Top Foal Producers

BY JOANN GUIDRY

By the very nature of the Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry, Florida breeders are always planning the next crop of Florida-breds. Today’s successes are to be enjoyed, but there is no resting on laurels in the Thoroughbred business.

From Needles to World Approval, there are plenty of role models in the 52 Florida-breds that have become national champions. Then there are the 29 Florida-bred Breeders’ Cup champions, including overachiever Golden Pal. The latter is, to date, the only Florida-bred to win two Breeders’ Cup races: the 2020 Grade 2 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint in 2020 and the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in 2021.

Or maybe a 2022 Florida-bred foal will grow up to become the seventh Florida-bred to win the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby; the eighth to win the Grade 1 Preakness; or become the seventh to win the Grade 1 Belmont. Perhaps, among this foal crop is the second Floridabred to win the Triple Crown, joining Affirmed, who achieved the historical feat in 1978.

Here’s a look at the top five leading Florida breeders by 2022 Florida-bred foals registered with the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.

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2022 LEADING FLORIDA-BRED FOAL PRODUCERS

(By 2022 Florida-Bred Foals Registered With The FTBOA)

Bruno Schickedanz - 32

Stonehedge LLC – 25

Live Oak Stud – 25

Bridlewood Farm – 23

Arindel – 22

Dominique Damico - 20

Ocala Stud – 20

Helen Barbazon & Joseph Barbazon – 17

Joseph Imbesi – 17

J D Farms - 15

BRUNO SCHICKEDANZ – 32

In 2022, Canadian businessman Bruno Schickedanz was represented by Florida-bred runners who earned $348,953. He had 36 Floridabred starters, who posted 18 wins, 26 seconds and 31 thirds. His leading Florida-bred was non-black-type stakes-winner M V Speed, a 2018 bay gelding by Speed Ring out of Madison V., by Value Plus. M V Speed captured the US$26,079 Sprint Into Summer Cup, maiden stakes at Fort Erie on May 31, 2022.

Schickedanz owns the 230-acre Champagne Farm in Wildwood, Fla., just south of Ocala and another operation in King, Ont., in Canada. The CEO of Ontario-based B.G.S. Homes Inc., Schickedanz bought 1992 stakes-winner Sermon Time as a yearling for US$3,633 at the 1991 Canadian Breeders Sales Company’s October yearling sale. As a broodmare, Sermon Time produced millionaire Wake At Noon. Raced by Schickedanz, Wake At Noon collected 2002 Sovereign Awards as champion sprinter, champion older horse and Canadian Horse of the Year.

STONEHEDGE LLC – 25

In 2022, Stonehedge LLC was the second-leading Florida breeder by Florida-bred earnings with $2,816,852. Stonehedge LLC was represented by Floridabred black-type stakes-winners Boo Boo Kitty, Lure Him In and Me and Mr. C. Boo Boo Kitty, a 2019 bay filly by Poseidon’ Warrior out of Seductive Lady, by Langfuhr, was the leading black-type stakes-winning money earner for Stonehedge LLC. She banked $136,250 and won the $100,000 Satin and Lace at Presque Isle Downs.

Lure Him In, a 2017 bay gelding by Journeyman Stud’s leading Florida sire Khozan out of Alluring Lady, by Indygo Shiner, won the $100,000 Sunshine Turf at Gulfstream Park. Lure Him

In was also third in the $110,000 Grey Goose Turf Classic on Florida Cup Day at Tampa Bay Downs and earned $114,375 on the season.

Me and Mr. C, a 2017 bay gelding by Khozan out of Abiding, by Dynaformer, won the Mr. Steele at Gulfstream Park. He was also second in the Soldier’s Dancer Stakes at Gulfstream Park and third in the Sam Spear Memorial at Golden Gate Fields. On the season, Me and Mr. C banked $94,360.

Gilbert and Marilyn Campbell first became involved in Thoroughbred racing in 1982 as co-owners of Florida-bred stakeswinner Shananie. In 1988, the Campbells purchased Willistonbased Waldemar Farms and renamed it Stonehedge Farm South. To date, the operation has bred at least 88 Florida-bred blacktype winners, including millionaires Blazing Sword and Marlin. Gilbert Campbell, who died Sept. 16, 2021 at age 91, was named the Florida Breeder of the Year in 1997, 2013 and 2016.

Live oak Stud – 25

Charlotte Weber’s Live Oak Stud was third-leading 2022 Florida breeder by Floridabred earners with $2,528,159. On the season, Live Oak Stud was represented by Floridabred graded-stakes-winner Our Flash Drive.

Our Flash Drive, a 2019 bay filly by Ghostzapper out of Dynamotor, by Dynaformer, won the Grade 2 Bessarabian at Woodbine and Fasig-Tipton De La Rose at Saratoga. She was also second in the Grade 3 Beaugay at Belmont Park, Grade 3 Ontario Matron at Woodbine and Distaff Turf at Tampa Bay Downs. Our Flash Drive also posted a third in the Grade 2 Nassau at Woodbine. She closed out the season with earnings of $292,750.

In 1968, Charlotte Weber purchased the Ocala farm of P.A.B. Widener III and renamed it Live Oak Stud. The operation has to date bred at least 44 Florida-bred black-type winners. Among that number are millionaires Miesque’s Approval (2006 Eclipse Award champion turf male), World Approval (2017 Eclipse Award champion turf male), Awesome Slew, Sultry Song, Revved Up, Solar Splendor Brilliant Speed and March to the Arch.

Live Oak Stud has been named Florida Breeders of the year five times to date: 2011, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Bridlewood Farm – 23 Arindel – 22

John and Leslie Malone’s Bridlewood Farm posted $856,386 in Florida-bred earnings in 2022. That total made them the 10thleading Florida breeder by Florida-bred earnings on the season. The operation was represented by 39 Florida-bred starters which notched 29 wins, 23 seconds and 23 thirds.

Bridlewood Farm was established in 1976 by the late Arthur and Martha Appleton and quickly became a leading Florida Thoroughbred operation. Appleton bred and/or raced more than 100 Florida-bred black-type winners, including 12 Grade 1 winners. Included in that latter group are Floridabred millionaires Jolie’s Halo, Super Nakayama, Forbidden Apple, Southern Image, David Junior, Black Bar Spin and In Summation. Forbidden Apple and Southern Image were named Florida-bred Horse of the Year in 2001 and 2004, respectively. North of Eden (Ire), the dam of Forbidden Apple, was honored as the 2001 Florida Broodmare of the Year.

Arthur Appleton, who was named the 1991 Florida Breeder of the Year, died on Jan. 1, 2008, at the age of 92. He was preceded in death by his wife Martha, who died in 1998. Following Arthur Appleton’s death, Bridlewood Farm was run by the Appleton Family Trust until the Malones purchased the operation for $14 million and assumed ownership on Aug. 1, 2013. The Malones, who are the largest landowners in the United States with an estimated 2.2 million acres, retained the Bridlewood Farm name.