicated to spreading the word to get more OTTBs

THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017 63

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FTBOA NEWS

FTBOA Names Murray as Director of Administration and Operations F

FILE PHOTO

FTBOA CEO Lonny Powell was enthulorida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association CEO & exec- siastic about bringing Murray on board the utive vice president Lonny Powell FTBOA team. “We are pleased to have has announced the hiring of E. Jane Mur- someone of Jane’s experience,” Powell said. ray as director of administration and op- “Her strengths will be a nice compliment to our team and her familiarity with Florida erations.

Murray comes to the FTBOA from Elk- and national horsemen’s group and track iston, Md., where she served as director of sues will be a real asset in our Association’s services for the Thoroughbred Racing As- ongoing work on behalf of our membership sociations of North America. While at the and industry.”

Murray received her bachelor of science TRA, Murray was responsible for providing requested services and surveys to the in Agriculture while studying at the Race membership, wrote and distributed press Track Industry Program at the University releases, performed research projects of in- of Arizona.

“I am excited and looking forward to terest to the racing industry and coordinated the annual International Simulcast becoming part of the FTBOA team,” Murray Said. “Lonny PowConference. ell has brought together Prior to joining the a very professional TRA in 2008, Murray staff and I am fortunate was the executive dito be on board with one rector for the Florida of the nation’s top Standardbred Breedbreed associations.” ers’ and Owners’ AsHer duties with the sociation in Pompano FTBOA and Florida Beach where she Equine Communicaworked directly with tions (FEC) will include: horsemen, breeders, contract negotiations, fatrack management, cility and office manracing officials and agement and operations, State regulators. She business development, also worked to develop Jane Murray regulatory compliance, the annual stakes program for Florida-breds, develop and man- staff communications, special projects and age the association’s operating, stakes and analysis. She will work closely with racing insurance budgets, planning events and and wagering departments at the Florida fund-raisers, manage an annual yearling tracks as well as with state horsemen’s asauction, work with lobbyists and state leg- sociations. She will be a frequent visitor to islatures to develop statutory and regula- farms and events.

Murray will report directly to Powell tory language favorable to the association and secondarily to FTBOA Associate Vice and its members.

64 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017

President –Membership Services & Events Tammy Gantt while also working closely with CFO Caroline Davis and FEC Editor-In-Chief Brock Sheridan. She will be joined in Ocala by her husband Doug Murray, who has a long association with the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau (TRPB). ■

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FTBOA MEMBER UPDATE

Keeping members informed FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED CHARITIES NEW FUNDRAISER

MIKE COPELAND PHOTOS

A new fundraiser was launched this spring to promote Florida stallions, replacing the annual stallion season auction. The previous auction was popular with stallion owners and stud farms because it gave those who participated a high profile for their stallions and exposure in front of breeders. The Florida stallion charity campaign does the same. Florida stallions are featured on a billboard during breeding season which kicked off on March 1 in Ocala. Located at the intersection of State Road 200 and SW 27th Avenue in Ocala, a digital billboard featuring stallion headshots and their names showcases participating stallions.

In addition, stallions are receiving “thank yous” on many advertising platforms including podcasts, social media, websites, print and radio.

FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED TRANSFORMATION EXPO

GALA CELEBRATES CHAMPIONS

The FTBOA Gala this year features a Black & White theme.

The colors represent those on a chess board epitomizing the strategy, thought and advance planning required to produce a Florida thoroughbred champion. Last year the near sold out event included about 400 industry members, trainers, owners, breeders, fans and their guests. This year, the event is coming back to the Circle Square Cultural Center ballroom in Ocala again and is on Monday, March 13 and begins at 5:30 p.m. Cocktail attire or fancier is recommended and it does not have to be black and white (no jeans).

Enjoy the cocktail party starting at 5:30 p.m. along with the Florida Thoroughbred Charities extensive silent auction, followed by a lavish dinner and a short live auction of packages including World Series tickets, a trip for 4 for fishing in the Keys, a trip to the Florida Derby and historic sandblasted glass windows from the Director’s room of the Turf Club at Calder Race Course.

The night culminates with the awards ceremony. Come honor Florida’s champions both human and equine and find out who will be crowned Horse of the Year. Tickets are $100 for members and up to three guests and $125 for non-members. A table of ten including gold sponsorship is $1,500 and a party of two for dinner is the silver sponsorship of $750.

The first of its kind in Florida, the Expo is hosted by Run for the Ribbons organizer Laurine Fuller-Vargas. Her success with Run for the Ribbons led her to put together her version of the nationwide makeover that is so popular with off-the-track-thoroughbred enthusiasts. The event is being held at the Florida Horse Park near Ocala. See the feature in this issue for further details.

MEMBER DAY AT TAMPA BAY DOWNS

On April 2, FTBOA members are encourage to attend Tampa Bay Downs for a hospitality experience thanks to generous farm support and Tampa Bay Downs management. The event is located in the Northside tent, no RSVP is necessary, but bring along your membership card for entry (2016 cards expiring on March 31 still valid for this event). The day includes seating, lunch, a mystery wagering voucher, an official racing program and a charity silent auction for the Tampa chaplaincy and retired thoroughbred programs. The area is private but members will receive wristbands to be able to come and go throughout the track. FTBOA is also hosting Business Leaders bus trip from Ocala that day to introduce business leaders from other sectors to the thoroughbred industry.

Business leaders can contact the FTBOA at 352-629-2160 to RSVP. ■

Tammy Gantt, Associate Vice President, Director of Membership Services & Events, FEC Contributing Editor and FTC Industry & Community Affairs THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017 65

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EL Potro

Florida vibró con la Pegasus F por Roberto Rodriguez Apasionado con los caballos de carreras Editor de la plataforma informativa de los hípicos de habla hispana Sirviendo como puente para que nuestras culturas conozcan más del hipismo en los Estados Unidos

inalmente, la esperada primera edición de la Pegasus Word Cup Invitational se llevó a cabo en el majestuoso Gulfstream Park el pasado 28 de enero y en donde el tordillo Arrogate confirmó que es sin duda, el mejor caballo del mundo en la actualidad. Entrenado por Bob Baffert, el impresionante hijo de Unbridled’s Song marcó un nuevo récord de pista para la distancia de una milla y un octavo de 1:46.83, cruzando la meta con 4 cuerpos y ¾ de ventaja sobre Shaman Ghost que en gran carrera ocupó la segunda posición.

Pero, el resultado de este esperado millonario clásico fue la cereza que adorno el pastel de largos meses de preparación. Queremos aprovechar esta columna para felicitar a la directiva de Gulfstream Park y al Grupo Stronach por regalarle al público hípico, sobre todo el de la Florida, un evento sin precedentes y en donde el glamour, diferentes personalidades de la farándula, otras disciplinas deportivas y por supuesto los amantes del deporte de los reyes hicieron acto de presencia.

La Pegasus World Cup Invitational marcó una nueva era dentro del hipismo de los Estados Unidos y del mundo, doce ejemplares fueron en busca de la gloria y de los $7 millones que estaban disponibles para el ganador de la pugna. A las 5:46 de la tarde del 28 de enero del 2017 se abrieron las puestas del aparato de partidas y las tribunas rugieron de emoción al ver a sus caballos favoritos hacer historia al igual que todos los ojos que presenciaron la llamada “Pegasus”.

Una vez más, Florida quedará acentuada en la historia como la sede de uno de los acontecimientos deportivos de mayor alcance. La empresa NBC Sports encargada de transmitir este evento, reportó un rating de 1.23 superando al de la Breeders’ Cup Classic del 2016, carrera en la cual tanto Arrogate como California Chrome fueron las estrellas principales. En lo que respecta a la jugada en taquilla, un total de $15.68 millones se apostaron en la Pegasus World Cup Invitational si incluimos las combinaciones multi-carreras.

Haciendo una comparación entre las apuestas por concepto de ganador entre la Pegasus World Cup Invitational 2017 y la Breeders’ Cup Classic 2016, fue esta última en la cual se apostó mayor cantidad de dinero con un total de $7.7 millones en dólares, tres millones más que en la “Pegasus” donde se jugaron $4.7 millones de dólares a “win”.

Pero, la directiva de Gulfstream Park anunció que el total

66 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017

de la jugada del día durante esta programación fue de $40.2 millones, nueva cifra récord.

Más de 17,000 personas asistieron a la primera edición de la Pegasus World Cup, fanáticos provenientes desde diferentes puntos del globo terráqueo se unieron a los “floridianos” para el disfrute de una inolvidable programación de carreras de caballos. Aunque se han corrido rumores sobre el traslado de la “Pegasus” al Oeste del país, específicamente a Santa Anita Park para el 2018, nada oficial ha sido anunciado y la afición del estado del Sol brillante puede desde ya hacer planes para la próxima cita de esta competencia en el óvalo de la ciudad de Hallandale Beach, a menos que se declare lo contrario.

Les recomiendo seguir apoyando nuestro hipismo aquí en el Sur de la Florida, Gulfstream Park en estos momentos es el escenario donde se está llevando a cabo uno de los mejores meetings del país como lo es el Championship Meet, justo al culminar el mismo, arrancará la programación de primavera-verano pasando luego por los meses de Agosto y Septiembre donde se corren los tres días más emocionantes para los criadores de Florida como los son las celebraciones del Florida Sire Stakes en (Agosto 5, Septiembre 2 y 30).

Culminando con mi opinión sobre la Pegasus World Cup Invitational, puedo decir que la considero un éxito en cuanto a espectáculo, opción de invertir en la industria, estímulo a otros hipódromos de crear este tipo de evento donde las atractivas bolsas animarán a los propietarios a mantener a sus ejemplares en competencia y no retirarlos de forma prematura a la cría donde en los últimos años han encontrado un mejor valor a su inversión.

Pero, todo no termina allí. Si encontramos la fórmula correcta de hacer un llamado equitativo y que brinde oportunidad a todas las escalas de propietarios, estoy seguro que no solo la Pegasus World Cup Invitational sería un éxito, muchas otras carreras con diferentes nombres quizás no tan mitológicos surgirían en nuestras programaciones y el público que aún desconoce o apenas está dando sus primeros pasos en este maravilloso deporte, se volcaría al mismo convirtiéndolo en una de las mayores y más atractivas disciplinas deportivas de la nación.

Por ahora no me queda nada más que felicitar a todos los que formaron parte de este maravilloso evento, resaltando por supuesto a los hípicos de la Florida que respaldaron esta idea llamada Pegasus Invitational World Cup. ■

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DriftingOut.qxp_Florida Horse_template 2/24/17 12:37 PM Page 1

DRIFTING Out

The Florida Vote S

by Mike Mullaney

Managing Editor for Florida Equine Communications

till reeling from the steel-cage-style campaigning of launched his American riding career when he came to South the presidential election, welcome relief was found Florida as a 19-year-old. He’s gone on to win more than in the civilized balloting adroitly managed by Brien 4,600 races; capture the last four Eclipse Awards as the naBouyea, communications officer with the National Mu- tion’s top rider, and has earned more than $270 million, seum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. placing him in the top 5 in that category at this writing.

Horses and horsemen remain eligible in the “contemThis election features civil discussion and an absence of stumping; no blabbering self-promoters, no tale-spin- porary” category 25 years after their retirement, after which they come within the purview of the Historical Rening surrogates.

Just one question for the candidates: Do the facts sup- view Committee. Comparable to baseball’s “Old Timer’s Committee,” this panel meets in alternate years, taking port Hall of Fame induction?

Eligible horses must be retired at least five years and turns with the Hall of Fame Steeplechase Committee, trainers and jockeys must be licensed thoroughbred horse- which met this year.

Since it’s never too early to begin a campaign, I’ll start men for 20 years.

Nominators pick up to four selections from among the lobbying for 2018 by asking the committee to take a long look at Florida-bred Mac Diarmida. trainers, jockeys and horses.

Probably the first order of business is to get the pronunHere’s how my ballot reads.

While it sounds Russian, a classy racemare named ciation of the horse’s name straight: combine the first two Goldikova won’t need Vladimir’s vote meddling to be in- syllables of the Anglicized “MacDermott” with the last two ducted in her first year of eligibility. While the owner of syllables of “Florida” and it should roll off the tongue.

Mac Diarmida was bred by John Hartigan at his Cashel a European record 14 Group or Grade 1 victories, crucial to her inclusion in the American Hall of Fame is her three Stud in Ocala and sold to a New Jersey allergist named Jerome Torsney, who put Hall of Famer Scotty Schulhofer in Breeders’ Cup Mile victories. charge of the colt’s training.

If the vote goes as I hope, Three dull main-track races Florida ties will be plentiful with on who deserves consideration for told his connections all they the inclusion of Mark Casse and racing’s Hall of Fame is that it’s a would need to know about chalJavier Castellano. game everyone gets to play. lenging another pair of horses Casse was raised and still resides in Ocala, and the master horseman’s recent success from that same generation, Affirmed and Alydar, so Schulhas elevated him from a well-credentialed candidate to an hofer moved operations to the infield, where Mac Diarmida would win 12 of his next 13 races, a run that impossible-to-deny Hall of Famer.

At this writing he was pounding on the door to enter included Belmont’s Lexington, in which he gave Hall of history’s top 10 trainers in money earned, sitting at almost Famer John Henry 14 pounds and a beating, and concluded $125 million and, with one exception – Todd Pletcher, who with Grade 1 wins in the Canadian and Washington D.C. isn’t yet Hall of Fame eligible – those in front of him have Internationals, whipping champion Waya and locking up an Eclipse as the best turf horse of 1978. already been inducted.

A tendon injury led to his early retirement that winter.

Casse has won three Breeders’ Cup races in two years: The best part of speculating on who deserves considHis top horses include Classic Empire, last year’s juvenile champion and this year’s early Kentucky Derby favorite, eration for racing’s Hall of Fame is that it’s a game everyand future Hall of Famer Tepin, with whom he has won one gets to play: The public is encouraged to nominate contenders.

Grade or Group 1 races in the U.S., Canada and England.

Mail your thoughts to Brien Bouyea, National MuInducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame last year, he has won eight Sovereign Awards and is a finalist for a ninth: Sov- seum of Racing and Hall of Fame, 191 Union Ave., ereign winners will be announced in April. Dominant in the Saratoga Springs, N.Y. 12866 or via e-mail to nmrmeDominion, he also controlled the Commonwealth, winning dia@racingmuseum.net.

The announcement of this year’s inductees is expected multiple titles at Keeneland, Churchill Downs and Turfway.

Castellano was born 39 years ago in Venezuela and sometime in April. ■

The best part of speculating

68 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017

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at 609-851-7410 or rwitt@ftboa.com

AMERIJET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 DOUBLE DIAMOND FARM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52, 53 FLORIDA EQUINE COMMUNICATIONS INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27, 67 FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED CHARITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 LUITPOLD PHARMACEUTICAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 NATIONAL THOROUGHBRED RACING ASSOCIATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71 OCALA BREEDERS SALES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 OCALA STUD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72 OCD EQUINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 PETERSON & SMITH EQUINE HOSPITAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 RACE TRACK INDUSTRY PROGRAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 STONEHEDGE FARM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 SOUTHERN STATES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 T.T. DISTRIBUTORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 TRUE CENTER GATES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 VETOQUINOL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 WOODFORD THOROUGHBREDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

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G E N E ’ S Jargon

Going Postal A

by Gene Kershner

Gene Kershner is the turf writer for The Buffalo News. He is a regular contributor to Florida Horse magazine. He is a member of the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters Association, and tweets @EquiSpace.

s we head into Triple Crown season, what better time to open the old mailbag and answer some questions from around the country. Our first letter comes from the Sunshine State….

Q: So we hear you were at the Pegasus at Gulfstream, first impressions? ~Sally from Sawgrass A: I thought the Stronach Group pulled off a magnificent event with hardly a glitch. Nice crowd, tremendous card and a record wagering day. Plus we got to see racing’s next superstar set a track record. My only qualm would be to extend the distance to a mile-and-aquarter. The short run to the first turn going nine furlongs could really be a disadvantage to the outside horses, and at a million a pop, that’s a big gamble.

Q: If Frank put a statue other than himself or a mythical creature outside of Gulfstream, who would it be? ~Ollie from Ocala A: Ollie, my friend, that’s a no-brainer, it would have to be the Florida-bred Mucho Macho Man, winner of the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita, and former Sunshine Millions Classic winner.

Q: So Geno, who’s your Derby pick this year, so I can avoid him? ~Knuckles from Brooklyn A: I really wish Unique Bella would try the boys, but right now I’m leaning towards El Areeb, but that could be my New York bias.

Q: What’s your favorite race of the year and why? ~Shorty from South Beach A: Good question, Shorty, after a lot of thought I’d have to go with the Belmont Stakes. The Test of a Champion, the annual chance for a Triple Crown, and the largess of Belmont Park win me over. For a non-Triple Crown race, I guess the Met Mile ranks right up there.

Q: Since you started following horse racing, what part of the game that has disappeared do you miss the most? ~Missy from Montpelier A: Well, Missy, the thing that really hooked me was the National Pick-4 that would surround four nationally televised races sponsored by the NTRA back in the mid-2000s. I remember the races would go from trackto-track and provide the past performances for all four races. I’d run to the local OTB and place a wager than get home to watch all four races. I really miss that.

Q: What wager do you fancy the most? ~Austin from London

70 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2017

A: I mostly play multi-race wagers, mainly the Pick4 because of the ability to spread and take a stand and single a horse. I’ll typically warm up with an exacta on the first race if I’m not playing the early Pick-5.

Q: American Pharoah or Arrogate? ~Justin from Jacksonville A: Yikes, that’s a loaded question. Do I go with the Triple Crown winner or the Travers-Classic-Pegasus winner? Both of them are super speedy and physically impressive. I guess I’ll have to go with the Baffert-trained horse.

Q: What’s your absolute favorite spot at any racetrack you’ve been to? ~Donnie from Duluth A: It’s a tie between the Lobster Hut in Saratoga for a dozen clams while watching the fifth race at the Spa and sitting in a sun-splashed paddock at Gulfstream watching the horses parade within 10 feet of me.

Q: What’s the worst public pick you’ve ever made? ~Willy in Warsaw A: Hands down, it was picking Daddy Nose Best in the 2012 Kentucky Derby. What could I have been thinking?

Q: Is Buffalo really a hotbed for racing? ~Ralph from Richmond A: You’d be surprised, Ralph, at the passion for racing in Western New York. We have four tracks (Woodbine, Fort Erie, Presque Isle and Finger Lakes) less than 90 minutes away. Two harness tracks (Buffalo Raceway and Batavia Downs) and eight OTB locations in Erie and Niagara Counties. We regularly crack the top-10 viewership markets for the Derby and Preakness. We love our racing in the Miami of the North.

Q: What’s the last racing book you read? ~Silky in Saratoga A: Jerry Bailey’s autobiography “Against All Odds,” authored by Bailey and Tom Pedulla. Before that I read “What’s New Harry?” which is a collection of the best of Phil Ranallo’s columns in the now defunct Buffalo Courier-Express, many on horse racing. A couple entries on gambling and Secretariat make that one worth the read. Phil Ranallo won an Eclipse Award in 1972 for Outstanding Newspaper Writing.

That’s a wrap on the March mailbag from balmy Buffalo…■

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