THE BROCK TALK

Brock Sheridan

Editor-in-Chief

Florida Equine Communications

JOHN D. FILER PHOTO

Notable Stats

Welcome to the February issue of The Florida Horse, which features various statistical reviews of Florida-bred thoroughbreds and their breeders, owners and trainers in 2021.

Florida-breds had another banner year in 2021 with 64 stakes winners of 90 stakes, including 19 graded-stakes winners of 27 graded races.

Florida-breds stakes winners ranged from A to W—from A Bit of Both, Adios Trippi and Anyportinastorm to Warrior’s Pride, Well Defined and Willy Boi. They won at tracks located from Emerald Downs near Seattle, Wash., in the Northwest (Background, Grade 3 Longacres Mile) to Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, U.A.E., in the Far East (Extravagant Kid, Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint sponsored by Azizi Developments).

At 8-years-old, Extravagant Kid was the oldest among Florida-bred stakes winners in 2021 while Cajun’s Magic, Cattin, Chacalosa, Lemieux, Mimajoon, My Sassenach, Octane, Outfoxed, Pappacap, Peter D, She’s So Beautiful, Strategic Bird, Sweet Dani Girl and Trust Our Journey all won during their juvenile year.

One of my favorite statistics is leading Florida-breds by races won, which often recognizes the less glamorous runners who usually spend their year toiling outside the black type ranks. This year, Florida-bred hard-knockers Big Sport, Hasty Lady and Primal Destiny each had eight wins to lead their fellow Sunshine State natives.

The leading Florida sire for the second consecutive year is Khozan, who stands at Journeyman Stud and saw his progeny rack up $3,671,794. Also, for the second straight year, Arindel’s Brethren ($3,168,131) ranked second ahead of Double Diamond Farm’s First Dude ($2,328,515) in third. The Big Beast ($2,315,694), who is part of the Ocala Stud roster, was fourth in progeny earnings.

Brethren, however, will be recognized as the Florida’s leading juvenile sire with $809,444 in progeny earnings with two-time FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes-winner Octane acting as his flag bearer with a $410,000 bankroll during the year.

Pleasant Acres Stallions’ Neolithic took the title as the top first crop sire in Florida last year with $636,849, topping a solid class of first crop sires that included Ocala Stud’s Noble Bird ($488,606), Bridlewood Farm-resident Valiant Minister ($488,606) and Greenpointcrusader ($251,894), who also stands at Ocala Stud.

And finally, a quick perusal through the list of alltime Florida-bred leading money earners, one sees that the Medina Spirit moved up to No. 8 on the list with $3,545,200 in career earnings while Firenze Fire now sits in the top 20 with $2,730,350.

Extravagant Kid is now ranked at No. 57 with $1,684,733, C Z Rocket is No. 73 with $1,511,641 and Golden Pal sits at No. 105 with $1,299,056.

Warrior’s Charge currently ranks at No. 161 with $1,045,690, but looks to move up this year as he remains in training along with C Z Rocket and Extravagant Kid. So we hope you enjoy the Annual Statistical

Review as much as we enjoy producing it and we hope you find familiar names and horses listed in these pages. We hope 2022 brings you good luck at the track, in the breeding shed, at the auction and on the farm or training center and congratulations on being a part of the successful (and fun) Florida thoroughbred industry. FH