FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’ AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION
PRESIDENT
George Isaacs
CEO & EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
Lonny Taylor Powell
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
George Russell
SECOND VICE PRESIDENT
Francis Vanlangendonck
TREASURER
Joseph M. O’Farrell III
SECRETARY
Nick de Meric
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Valerie Dailey
DIRECTORS
T. Paul Bulmahn, Jerry D. Campbell, Marilyn Campbell, Beckie Cantrell, Brent Fernung, Laurine Fuller-Vargas, Mike Hall, Milan Kosanovich, Mary Lightner
PAST PRESIDENTS
Phil Matthews, DVM, Greg Wheeler, Don Dizney, John C. Weber, MD
ADMINISTRATIVE VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER & ASSISTANT TREASURER
lorida-bred Thoroughbreds have long produced individual performances now etched among the classic moments in our sport—among them Dr. Fager’s 1:32 1/5 world record mile in the 1968 Washington Park Handicap, Susan’s Girl becoming North America’s first filly or mare to earn $1 million in 1975 and Affirmed becoming the 11th Triple Crown-winner in 1978—to name only a few.
Florida domination amongst regional markets is further illustrated by six Kentucky Derby winners, 19 Triple Crown-race winners, 30 Breeders’ Cup winners and 66 national champions, of which champion turf male World Approval and champion 2-year-old filly Caledonia Road are the most recent in 2017.
While it may be presumptive to talk about potential Florida-bred legends, Breeders’ Cup winners or Eclipse Award champions in 2024, Florida-breds this year are showing their preeminence as illustrated by the chart of 2024 Stakes Wins by State or Province on page 48 of this issue.
As of Sept. 2, Florida breeders have produced the winners of 45 open condition stakes, 11 of which are graded including Arthur’s Ride winning the Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 3.
Florida-breds have more than doubled their nearest rival among states outside Kentucky as Maryland breeders claim 19 open condition stakes wins and California has 16. New Yorkbreds have won 13 open stakes while Pennsylvania-breds have crossed the wire first in 12 during that span.
Florida-breds have been equally superior in graded stakes—again more than doubling other state breeders outside Kentucky. Pennsylvania is closest with five graded stakes wins through Sept. 2 while California, New York and Maryland have four each.
For your consideration, review the following recent weekends.
Florida-breds won four stakes, one graded, at four different tracks on June 29 including Sabatini taking the Grade 3
Selene at Woodbine. The $233,418 Tepin at Churchill Downs went to Dancing N Dixie, Belle’s Blue Bell won the $100,000 Maryfield at Monmouth Park and Bluefield scored by threeand-a-half lengths in winning the $94,000 Musical Romance at Gulfstream Park.
On Aug. 10, Florida-breds won four stakes, one graded, at three tracks while finishing 1-2-3 in two of those added-money contests. Nooni won the Grade 3 Sorrento at Del Mar, Halina’s Forte took the $139,000 Galway at Saratoga while Naughty Rascal and Win N Your In each topped Florida-bred trifectas in Gulfstream Park’s $95,000 Proud Man and $95,000 Sharp Susan respectively.
During a two-day span Aug. 23-24, Florida-breds won four stakes, one graded, at four different locations. Mystic Lake won the Grade 2 Charles Town Oaks, Comedy Town took to the $96,000 Benny the Bull at Gulfstream, Social Fortress trounced the $201,000 Sorority by seven lengths at Monmouth Park, and Buccherino thrashed the $75,000 Salvatore M. DeBunda Sprint at Parx, winning by more than six lengths.
Not reflected in this month’s chart of Stakes Wins by State or Province due to deadlines is another dominant two days by Sunshine State runners on Sept. 20-21. Bentornato topped a Florida-bred trifecta in the Grade 2 Gallant Bob at Parx, Forever Souper won his fifth stakes this year by taking the $150,000 Presque Isle Mile, Charlie’s Wish became a stakes-winner on three different surfaces by winning the $94,000 Ginger Punch at Gulfstream, and in the $95,000 Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint at Gulfstream, Florida-breds finished first, second and third, led by Reef Runner.
While we await the next Dr. Fager, Susan’s Girl or Affirmed— Florida breeders and owners this year certainly have the bragging rights over their counterparts. Horse Capital of the World®, Fast from Florida, Race ‘em or Chase ‘em—say what you want—the proof is in the proverbial key lime pudding when it comes to the superiority of the $3.24 billion Florida Thoroughbred industry. TFH
FLORIDA FOCUS
Compiled by Brock Sheridan
Florida-bred Candycrumbs Comes From Far Back to Win Hickory Tree Stakes
Last of 10 with more than five lengths to make up in deep stretch, Florida-bred Candycrumbs suddenly accelerated on the far outside to dramatically win the $150,000 Hickory Tree by a length-and-a-half at Colonial Downs Aug. 3.
With jockey Trevor McCarthy aboard, Candycrumbs won for the first time in two starts after finishing second to Global Legend in a four-and-a-half-furlong maiden special weight for Floridabreds on a sloppy Gulfstream Park track on June 8.
Candycrumbs shot to the front inside the sixteenth marker to win in 1:03.64 on the fast track. Do It for Michael was second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Re Markably in third. They were followed in order by Tap That Magic, Dadsnumbronehelpr, This Juice B Loose, Tojo’s Mojo, Audible the Play, Happyflyer and Summerinthecountry. Brewmaster and Stormy Flight were scratched.
Candycrumbs paid $14.
Candycrumbs is trained by owner Mary Lightner, who also bred the colt in the name of her Shooting Star Thoroughbreds. Candycrumbs is by Bridlewood Farm stallion Valiant Minister out of Crumb, by Graeme Hall and has now earned $68,800 from his two races.
Candycrumbs is one of three winners from six starters for Crumb, and is her first stakes winner. Crumb has also produced stakes-placed Florida-bred Dreamster, by Jess’s Dream and has an unnamed weanling colt by Chance It, who stood the 2024 breeding season at Journeyman Stud. n
R Morning Brew First Winner for Curlin’s Honor
Curlin’s Honor, standing at Pleasant Acres Stallions in Morriston, Fla., was represented by his first winner Aug. 9 at Gulfstream Park when R Morning Brew won a maiden special weight for Floridabred fillies by four-and-a-half lengths in her first start.
The 2-year-old filly led from gate to wire with jockey Edgard Zayas aboard and paid $7.20. R Morning Brew is trained by Saffie
Joseph Jr., owned by Averill Racing LLC and earned $29,000 for winning the six-furlong contest.
R Morning Brew was purchased by Steven Skaggs as an agent for Averill Racing for $30,000 at the 2024 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale where she was consigned by Rivera Training and Sales. She is out of Foolhearted Woman, by Uncaptured and is a half-sister to the multiple graded stakes-placed, Florida-bred Dancing N Dixie, by Pleasant Acres Stallion’ Neolithic, winner of the $233,418 Tepin at Churchill Downs on June 29.
Curlin’s Honor is by Curlin out of the Stormin Fever mare Franscat and was a graded stakes-placed, stakes winner for owners John C. Oxley and Breeze Easy LLC. Oxley and Breeze Easy paid $1.5 million for Curlin’s Honor at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale of Two Year Olds in Training and saw him win the US$78,306 Woodstock going six furlongs on synthetic at Woodbine and the $150,000 Artie Schiller going a mile on the grass at Aqueduct.
Curlin’s Honor stood the 2024 breeding season for a $2,500 fee. n
Florida-bred Candycrumbs | Photo by Maddy Becker/Coady Media
Florida-bred R Morning Brew | Photo by Coglianese
Horsewoman, Longtime Chaplaincy President Sharyn Wasiluk Dies
Sharyn Wasiluk, a Thoroughbred owner and trainer who served the Tampa Bay Downs backstretch workforce for 22 years as the president of the Race Track Chaplaincy of America’s Tampa Bay Downs division, died Aug. 3 following an extended illness. She was 77.
A native of Jamestown, N.Y., Sharyn was a lifelong horsewoman who participated in numerous shows and rodeos before finding her passion on the racetrack. She and her husband Peter Wasiluk Jr., met at Penn National more than 40 years ago and competed as a team at a variety of northern and Mid-Atlantic tracks and Tampa Bay Downs.
The couple trained 913 winners between them, including the durable Florida-bred gelding Dinner in Odem, who won the 2008 Cape Henlopen at Delaware Park and the 2009 Chris Thomas Turf Classic (now the Columbia Stakes) at Tampa Bay Downs.
But it was through her efforts to uplift the racetrack community that Sharyn made a lasting impact.
A longtime member of Tampa Bay Downs’ Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association board, Sharyn devoted her time and energy as RTCA-TBD president to improving life for the track’s grooms, hotwalkers and stable hands and their families. She helped schedule medical and dental appointments, enrolled workers in continuing education classes, organized activities such as soccer tournaments and fishing trips, and went on grocery runs for those without transportation.
Sharyn was also instrumental in securing funding for a lift to provide wheelchair access to the chaplaincy trailer and was the driving force behind the chaplaincy’s Christmas party for backstretch workers and their families. She also helped organize the annual Hearts Reaching Out benefit golf tournament.
Sharyn is survived by her husband Peter; son Phil, the assistant racing secretary at Delaware Park, and his fiancée Anne Sinchak; and daughter Jaclyn, an elementary school library media technology specialist, as well as grandsons Noah and Elijah and granddaughter Jordyn.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Tampa Bay Downs Racetrack Chaplaincy. n
-- Courtesy Tampa Bay Downs Press Office
Forever Souper Takes Avery Whisman for Second Straight Stakes Victory
Live Oak Plantation homebred Forever Souper angled out turning for home then shot to the front in the run in deep stretch to win the $79,200 Avery Whisman Memorial at Presque Isle Downs on Aug. 12. It was the second consecutive stakes victory for the Florida-bred gelding after winning the Prince George’s County Stakes by nearly five lengths going nine furlongs on the Laurel turf on July 14.
Ridden by Antonio Gallardo for trainer Michael Trombetta, Forever Souper sat midpack early in the field of six 3-year-olds and older going a mile-and-70-yards on the synthetic main track. He moved into position in the far turn before running down frontrunner Happyisashappydoes past the eight-pole to win by twoand-a-quarter lengths in 1:39.39.
He paid $6.20 to win. It was his fourth win in six starts this year, all in stakes.
Forever Souper started the year winning the $95,000 Sunshine Turf at Gulfstream Park in January and the $100,000 ESMARK Turf Classic at Tampa Bay Downs in March, both against Floridabreds on the turf. A nightmarish trip resulted in a third-place finish behind winner Dataman in the $99,000 Henry Clark at Laurel in April before another third in the $110,000 Cliff Hanger at Monmouth in May, also won by Dataman.
The Michael Trombetta-trained son of American Pharoah bounced back to win the $96,000 Prince George County at Laurel by a convincing four-and-three-quarter lengths on July 14 in his last race prior to the Whisman.
Forever Souper is out of Mighty Souper, by War Front and has now won eight with a second and four thirds in 17 career starts with earnings of $400,255.
Continued on next page
Sharyn Wasiluk | Tampa Bay Downs Photo
Florida-bred Forever Souper | Photo by Coady Media
FLORIDA FOCUS
Forever Souper is the only stakes horse for Mighty Souper, who has two starters, both winners from five foals. She has an unraced 3-year-old filly, Souper Gin Can Win, by Lookin At Lucky; an unnamed 2-year-old colt by Lookin At Lucky; a yearling colt, Yo Paul, by Yaupon and an unnamed weanling filly by Ocala Stud’s Roadster. n
Win N Your In Gives Win Win Win First Stakes Winner With Sharp Susan Score
Win N Your In shot through an opening on the rail coming out of the far turn then drew off to a nearly five-length victory in the $95,000 Sharp Susan at Gulfstream Park on Aug. 10, giving Ocala Stud freshman sire Win Win Win his first stakes winner. The six-furlong Sharp Susan featured a half dozen 2-year-old fillies going six furlongs and the purse included a $20,000 bonus for Florida-breds presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
Around the turn, jockey Miguel Vasquez sent Win N Your In towards Wiggle An’ Wine and found a seam on the rail inside
the five-sixteenths pole. She went to the front with a little more than a quarter mile to the finish and opened up by four lengths in the stretch. She was never challenged by Wiggle An’ Wine and Florida-bred Bee A Queen, who battled for second.
Win N Your In won by four-and-three-quarter lengths ahead of Wiggle An’ Wine with Bee A Queen another two lengths back in third. Florida-bred Valiant Kiss ran on late to get fourth followed by Florida-bred Thee New Beginning and Vuela Paloma. Brenna was scratched.
Win N Your In paid $3 to win as the 1-2 favorite.
Trained by Carlos David for Troy Johnson and Maritza Weston, Win N Your In earned $54,550 including $10,000 of the FTBOA Florida-bred bonus. She has now won two of three starts while banking $87,950. She finished third behind winner You Need Me in her first lifetime start while facing Florida-bred maiden special weight fillies going four-and-a-half furlongs at Gulfstream on June 6. She improved in her second start to dominate under the same conditions while going an additional furlong on July 6, winning by seven-and-a-half lengths.
Johnson purchased Win N Your In for $12,000 as a yearling at the 2023 Ocala
June 22, 1942 – August 1, 2024
Jean Burke, 81, of Ocala, formerly of Wakefield, Mi., passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024.
Jean was born on June 22, 1942, in Wakefield, the oldest daughter to Ralph and Laura (Maki) Olson. She was a 1961 graduate of Wakefield High School.
On Jan. 4, 1964, Jean married Walter “Buz” Burke in Grayslake, Illinois. They relocated to Florida in 1973.
Jean had a deep love of animals. She spent her life surrounded by the animals she adored, breeding and raising horses, and caring for a variety of creatures on her beloved Valley View Farm and beyond.
Jean and Buz were avid fishers, finding joy and tranquility in the many hours spent on the water. Their fishing trips were a
source of great stories and fond memories.
A longtime fan of the Chicago Bears, Jean rarely missed a game and was known for her spirited support of her favorite team. Her enthusiasm for the Bears was matched only by her love for her family and friends.
Jean is survived by a son, Jeff (Angie), Cable, Wisconsin; a daughter, Liz (Glenn) Reedy, Layton, Utah; two grandchildren, Ryan Reedy, Layton, and Rachel Reedy, Orlando; two sisters, Barb Suomi, Wakefield, and Margaret Olson (Rod Waara), Phillips, Wisconsin; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, who will forever cherish her memory and the love she shared with them.
Jean was predeceased by her husband, Buz, in 2022; her parents, Ralph, in 2000, and Laura, in 2017; and a sister, Lenore Olson, in 1992. n
Florida-bred Win N Your In | Photo by Ryan Thompson
Jean Burke
OBITUARY
Jean Burke | File Photo
Breeders’ Sales Winter Mixed Sale where she was consigned by Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck’s Summerfield.
Win N Your In is out of the Yes It’s True mare Hello Rosie and was bred in Florida by Marion G. Montanari. Hello Rosie has six
winners from seven starters including multiple stakes-winning Florida-bred Miss Aurumet. Hello Rosie last sold for $28,000 to K.O.I.D. in foal to Girvin at the 2023 Keeneland November Sale where she was consigned by Summerfield. n
Florida-bred Beth’s Dream Superior in Winning Fourth Straight in Sheer Drama
Virginia Gamble’s Beth’s Dream won her fourth consecutive race Aug. 17 at Gulfstream Park with a demonstrative effort as the odds-on favorite in the $100,000 Sheer Drama for fillies and mares at seven furlongs. The 6-year-old Florida-bred daughter of Jess’s Dream won by four lengths ahead of Florida-bred graded stakeswinner Maryquitecontray in second with Florida-bred stakes-winner Charlie’s Wish in third.
All three mares earned their share of a $20,000 Florida-bred bonus presented by the Florida Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
Trained by Victor Barboza Jr. and ridden by Emisael Jaramillo, Beth’s Dream hit the top of the stretch two lengths in front of Charlie’s Wish and Imonra before extending her advantage down the lane to win by four lengths in 1:23.05 on the fast track.
Imonra was fourth followed in order by Florida-bred Bluefield and Sophia’s Storm. Florida-bred Hihellowhowareyou and Infinite Diamond were scratched.
Beth’s Dream paid $3.80 to win.
Beth’s Dream began her win streak March 17 at Gulfstream with a neck victory against upper level, $62,500 optional claiming fillies going a mile. She then won the $75,000 Mo’ Green by nearly four lengths on April 27 and the $75,000 My Pal Chrisy by two-and-threequarter lengths on June 23, both at one mile.
Beth’s Dream won for the ninth time in 16 lifetime starts with two seconds and two thirds. Her $57,550 first place check, including $10,000 FTBOA bonus money, increased her lifetime bankroll to $449,167.
Beth’s Dream is out of Gator Brew, by Milwaukee Brew and was bred in Florida by Gamble and her late husband, Dr. James Gamble. Gator Brew has produced five winners from six starters from seven foals including stakes-placed Florida-breds Devish Romance with Double Diamond Farm stallion First Dude; and Bart’s Dream, by Bridlewood Farm stallion Chitu. The Gambles also bred Gator Brew and owned second dam, Doc’s Doll, who Dr. Gamble purchased for $1,700 at the 2001 Keeneland October Yearling Sale. n
Jasper Robusto Wins Japan’s Senamionsen Tokubetso at Niigata Racecourse
Jasper Robusto, a 3-year-old Floridabred gelding by Journeyman Stud stallion Khozan, won the Senamionsen Tokubetso on Aug. 17 at Niigata Racecourse in Japan.
Ridden to victory by Christophe Lermaire for trainer Hideyuki Mori, Jasper Robusto defeated 14 other runners, 3-years-old and older, while covering 1,800 meters (about nine furlongs) in 1:51.7 under special weight conditions. After breaking from post 12 as the 9-5 favorite, Jasper Robusto won by four lengths ahead of runner-up Toho Bart in second with Glenoaks another neck back in third.
He paid ¥180 to win.
Bred in Florida by Ashley Godwin’s Rivermont Farm, Jasper Robusto is out of Prize Informant, by Marciano and has now won three of six starts with two seconds and a third while earning ¥36,520,000 (US$257,239).
According to Journeyman Stud president Brent Fernung, Godwin won the breeding to Khozan at the 2020 Journeyman Stud stallion show. The free breeding was part of a raffle drawing conducted by Journeyman that generated nearly $10,000 for Florida Thoroughbred Charities. Mori purchased Jasper Robusto for $265,000 at the 2023 Ocala
Florida-bred Beth’s Dream | Photo by Lauren King
Florida-bred Jasper Robusto | Photo by JBIS
FLORIDA FOCUS
Breeders’ Sales March Sale where he was consigned by Blas Perez Stables. Blas Perez Stables paid $27,000 for him at the 2022 OBS Winter Mixed Sale where he selected him out of Richard Kent’s Kaizen Stables consignment. n
Contagious Equine Metris in Orange County
According to the Equine Disease Communication Center and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, several new cases of Contagious Equine Metris were confirmed in Orange County, Fla., in August. An official quarantine was issued.
The animals under quarantine have additional travel restrictions. The horse under quarantine is not allowed to leave the premises. As of Aug. 29, there were 39 confirmed cases and 58 horses were exposed.
For the most recent CEM update by the USDA issued Aug. 20, go to www.aphis.usda.gov
Gulfstream Park to Host Jockeys and Jeans PDJF Fundraiser
Jockeys and Jeans, which raises funds for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Funds, has announced Gulfstream Park and 1/ST Racing will host their 10th annual fundraiser on Saturday, Jan. 11 beginning at noon.
Gulfstream, which played host to Jockeys and Jeans in 2016, will become the first facility to host the event twice.
To date, Jockeys and Jeans has raised $3.4 million for PDJF through its fundraising efforts that include an annual stallion season sale. There will be an autograph signing for the local jockey colony before the races and then one later for the Hall of Fame riders in attendance. This year’s event will also honor the memory of Hall of Fame members Walter Blum and Bobby Ussery. The event will be held in the track’s Flamingo Room.
Early Bird Tickets are $100 with each attendee receiving a buffet luncheon, a poster signed by Hall of Fame and other legendary jockeys and the unusual opportunity to mingle with those famous jockeys. Visit www.pdjf.org for tickets. n
Mystic Lake Adds Another Graded Stakes With Charles Town Oaks Victory
Florida-bred Mystic Lake added another graded stakes at yet another race track to her resumé on Aug. 23 with a nearly sixlength triumph in the Grade 2 Charles Town Oaks at Charles
Town Races. In seven starts this year at six different tracks, the Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained filly has won four stakes, two graded, while earning nearly $700,000.
This year she has won the $75,000 Gasparilla and $100,000 Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies in January and March respectively at Tampa Bay Downs and the Grade 3 Miss Preakness at Pimlico on May 17. She was also second to Emery in the Grade 3 Victory Ride during the Belmont at Big A meet on July 4 and second to fellow Florida-bred Sabatini in the CA$128,000 Star Shoot over the synthetic main track at Woodbine in April.
With Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith aboard for the sevenfurlong Charles Town Oaks, Mystic Lake raced a length off longshot Overnight Pow Wow through quarter-mile splits of :23.16 and :46.51. Mystic Lake eased past Overnight Pow Wow while three wide in the second turn then distanced her nine rivals in the stretch to finish in 1:24.18 on the fast track.
Mystic Lake paid $14 to win with generous odds of 6-1.
The victory improved her career record to five wins in 11 starts with three seconds and a third while banking $758,554 for owners C2 Racing Stable LLC and Stefania Farms LLC.
Mystic Lake is a two-time graduate of Ocala Breeders’ Sales. Agent Tom McCrocklin purchased her for $3,500 out of Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck’s Summerfield consignment at the 2022 OBS October Yearling Sale, then pinhooked her back through the 2023 OBS March Sale where Turf Express Racing Partners took her for $130,000.
Bred in Florida by Peggy Costanzo, Mystic Lake is by Mo Town and is the only foal out of the unraced Itsmyluckyday mare Salty Soul. n
Florida-bred Mystic Lake | Photo by Adianez Acosta
Social Fortress Romps Again in Sorority to Stay Unbeaten
Joseph Imbesi’s homebred Social Fortress nearly repeated her 11-length debut victory by leaving her competition far behind in the $200,000 Sorority at Monmouth Park on Aug. 24. Heavily favored at 2-5, the Florida-bred daughter of Briardale Farm stallion Social Inclusion led from start to finish in defeating six other 2-yearold fillies going one mile in her second career start.
After a delayed start and pre-race scratch of Piggy Tales Up, Social Fortress and jockey Jaime Rodriguez started quickly from post five and beat the Todd Pletcher-trained Yellow into the clubhouse turn. Social Fortress increased her lead to four lengths with six furlongs to run and maintained that margin through a half mile in :48.19 while cruising into the second turn.
fast track. Hollywood Beauty was another length back in third followed in order by Vino Limone, Margo’s Margarita, Baytown Butterfly and Entente.
Trained by Jaime Ness, Social Fortress paid $2.80 to win.
“We don’t know a lot about her. That’s two starts and she’s won wire-to-wire twice,” Ness said. “She’s an extremely talented filly. She shown that in the morning since day one. My job is to point her in the right direction and it is really nice to have a filly like this in the barn.”
Out of Cold Hearted Pearl, by Parading, Social Fortress overwhelmed her competition in an off-the-turf maiden special weight for fillies at five furlongs at Delaware Park on July 13. Social Fortress has now earned $144,000 in her two races.
With little urging from Rodriguez, Social Fortress was five lengths clear at the top of the stretch and finished seven lengths in front of runner-up Yellow in a final time of 1:40.05 on the
Social Fortress is the only starter for the Parading mare Cold Hearted Pearl, who earned $322,979 in 55 career starts with no black type. Cold Hearted Pearl also has a weanling full brother to Social Fortress. n
Comedy Town Laughs Off Rivals For Second Straight Stakes Win in Benny the Bull
Florida-bred Comedy Town continued his domination of South Florida sprinters with an emphatic victory in the $96,000 Benny the Bull at Gulfstream Park on Aug. 24. It was the second consecutive stakes victory and third straight overall for the Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee, who won the sevenfurlong Benny the Bull by nearly two lengths ahead of fellow Florida-bred Loco Abarrio in second.
The $59,550 first-place money includes a $10,000 Florida-bred bonus presented by the Florida Thorough-
bred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association. Loco Abarrio earned $20,850 for second including his $6,000 share of the FTBOA bonus money.
Loco Abarrio and Florida-bred Big Martini jumped out of gate first then were quickly overtaken by Vivir Con Alegria (Chi) on the rail as the six 3-yearolds and older came out of the backstretch chute.
Jockey Drayden Van Dyke kept Comedy Town on the outside in fourth and about two lengths off Vivir Con Alegria through a quarter-mile in :22.92
Florida-bred Social Fortress | Photo by Melissa Torres/Equi-Photo
Florida-bred Comedy Town | Photo by Lauren King
FLORIDA FOCUS
before inching closer to the front in tandem with Big Martini to his inside heading into the turn.
Loco Abarrio took over from between horses past the threeeighths pole but had Comedy Town in pursuit on the outside and Vivir Con Alegria on the rail. Those three all had a chance at the top of the lane before Comedy Town pulled away in the stretch. He was a length-and-three-quarters clear under the wire to finish in 1:22.73 on the track rated muddy and sealed.
Loco Abarrio finished a length in front of third-place finisher Vivir Con Alegria with Big Martini fourth. Positive Review and Florida-bred Classic Car Wash completed the order of finish. Big Data and Saint Tapit were scratched.
Comedy Town paid $3.40 to win.
“He showed good speed. I was in a good spot. I was four-wide the whole way, but on the dirt it’s all about momentum for me,” Van Dyke said. “If I had the chance to tuck in, I would have, but he was taking me so nice, I didn’t want to bother him. I felt like a had a lot of horse. He’s three-for-three on the dirt—that’s impressive.”
The 6-year-old Comedy Town had run exclusively on turf and synthetic in his first 21 starts before Joseph and co-owner Ten Twenty Racing claimed him for $25,000 in March. Joseph started him one more time on the all-weather course at Gulfstream and finished fourth against $35,000 claimers on April 19.
Joseph switched him to the main track to face first level, $25,000 optional claimers on June 8. Comedy Town responded with a two-length victory on a sloppy track. He then won the $110,000 Smile Sprint by a length-and-a-half after six furlongs on July 6 prior to the Benny the Bull.
Comedy Town is a five-time winner in 26 career starts with five seconds and four thirds while earning $336,675.
He is by Speightstown out of the Florida-bred mare Unbridled Humor, by Distorted Humor and was bred in Florida by Live Oak Stud.
A winner of the Grade 3 Noble Damsel and $60,000 Memories of Silver for owner and breeder Live Oak Stud. Unbridled Humor has produced four winners from six starters including stakesplaced Wild and Funny with Kitten’s Joy and Wild Medagliad’oro by Medaglia d’Oro. She has an unraced 3-year-old gelding, Winning Ballyhoo, by Into Mischief; an unraced 2-year-old filly, Souper Zesty Zest, by Laoban; a yearling colt, Souper Cha Ching, by Medaglia d’Oro; and a weanling filly, Amazing Alice, by Bolt d’Oro. All are bred in Florida by Live Oak Stud, who also bred second dam Devotion Unbridled. Live Oak Stud purchased Comedy Town’s third dam, the multiple graded stakes-placed Icy Warning, for $620,000 at the 1997 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. n
Del Rosario First Winner for Gunnevera
Florida-bred Del Rosario circled the field in the far turn while coming from last of six became the first winner for Pleasant Acres Stallions’ Gunnevera on Aug. 24. The Just for Fun Inc. homebred won by three-quarters of a length against $35,000 maiden claimers going a mile-and-70-yards on the all-weather track at Gulfstream Park for trainer Ruben Sierra.
Ridden to victory by Melvis Gonzalez, Del Rosario was pushed wide while on her left lead past the eighth pole before running down the top three in deep stretch to win in a final time of 1:44.74 in a driving rainstorm.
She earned $21,700 including $5,000 from the Florida-bred Incentive Fund, to push her career earnings to $22,400 in two starts. Out of the multiple stakes-placed mare Indy Pie, by Ocean Indy; Del Rosario was fifth in a July 26 maiden special weight at Gulfstream in her debut.
Indy Pie was also bred by and raced for Just for Fun Stables. She has produced three winners from three starters and has an unnamed yearling filly by Curlin’s Honor, who also stands at Pleasant Acres Stallions in Morriston, Fla.
Multiple graded stakes-winner and first crop sire Gunnevera earned more than $5.5 million during a four-year racing career that included victories in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special and $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot (G3) in 2016 and the Grade 2 Xpressbet Fountain of Youth and $107,500 Tangelo the following year as a 3-year-old.
Gunnevera is by Dialed In out of Unbridled Rage, by Unbridled and stood for $6,000 during the 2024 breeding season. n
Florida-bred Del Rosario | Photo by Lauren King
Ocala Stud’s
David O’Farrell Among New Stewards of The Jockey Club
The Jockey Club announced on Sept. 29 its newly elected stewards and members.
The new stewards are Gary Fenton, David O’Farrell, Everrett R. Dobson, and Vincent Viola. William S. Farish Jr. (vice chair) was reelected. The remaining stewards are Stuart S. Janney III (chair), Ian D. Highet (treasurer), William M. Lear (secretary), Barbara Banke, Louis A. Cella, Terry Finley and R. Alex Rankin.
The new members are Joseph Appelbaum, John Ballantyne PhD, Rick Gold, Marshall Gramm PhD, MV Magnier, Jon Miller, Garrett O’Rourke, and Jessica Steinbrenner.
O’Farrell is the operations manager for Ocala Stud while Banke owns Stonestreet Training and Rehabilitation Center in Summerfield. Steinbrenner is president of Kinsman Farm in Ocala. n
Dean Delivers Dishes Out Fourth Straight Stakes Victory in Rumson
Pressed early by Five Dreams and Speaking and then pressured for most of the stretch by Downtownchalybrown, Florida-bred Dean Delivers dug in for a half-length victory in the $100,000 Rumson at Monmouth Park—earning his fourth straight
stakes victory on Sept. 1. The 5-year-old Stonehedge LLC hombred gelding is now undefeated in his four starts since moving to the barn of trainer Edward Allard in May.
The odds-on favorite in the field of six 3-year-olds and older, Dean Delivers paid $2.80 to win.
“I was a little nervous about the one post going five-eighths because I knew [jockey] Jamie [Rodriguez] would have to use him pretty good to keep his position,” Allard said. “I was starting to worry about it around the turn, but Jamie told me when he asked him to run, he picked it up and took off.
“I think those two horses that got a short lead on him going into the turn were trying to take his game away. Jamie rode such a smart race. He didn’t worry about it because he knew he had a horse that would kick late. It was a little nerve-wracking though.”
Dean Delivers now has nine wins, eight seconds and two thirds from 25 career starts with $787,660 in earnings.
“How good is he? I think his form speaks for itself right now,” Allard said. “I’m not sure what’s next. We’ve got visions of grandeur but I don’t know whether they’re realistic or not. We’ll see.”
Dean Delivers broke sharp in the five-furlong contest, yielded the lead to Five Dreams early, then saw Speaking loop threewide midway through the final turn to take the lead from both. Downtownchalybrown followed Speaking’s move on the outside with Rodriguez skimming the rail.
Dean Delivers and Downtownchalybrown hooked up midstretch, with Dean Delivers and Rodriguez prevailing to win in a final time of :57.72 on the fast track.
Five Dreams was another two lengths back in third. They were followed in order by Speaking, Aggrandize and Chuck Willis (Ire).
“He had to work for this one,” Rodriguez said. “He hasn’t run five furlongs for a while, since he broke his maiden. But nothing seems to bother him. Once I got to the quarter pole, I asked him and he went. When we broke, I was going to wait and see how things played out. He broke sharply but he did not need to be on the lead. I just wanted to be within a half-length or next to the other speed because I knew I had horse. I just had to wait for the moment.
“Once I saw a horse coming outside coming out of the turn I said okay, let’s go. I maybe only hit him twice in the stretch. I was pretty confident with him today. Every time he runs now he gets better.”
Rodriguez has been aboard Dean Delivers for his past three stakes victories.
Dean Delivers is out of Slick and True, by Yes It’s True. Slick and True has five winners from seven starters with Dean Delivers
David O’Farrell | Photo Courtesy of TOBA
Florida-bred Dean Delivers | Photo by Julia Sabastianelli/EQUI-PHOTO
FLORIDA FOCUS
as her only stakes winner. She has an unraced 2-year-old filly, J J’s True Bet, by Gentlemen’s Bet and was bred to both Lone Sailor and Strike Power in 2023. Slick and True is a third-generation mare from the Stonehedge LLC breeding program. Slick and True is out of the Florida-bred stakes-winning mare Slick Lady, who was bred by the late Gil Campbell. Campbell purchased Dean Delivers’ third dam, Beaty Sark, for $40,000 at the 1987 FasigTipton July Yearling Sale. n
Charlotte C. Weber Voted National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Interim Board Chair
earnings of more than $62 million. Nine Live Oak horses have surpassed $1 million in earnings and the farm has won 90 graded stakes during that time. Grade 1 winners campaigned by Live Oak include Brilliant Speed, High Fly, In the Gold, Laser Light, My Typhoon, Solar Splendor, To Honor and Serve, Victory to Victory, Win Win Win and Zo Impressive, as well as the aforementioned Eclipse champions. Live Oak has ranked in the top 10 among North American owners in purse earnings five times since 2000, including a peak position of number 2 in 2006.
Longtime National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame board of trustees member Charlotte C. Weber has been chosen as the Museum’s interim board chair through a vote by the institution’s Executive Committee. Weber, previously a vice chair, will serve in the chair position formerly held by John Hendrickson, who passed away at the age of 59 on Aug. 19. Hendrickson was the Museum’s chair since 2017. Weber has been a Musuem trustee since 2001.
A prominent breeder and owner of racehorses for more than half a century and the founder of Live Oak Stud in Ocala, Fla., Weber is one of American racing’s most iconic and respected figures. She has a lifelong connection with horses that developed into a passion for racing, which began with her first winner, Llallauco (Chi), at Monmouth Park in 1967.
Weber purchased the 1,100-acre Live Oak Plantation in Ocala from Peter A. B. Widener III in 1968 and renamed it Live Oak Stud. In the 56 years since, Live Oak has expanded to more than 4,500 acres and has developed into one of the most renowned Thoroughbred farms in the country.
Live Oak has been recognized four times (2006, 2017, 2019, 2020) as Florida’s Breeder of the Year and 10 of the farm’s homebreds have been honored as Florida-bred champions. Those include Florida Horse of the Year winners Miesque’s Approval, Sultry Song and World Approval. Miesque’s Approval and World Approval were both Eclipse Award and Breeders’ Cup winners. Since 2000, Live Oak has won more than 1,000 races with purse
Weber was recognized in 2005 with the Penny Chenery Most Distinguished Woman in Racing Award. She was also honored by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association that year as National Owner of the Year and Southern Regional Owner of the Year. Live Oak had previously been honored as TOBA’s national Outstanding Owner and Breeder in 1991. Live Oak also won the Sovereign Award for Outstanding Owner in Canada in 2020 and 2021. Her broodmare Win Approval was the first broodmare outside of Kentucky to win TOBA’s Broodmare of the Year.
Along with the National Musuem of Racing and Hall of Fame, Weber currently sits or has previously served on the boards of the Campbell Soup Co., Metropolitan Museum of Art, Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association, Wake Forest University, New York Women’s Foundation and National Horse Show Association of America, among others. Weber is a member of The Jockey Club and The Jockey Club of Canada.
A native of Philadelphia, Weber studied art and interior design at the University of Paris. Her professional museum experience includes a stint as the assistant curator of paintings and sculpture at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. n
Tammy A. Gantt Named Ocala FPRA Wilton F. Martin Communicator of the Year
The Ocala Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association recognized community accomplishments in the fields of public relations and communications on Aug. 30 at an award ceremony held at the Appleton Museum of Art in Ocala.
The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association’s Tammy A. Gantt was honored with the Wilton F. Martin Communicator of the Year award, which recognizes those who have demonstrated excellence in strategic communications to improve the quality of life in Marion/Citrus County.
Established in 2005, the Wilton F. Martin Communicator of the Year awards recognize individuals and institutions who have exemplified communications excellence to provide timely, accurate and critical information.
Charlotte Weber | Photo by HorsePhotos
A pivotal figure at the FTBOA for more than 12 years, Gantt’s extensive knowledge, passion and organizational skills have been the cornerstone of many successful FTBOA projects, including industry videos, the community’s high profile FTBOA Awards Gala event, awardwinning national print advertising campaigns, and award-winning video content.
“Her nominators noted that she is the go-to person for all things Thoroughbred and horses and is known for her professionalism and kindness. She connects valuable resources across various equine disciplines,” past FPRA State President Devon Chestnut said.
Beyond Gantt’s professional achievements, her impact extends into community service. She saw a need to connect job seekers with employers and created a Facebook group to help people find
THE ART OF REMI
equine jobs in the area. The group now has more than 15,100 members and she extends her resources and job placement help to women released from the Lowell Correctional Institution.
Gantt’s dedication to public relations and networking is evident through her involvement in various non-profits, community programs and campaigns, raising awareness for local charities, inspiring youth and showcasing the Thoroughbred industry, thus making her a respected and influential figure in the equine industry and the local community.
FPRA is dedicated to developing public relations practitioners who, through ethical and standardized practices, enhance the public relations profession in Florida.
Today there are more than 1,000 members throughout the state and country. The FPRA Ocala chapter was established in 1980. TFH
Tammy A. Gantt | Photo by Kaplan Media
Warren, Thanks for Three Decades
At its Aug. 23 board meeting, the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association recognized legal counsel Warren Husband of Metz, Husband and Daughton with a Hero award for his more than 30 years of service recognizing his work that led to successful legislation and legal accomplishments for the Association. Husband retires in December 2024. Since 1994, Husband has been very involved with matters of the Association, in addition to being behind the scenes creating the blueprints of legislation, maneuvering ways to ensure the message was accurate, and adding the nuances that were needed in order to really push forward legislation by the rest of the team in Tallahassee. His body of work has created a legacy and in the last few years the work has been game changing for the industry leading to $33.5 million in annual industry incentives.
The Florida Horse podcast executive producer, Tammy Gantt, sat down with Husband upon his impending retirement. Here is his commentary:
“I can hardly bring myself to say 30 years, but it seems to have gone by in a flash. As I mentioned in the boardroom, FTBOA is my oldest client and my first client. I was only a year out of law school when they came to the firm that I was with at the time. Then executive vice president Dick Hancock kept me on and involved me more and more in the Association’s activities. I have seen a lot come and go in 30 years.
It’s very nice to be honored with an award like this. So, somebody else recently said ‘you’re fortunate if you’re blessed with some clients that you really like and value, and that really like and value you.’ And certainly, the breeders have been the top of that list in terms of me and my interaction with them. It’s just great to receive that kind of recognition but you know, frankly the memories and the years are recognition in and of themselves.
Certainly, you know just starting out as a lawyer I never anticipated I’d be involved in horse racing and gaming. It just kind of happened, because you can never tell the path your life is gonna take you down. I could have gone into all kinds of different areas of the law that I never would have conceived, but I grew up in Tampa, so I was aware of Tampa Bay Downs and horse racing. The deep history of horse racing in the state and in the Marion County area, in particular; was certainly something that my eyes were open to in terms of getting involved in the industry.
Like any industry there’s been lots of challenges. There are challenges that come from outside and then there’s challenges from inside most any industry. I tend to dwell on the most recent. You know the new state funding that we secured over the last couple years, it is pivotal and critical to keeping the industry vibrant.
Kudos to Lonny Powell and his vision. He’s always thinking of new dynamics, trying to look at situations from different angles. I think it’s been very rewarding to collaborate, try to come up with ways to deal with the challenges that faces the Thoroughbred industry.
My philosophy has always been to do whatever it takes to best position the client for success. If I can go to bed each night saying ‘yes, I’ve done that,’ then I’ve succeeded. My bottom line has always been service, kind of my thought ‘how can I be of service?’ That’s kind of been my guiding light through my legal career and this represents that. I think I’m doing something right apparently.
It’s been really impressive to see all your volunteer board members and how active and engaged they are, and I’ve worked with a lot of staff over the course of 30 years. Like I say one of Lonny Powell’s great talents, and he has many, is putting together a good, really solid team. He has certainly done that here, across everyone the whole organization really. So, I would say that again, there’s clients that you just really enjoy working with all the people and you value them and you know they value you. It’s been just a great professional opportunity and a great personal opportunity to, work with everybody here at the FTBOA.
If I could speak to the members directly, I would say everybody at the Association knows how hard you’re working out in the field to
be successful, and you should be assured that everybody here at the Association is working hard for you to make that happen and make that as easy as it can be, and as rewarding as it can be. And that it’s a two-way street and members just know you’re appreciated here at the Association. They’re working hard for you every day to to try to make things better.
Thanks very much for 30 great years.
“
– Warren Husband
“ I recommended Warren for this Association and it’s perhaps the single best thing I’ve ever done for this Association. All those bills you got done in Tallahassee, that’s because of him.
– Matt Bryan, lobbyist
“ “
His work in recent years has set the groundwork for our industry for years to come. I thank him on behalf of our breeders and owners.
– George Issacs, FTBOA president
“He’s going to be sorely missed by our board of directors, who appreciated his expertise and commitment, which is an understatement.
“– George Russell, FTBOA past president
“ “ This award is named for a hero, the definition which is a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. That is Warren.
– Lonny Powell, CEO
“There’s no doubt that your contributions have been invaluable to the staff. You leave the staff with more knowledge and we are better for learning and working with you and we are going to miss you tremendously.
“
– Peggy Yost CFO
RATED BY MERIT
Rolls in Stake Record Time in Florida
Sire Stakes
Dr. Fager
Ryan Thompson Photo
BY BROCK SHERIDAN
St. Elias Stables LLC’s homebred Rated by Merit lived up to his 2-5 odds in dominating the $100,000 Dr. Fager on Sept. 7, the first of three legs in the colts and geldings division of the $1.2 million Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Florida Sire Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Trained by Michael Yates and ridden to victory by Jesus Rios, Florida-bred Rated by Merit set a stakes record of 1:09.45 for six furlongs, besting the 1:09.49 stakes record set by Three Rules in the 2016 Dr. Fager. The effort equated to a 93 Beyer Speed Figure, second highest among 2-year-old colts or geldings in North America this year behind only the 96 Beyer number achieved by Ferocious at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 3.
Rated by Merit turned heads nationally in his debut, winning a six-furlong maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park by nearly 10 lengths in 1:10.50 and producing a 92 Beyer Speed Figure. The impressive Beyer number was at the time tops among all 2-year-old males in North America and through Sept. 7.
Despite the high expectations, Yates said he was confident Rated by Merit would produce another big performance.
“I wouldn’t say that I felt like I was under a lot of pressure,” Yates said. “I mean, the horse was doing well. I’ve had a lot of other ones that [put] more pressure on me than him.
“He’s very uncomplicated. He does things very easy and he’s a fast horse. He’s one of the least complicated horses we have in the barn. So I haven’t really felt a lot of pressure to be honest with you. I’m very happy.”
Rated by Merit broke on top from the outside post eight but had to settle for second down the backstretch as Neoequos and jockey Miguel Vasquez sprinted to a one-length advantage. Neoequos maintained a clear magin on Rated by Merit through a rapid :21.73 quarter mile as Classic of Course stalked those two while racing on the inside.
Around the turn, Rated by Merit ranged up to challenge Neoequos as Classic of Course began to get closer with a ground saving trip as they blazed through the half-mile in :44.91.
Rios began to encourage Rated by Merit as they hit the top of the stretch and the son of Battalion Runner responded by switching leads and accelerating away from Neoequos and Classic of Course. Rios went to a hand ride but Rated by Merit found one more gear inside the final sixteenth to finish sixand-a-quarter lengths in front of Neoequos in second. Classic of Course was another length-and-three-quarters back in third followed by Just Relax, Candycrumbs, Lawler, Zizka and I’mbiggerthanilook.
Rated by Merit paid $2.80 to win.
It was third victory in the Dr. Fager for Yates, who won with Cajun Firecracker in 2018 and Cajun’s Magic in 2021.
“It’s a big deal,” Yates said. “You breed in Florida and you want to have horses that can compete in the Florida Sire Stakes. They’re a stepping stone to bigger and better things.
“At the end of the day, it’s more about developing the horse. That’s the whole goal—to bring him along and develop him. He’s getting quite developed.”
Rated by Merit is out of Banner Waving, by Speightstown and has now earned $100,000 in two starts. He is the first stakes winner for Banner Waving and the second winner from three starters. She was bred to Battalion Runner in 2023. TFH
“ “ It’s a big deal. You breed in Florida and you want to have horses that can compete in the Florida Sire Stakes. They’re a stepping stone to bigger and better things.
–Michael Yates
Lauren King Photo
Ryan Thompson Photo
BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Pressured throughout by stakes-placed Wiggle An’ Wine, Averill Racing LLC’s R Morning Brew shook off her rivals at the top of the stretch to win the $100,000 Desert Vixen in a stakes-record time of 1:10.85 for six furlongs at Gulfstream Park on Sept. 7. R Morning Brew eclipsed the previous record of 1:11.08 set by Go Astray in the 2017 Desert Vixen.
The six-furlong Desert Vixen is the first of three legs in the filly division of the $1.2 million Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Florida Sire Stakes and featured a field of seven 2-year-old fillies by registered Florida stallions.
R Morning Brew was the first winner for her sire, Pleasant Acres Stallions’ freshman sire Curlin’s Honor, when she broke her maiden at Gulfstream Park on Aug. 9, and is now his first stakes winner.
The dark bay or brown filly is trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. and was ridden in both races by Edgar Zayas. It was the first win in the Desert Vixen for Joseph while Zayas won in 2022 aboard Lynx.
Last year, the Averill-Joseph-Zayas team had odds-on morning line favorite R Harper Rose set for the Desert Vixen, but had to scratch when the filly spiked a fever just days before the race.
“I’ve had Florida horses forever [and] never had one I ever even got to run in the first [leg],” Rich Averill said. “Last year [R Harper Rose] had to scratch. It was just heartbreaking. To finally get to run in it and win it, this is a race that, as a Florida guy supporting Florida racing for such a long time, I really wanted to win. To be in the first one this year and to have everything ahead of you, it’s fun.”
Wiggle An’ Wine and jockey Emisael Jaramillo broke fastest from post six before Zayas sent R Morning Brew to the lead from post three. Wiggle An’ Wine continued to apply pressure while racing a half-length off R Morning Brew through a first quarter in :22.38 with odds-one favorite Win N Your In chasing in third from another length-and-ahalf back.
Wiggle An’ Wine took a brief lead midway around the turn as Win N Your In drew even with the leaders while three-
wide. The trio turned for home heads apart. R Morning Brew repelled Wiggle An’ Wine and Win N Your In approaching the eighth pole then cruised to a clear advantage in deep stretch. R Morning Brew won by five-and-a-half lengths ahead of Wiggle An’ Wine in second with Win N Your In another three-quarters of a length back in third. Glory Glory, Don’t Fool With Me, Bee a Queen and Slew Diva completed the order of finish.
R Morning Brew paid $6.80 to win as the 2-1 second choice.
“I was pretty confident coming into this race,” Zayas said. “The only filly I was worried about was [Win N Your In] and last time she had a dream trip on the inside so thought she’s have to run her best race to beat us.
“When I started asking [R Morning Brew] at the quarter pole, she kept digging in. But when she switched leads in the stretch, she put her head down and really picked it up. I knew she had it from there.”
R Morning Brew is out of the unraced Florida-bred mare Foolhearted Woman, by Uncaptured and was bred in the Sunshine State by Dori Morgan Hyatt. She is a half-sister to multiple stakes-winner Dancing N Dixie. Foolhearted Woman has two winners from three starters. She has a yearling colt, Freddie’s Honor, who is a full sister to R Morning Brew and was bred to Pleasant Acres Stallions’ Neolithic in 2024.
Averill purchased R Morning Brew for $30,000 out of the Rivera Training and Sales consignment earlier this year at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale. She has now earned $89,000 in her two victories from two starts. TFH
FTBOA Board of Directors CANDIDATE BIOGRAPHIES
The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association will hold its annual general meeting on Oct. 25 online. Regular members will receive notice by email with instructions on how to register for the meeting. If you are a regular member and you have not provided the FTBOA with your current email address, please contact the FTBOA.
For 2024, there are five director vacancies on the FTBOA board to be filled for three-year terms running until October 2027. Pursuant to the Association’s bylaws, the current board of directors nominated the following five candidates for these vacancies: 1) Dr. Tiffany Atteberry; 2) George Isaacs; 3) Beth Bayer; 4) Colin Brennan; and 5) Richard Heysek. Each candidate agreed to run and to serve as an FTBOA director.
The FTBOA bylaws allows a candidate to self-nominate by circulating a petition and obtaining 25 member signatures. No such petition was filed.
As provided in the Association bylaws, because there are only five candidates for five director vacancies, members will not be required to cast ballots and these five candidates will be deemed elected to office upon the presiding officer calling the FTBOA’s annual meeting to order.
Current board members Nick de Meric, George Russell, Paul Bulmahn and Laurine Fuller Vargas end their terms at the start of the annual meeting.
Following is more information about the candidates.
DR. TIFFANY ATTEBERRY
As an equine veterinarian, Thoroughbred breeder and racehorse owner, Dr. Atteberry understands the financial impact of having an empty mare or a sick foal. As a competitor, she understands the importance of addressing performance issues as early as possible to keep horses at their peak.
Atterberry operates an Ocala-area mobile equine veterinary practice where her patients range from broodmares, race horses to sport horses and just about everything in between.
“One of my specialty interests is reproductive medicine and neonatal/juvenile care. It was a natural fit for me to get into Thoroughbreds after having patients within the industry.”
She bought her first broodmare in partnership and one of her most successful moments came as the breeder of her first stakes winner, Charlie’s Brother. Today, Atteberry’s Thoroughbred business consists of a few yearlings and broodmares with a focus on pinhooking. She competes her OTTB homebred Nudl in endurance riding.
An accomplished horsewoman in several disciplines, Atteberry competed in the 2022 Mongol Derby against 45 riders from across the world, receiving a bronze medal.
A 2000 graduate of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, she graduated with highest honors. Practicing in Ocala since 2003, she also helps mentor veterinary students through UF’s Practice Based Clerkship program.
“I enjoy teaching and mentoring others. If I can educate a client or help a veterinary student with a skill, I feel like I am serving my greater purpose. I hope to carry this over with my time at the FTBOA.”
BETH BAYER
A horse girl from an early age, Beth competed in three-day eventing on an OTTB, was a pony club member, rode in the 1984 Junior Olympics and later went to University of Kentucky where she studied agriculture economics.
Born in Tennessee and raised in Lexington, Ky., she worked at Hagyard, Davidson and McGee Equine Medical Institute and as a groom at Domino Stud. She also taught riding lessons and worked at the Keeneland horse sales starting at age 15.
In 1991, she moved to Ocala to work for horseman Jerry Bailey at his training center giving her an introduction to the 2-year-olds in training sales.
In 1994, while prepping yearlings for upcoming sales, she was encouraged by well-known consignor Murray Smith to start her own consignment. In 1996 Bayer began with three horses. She now has become one of the top yearling consignors at OBS. In 2023, she led all consignors of yearlings and short yearlings for sales in the Southeast, selling 58 head for $1,165,700 with an average of $20,098.
These experiences, along with owning Fogg Road Farm and breeding her own mares for the commercial market, have given Bayer a deep understanding of the breeding-owner/ consignor experience.
Purchased in 2007, her farm is named after her grandparents’ Mississippi farm. Her interests include her Jack Russell terriers, running an occasional half marathon, and golf. Her mother Mary helps her at the sales and her late father Buster was a mainstay on the Ocala sales circuit.
COLIN BRENNAN
A third-generation horseman, Brennan is the owner of Colin Brennan Bloodstock and Sales specializing in yearling sales consignments and the formation of juvenile pinhooking partnership.
Brennan previously worked as assistant trainer for his father, Niall Brennan, one of America’s leading juvenile consignors. He has served as assistant trainer and assistant racing manager for Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet Stables and has worked Thoroughbred sales internationally.
He is a graduate of the Darley Flying Start management and leadership training program and a graduate of the College of Central Florida with an Associate of Science degree in equine anatomy and physiology and equine business management. He serves on the CF equine studies advisory board. He also serves on the Marion County 4-H Foundation board.
Brennan recalls standing in fields and at the track with his late grandfather Liam learning about equine conformation and movement. He learned that he could pick out a good horse by looking past the current appearance with focus on its potential.
Brennan put in long hours before and after school in the barns. He spent eight seasons foaling and caring for hundreds of mares alongside his mother, horsewoman Jolane Weeks. A family affair, his sister Kristen was previously the assistant yearling manager at Calumet Farm and has for two years assisted Colin in yearling sales.
At age 18, Brennan spent summers at Saratoga, first as a hotwalker, then as a foreman and trainer’s assistant for Darley; later becoming a foreman for trainers Linda Rice and Hall of Famer Bill Mott.
His recent pinhook, Florida-bred Super Freaky Girl, is a two-time winner this summer at Gulfstream Park.
Continued on next page
Judit Seipert Photo
RICHARD HEYSEK
Richard and his wife Cathy grew up around horses, so it was a natural progression to become Thoroughbred breeders and owners. Both studied at the Ocala Breeder Sales before purchasing their first horse, a $7,000 filly named Congarette. She led to their first allowance race win.
With an eye for a classy pedigree and finding a nice horse selling under the radar, they picked up Sophia Mia for $4,000. Sophia Mia went on to produce Florida Horse of the Year Speed Boat Beach, winner of the Grade 1 Malibu in 2023, and she became 2023 Florida Broodmare of the Year.
Now they own a broodmare band of three. Racing under Caperlane Farm, they received the 2023 Needles award, posting Florida-bred earnings of $533,970 represented by four starters, who recorded six wins, five seconds and two thirds.
Heysek and his wife are big believers in the work that Thoroughbred aftercare organizations do and they feel everyone in the racing business must support these programs.
“As breeders, we think it’s important that the horses that we bring into the world have every opportunity to live a full and healthy life, be it in racing, other disciplines, or just being horses at the farm.”
In addition to their small broodmare operation, the Heysek’s have become owners and breeders of Dales ponies.
Prior to the horse business, Heysek founded Veterinary Care Foundation to help veterinary practices fund discounted and no-charge cases. Since 2007, VCF has provided more than $15 million dollars in grants.
GEORGE ISAACS (incumbent)
George Isaacs grew up with livestock on his grandparents’ Kentucky farms and started as a groom at Stanley Petter’s Hurricane Hall Stud. In 1981, Isaacs worked for the late Joe Taylor at John Gaines’ Gainesway Farm as a stallion groom, assistant stallion manager and yearling manager.
In 1989, Isaacs became stallion manager at Arthur Appleton’s Bridlewood Farm in Ocala. In 1992, he was general manager for Allen Paulson’s Brookside South Farm. In 1996, Isaacs returned to Bridlewood as general manager, overseeing the farm’s operation ever since.
During that time, more than 100 Florida-bred stakes winners and 12 Grade 1 winners have been bred by the farm, including Florida champions Jolie’s Halo, Wild Event, Forbidden Apple, Southern Image, David Junior and Eden’s Moon.
Isaacs helped manage the career of Kentucky Derby and Preakness-winner Smarty Jones for the Chapmans. Leading Florida stallions Skip Trial, Stormy Atlantic, Halo’s Image and Put It Back have all stood at Bridlewood.
Isaacs continues to produce Florida-bred winners with John and Leslie Malone, who purchased the farm in 2013. The Malones are the largest private landowners in the United States.
“Starting in 2013, with zero horses, we have tried to develop a winning program for ourselves and our clients. Our training program, under the guidance of farm trainer Meda Murphy, has broke and trained Grade 1 winners and champions Moonshine Memories, Tapwrit, Gun Runner, Catholic Boy, Maxfield, Proxy, Matareya, Newspaperofrecord (Ire), Pretty Mischievous, Cody’s Wish and others.”
“In 2023, I was elected by my peers to be the president of the FTBOA,” Isaacs said. “This experience has been challenging but very rewarding in so many ways. Led by CEO Lonny Powell, lobbyists Matt Bryan and Jon Rees, a very talented dedicated staff, and dynamic board, we collectively are helping shape the vibrancy of the Florida breeding and racing industry through legislative efforts and good leadership decisions. This will go a long way in ensuring a healthy industry for the future.” TFH
Serita Hult
Photo
Ocala-based Jockey is Making Her Mark in Canada
BY GENE KERSHNER
TORONTO – Sofia Vives is a jockey on a mission.
The 22-year-old Ocala native and current Sovereign Award winner in Canada for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey is amongst the leading jockeys at two thoroughbred tracks located north of the border in Ontario.
Due to the cold weather in Canada, jockeys are not limited to 365 calendar days, as in the U.S. They only have to count race days toward their year-long apprentice. Vives’ apprentice status ended on Aug. 25 upon reaching the days limit, finishing with 65 apprentice wins on the year.
In 2023, she won 100 races (88 at Woodbine) in Canada, finishing fourth in the jockey standings amidst a very competitive Woodbine riding colony, which opened a lot of eyes in the Great White North.
As of late August, she was in third in the 2024 Woodbine jockey standings behind Sahin Civaci and Rafael Hernandez and fourth at Fort Erie Racetrack.
Born in South Carolina, her parents moved to Ocala when she was six weeks old and she has been an animal lover since she was a little girl.
Leaning up against a ledge on a rainy Friday morning in the Woodbine Racing
Woodbine Photo
Office, the West Port High School graduate lights up when she talks about her days showing livestock around the country.
“Growing up I showed sheep, cows and goats through 4H,” Vives said. “I was always traveling all over the States showing livestock.”
One of her livestock shows was in Louisville at the Exposition Center just a mile away from Churchill Downs, a place where she hopes to ride someday in a certain race on the First Saturday of May.
She got on her first horse when she was 10 years old.
“We had some horses that we pinhooked, we bought them as babies and would sell them as 2-year-olds at the sales and try to run some of them,” she said. “I would try to get on those and shortly after that, we bought a pony. I would get on the pony and try to learn how to pony racehorses.”
“She really struggled in the beginning. I wasn’t sure she was going to make it,” Mark said. “If the horse sneezed she would jump off. And that’s not her, she is tough.”
He convinced her to spend time at Tina’s performance training center back in Ocala.
“One day, I said you know either you got to do this or you’re not going to do it and from that point on she’s been strong. We challenged her. We sent her places, and I’d say you’re not ready. She came to Saratoga twice and South Florida.”
“Even after she won her first four races I said, ‘Okay, come home to Ocala and my wife has a performance center where she came back to train. I wanted her to be stronger. I told her ‘you have to get stronger.’ And so she would go and work before she came to work. She’s a determined young lady,” Casse said.
She returned to Woodbine and started to get mounts not only from the Casse barn, but also from Josie Carroll,
“
Her father Lazaro, a former jockey who worked for 20 years for dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse on his farm in Ocala, taught her how to ride horses and is still her go-to for advice.
“Eventually when I graduated high school, Mark gave me the opportunity to learn and my dad was still working at the farm. There are so many riders there and there is so many things you can learn from, but any questions I had, even to this day I’d go right to my dad.”
” I aspire to be somebody that when they say my name, someone outside of the sport knows exactly who it is.
On Travers Day, The Florida Horse Magazine caught up with Mark and Tina Casse in the winner’s circle in Saratoga after Mark’s horse won an undercard race on the big card.
Their faces beamed when asked about Vives and her journey to become a top rider. They bragged how she won the opening race on King’s Plate day at Woodbine the day before for them on an 11-1 shot.
“When we met her, she was a baby. Her mom and dad worked for us before she was born,” Mark Casse said.
The bond they made with her was well before she ever mounted a race horse.
“We used to go to birthday parties, because our farm manager’s daughter was born on the same day as our son, so they all had birthday parties together,” Tina Casse chimed in. “We bought her a sheep one time, that was one of the sheep that she showed in competitions.”
The road to becoming an award-winning jockey wasn’t always a smooth one. Casse had to embark on some tough love with the girl who is like family to them.
- Sophia Vives
a no-nonsense trainer who is the first woman conditioner to win the Queen’s Plate—which she has won three times. Carroll noticed the difference in Vives after returning from the Casse training center.
“Sofia did not ride a lot for me last year, she rode a few and rode them well,” Carroll said. “Just watching her this year, she seemed to have matured and improved and got stronger on the horses.”
Carroll gave her the mount that gave Vives her first stakes win on April 27 on Sabatini, a Florida-bred filly, on Woodbine’s season opening day. Carroll proceeded to give her the mount on her first graded stakes victory aboard the same filly, when Vives piloted Sabatini to a win in the Grade 3 Serene on June 29.
“She’s a class act,” Vives said of the filly. “She comes in the paddock, she knows exactly when it’s game time. She’s quiet, calm, collected she does everything right.
“In the morning she’s very quiet, she doesn’t do anything wrong. She’s just a very classy horse. In the
Woodbine
Photo
SOPHIA VIVES
races, she can settle really good. You ask her to run and she gives you everything she has. She knows where the wire is. She knows how to win. I’m very fortunate to be able to have her as a mount to pick up the win in the beginning of the year with her. I can get many more win pictures with her.”
On Woodbine Oaks day on July 20, Vives won the Grade 2 Connaught Cup for trainer Donald MacRae aboard the 4-1 Cruden Bay, making a well-timed surge to get up for the victory in the shadow of the wire.
One race later, she doubled up to win the Oaks, one of the most prestigious races on the Woodbine racing calendar aboard Kin’s Concerto for Carroll.
Sitting in her office within Barn 39 on the Woodbine backstretch, Carroll complimented how Vives handled the daughter of Mendelssohn in the Oaks.
“It was a really big race. And with Kin’s Concerto’s race prior to the Oaks, [Vives] did a really good job of getting that filly to relax and make a run,” Carroll said. “That filly can be a little bit aggressive and she was able to get her off the bridle without fighting with her. She used really soft hands on her and the filly really responded, so she certainly deserved the mount in the Oaks.”
Vives knew her mount was sitting on a big race that day.
“I rode in the Connaught Cup right before, so I was already on top of the moon,” Vives said. “We came to the Oaks and I was very confident going into that race. Even weeks before setting up for it, we worked her a couple times and she did everything right. In the paddock, she was very professional.”
Vives’ racing calendar takes her up and down the Queen Elizabeth [high] Way every week. To supplement her riding at Woodbine, she travels down to Fort Erie Race Track to garner as many wins as she can.
Her typical weekly schedule is to ride Thursday through Sunday in Toronto and Monday and Tuesday at the border oval across the bridge from Buffalo, N.Y. Her Canadian-based agent, Jordan Miller, has provided her ample opportunities to ride for a wide array of trainers.
As of late August, she was fourth in ‘The Fort’s’ jockey standing with a healthy 28% win-rate. The three jockeys in front of her at Fort Erie have ridden in more than 40 more races than her during the current meeting.
Fort Erie Racetrack analyst Ashley Mailloux is one who has taken notice of Vives.
“This year she’s made Ontario her focus and it’s certainly been
Michael Burns Photo
noticed by everyone—the owners, trainers, and those wagering, as she’s winning at a high percentage,” Mailloux said.
“I think my original impression of Sofia since I first saw her ride at Fort Erie was that she’s extremely focused and mature,” Mailloux continued. “I noticed it right away. Whether it’s heading to the track for a post parade or walking back to the jock’s room after a race, you can see that she’s ‘in the zone.’”
Mailloux, who did a stint as on-air handicapper for Gulfstream Park, is impressed with how Vives tries to learn from every mount.
“After a race, regardless of the result, you can find her watching the replay on the nearest TV. That says a lot about her as a rider— she’s concentrated on her job and wants to learn from each race. That goes for every single race, regardless of the level,” Mailloux said.
This trait corroborates how much a student of the game that Vives is. She credits Casse for instilling focus and discipline into her routine.
“The amount of lessons I’ve learned from him are numerous,” Vives said. “I’ve read a lot of his interviews about the track here, specifically the synthetic surface. I think being able to study that and see his perspective on it and then go out there and ride a race knowing that knowledge in the back of your mind is very useful.”
Riding on the synthetic surface at Woodbine is different from the dirt tracks in the U.S. and watching races and listening to Casse’s interviews has given her a leg up on her competitors.
“You know you get a day like today that is very rainy, you go out there and know exactly how the track is going to play before you step foot on it. Some people don’t look at it that way, but it is a big key in racing,” Vives said.
Breaking into any jockey colony and having instant success can be difficult. But veteran rider Emma-Jane Wilson has provided Vives with support in the jock’s room.
“She’s very helpful, anytime you ever have a question you can ask her and she’s going to lay out what you should’ve done different, what you did right, what you could have changed,” Vives said. “She’s rode for many years so being able to get her feedback is pretty rewarding because you get to see the mentality of an experienced rider whose rode all over.”
While Vives has enjoyed success with the five-pound weight break granted apprentices after they’ve won their first five races, she knows that now that her bug days are over, she’ll need to
channel some of the qualities she’s gained from her mother, Maria.
“Hard work and just always trying to have a positive attitude,” Vives said of the values her mother provided her. “Not selling real estate in your mind to people’s ideas that don’t matter. Everybody here has an opinion, but none if it matters because none of them write your checks at the end of the day. None of them give you the horses to ride.”
That hard work has her poised to take on the world in the future. When asked where she thinks she’ll be in five years there was no hesitation.
“Saratoga. Churchill Downs. All the big races,” she said. “There’s a lot of jockeys you want to be like. Johnny Velazquez or Mike Smith, you hear the name and you know exactly who it is, whether you’re involved in horse racing or you’re not. I aspire to be somebody that when they say my name, someone outside of the sport knows exactly who it is.”
The 63-year-old dual Hall of Famer Casse, a 14-time Sovereign winner for Outstanding Trainer, wasn’t surprised by Vives’ aspirations in the least.
“Well, if she thinks it that’s good,” Casse said. “Right now, I want her to be the leading jockey at Woodbine after she loses her bug and then we’ll talk about Saratoga. It doesn’t surprise me at all. We’re her biggest fans. Well her mom and dad are her biggest fans, but we’re second,” he quipped.
She may not be a household name today, but mark it down, Vives is on her way. TFH
Gene Kershner is the turf writer for The Buffalo News and a handicapper/columnist for the Daily Gazette in Schenectady, N.Y. He is a member of the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters Association and tweets on X @EquiSpace.
Woodbine Photo
Tampa Bay Downs Stakes Purses
FTBOA Incentives Better Than Ever
OLDSMAR, FL. – Tampa Bay Downs horsemen and horsewomen will be competing for more money than ever when the 2024-2025 meet begins on Nov. 20, with an extra emphasis on raising the profile (and the bank accounts) of Florida-breds.
The Oldsmar oval has boosted purses for its schedule of 26 stakes races by $350,000 to $3,810,000, with $960,000 of the stakes total provided by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association through its registered Florida-bred and Florida Sire Stakes programs.
“We’ve always had competitive stakes races and this extra money will really help,” Director of Racing and Racing Secretary Allison De Luca said. “Our track surfaces, both the dirt and the turf, are big factors, and Autumn Charley, our stakes coordinator, works hard to get quality nominations and put together strong fields.
“We made a few changes schedule-wise a couple of years ago, and I think that has also helped,” De Luca said.
Overnight purses, which rose 36% last season to $211,535 per racing day, are starting at the same level as last year, thanks to a purse enhancement from the state of Florida administered through the Florida-bred Incentive Fund—FTBOA. Under the provisions of the FBIF—FTBOA, eligible Florida-breds earn additional purse money in all maiden special weight races and allowance races by finishing first, second or third.
Average daily purses are projected to be between $245,000-
$250,000 per day, with about $212,000 being earmarked for the overnight program.
“Tampa Bay Downs’s well-placed purse increases combined with FTBOA-added incentives, all powered by recent Florida state legislation, helped drive a 33% increase in Florida-bred maiden special and allowance performers last race meet,” FTBOA CEO Lonny Powell said. “It was an easy decision for FTBOA to continue these incentives into the new season.”
With all that money waiting to be paid to state-breds and their rivals, Tampa Bay Downs is currently accepting stall applications for the upcoming meet, which runs through May 3. Stall applications are due by Monday, Sept. 16 and are available on the track’s website at www.tampabaydowns.com
The stakes schedule gets underway on Saturday, Dec. 7 with the $125,000 Inaugural for 2-year-olds and the $125,000 Sandpiper for 2-year-old fillies, both at six furlongs. Both races have been increased by $25,000 and are among 11 stakes that will be contested for more money than last season.
Ten stakes races have received $25,000 in open purse increases. Meanwhile, the FTBOA is adding $25,000 in new funding for eligible horses finishing first, second or third in the Grade 3 Michelob Ultra Challenger Stakes and the Columbia Stakes on the turf, both on March 8, as well as the Wayward Lass on Jan. 11 and the Minaret Stakes on Feb. 8.
Increase for 2024 - 25 Season
Those enhancements will give the FTBOA an involvement in all 26 stakes.
Other stakes to see purse increases include the Pasco and the Gasparilla, both on Jan. 11, from $125,000 to $150,000; the Leinster Turf Dash and the Leinster Lightning City on the turf, both on Feb. 22, from $100,000 to $125,000; and the Pelican on Feb. 8, from $100,000 to $125,000.
Total available stakes purses for the March 8 Festival Day program will be an all-time track record of $1,075,000, with the FTBOA contributing $175,000 of that amount for eligible runners.
Total guaranteed purse money for the $400,000 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G3), the $225,000 Hillsborough (G2) on the turf and the $200,000 Florida Oaks (G3) on the turf will remain the same.
Horses eligible for the FTBOA purse supplements include all horses foaled in Florida and registered with the FTBOA. To be eligible for Florida Sire Stakes money, a horse must be registered with the FSS program and must be the offspring of a registered Florida stallion.
The FTBOA also provides full funding for both the $100,000 FTBOA Marion County Florida Sire Stakes and the
$100,000 FTBOA City of Ocala Florida Sire Stakes, both on Dec. 14.
Whereas in past years FTBOA and FSS funds in Oldsmar stakes races, in most cases, have been paid only to the winner (provided it met the qualifying standards), all stakes this season (with the exception of the Florida Cup races on March 30) will distribute 70% of available funds to the winner if eligible, 20% to the runnerup and 10% to the third-place finisher.
The FTBOA has added a feature on its website that allows Florida Thoroughbred stakeholders to confirm a horse’s current FTBOA Florida-bred registration status and Florida Sire Stakes eligibility, as well as to verify registered Florida stallions. The Registry Search can be found at www.ftboa.com/registrysearch and allows users to search and sort foaled-in-Florida Thoroughbreds by name, dam name, sire name or foal crop. TFH
ALL-TIME FLORIDA-BRED LEADING MONEY EARNERS
Statistics provided by The Jockey Club through August 20, 2024.
1
2
3
4 South Vigorous,
5
6
7
8
9
18
21 Miesque’s
22 Sir Bear, 1993 G by Sir Leon A L Smollin 71 19
23 Gate Dancer, 1981 H by Sovereign Dancer William R Davis 28 7 8 7 $2,501,705
24 Holy Bull, 1991 H by Great Above Pelican Stable 16 13 0 0 $2,481,760
25 Mecke, 1992 H by Maudlin Farnsworth Farm
26 Marlin, 1993 H by Sword Dance (IRE) Gilbert G Campbell
H
28 Gamdonguibada, 2009 M by Werblin Michael Crowe & Judy Crowe, Karen Perrone & Jim Perrone 42 15 6
29 Benny the Bull, 2003 H by Lucky Lionel Tomoka Farms, Inc 20 9 3 2 $2,353,430
30
35 Starship Jubilee, 2013 M by Indy Wind William P Sorren
36 Lost Code, 1984 H by Codex Mareinvest 83, Ltd
38
44
45
$4.6 MILLION
INCENTIVESFlorida-bred
at Gulfstream Park 2024
$20,000 added in all S takes
added in all Stakes
$5,000 MSW, Allowance and Handicap win bonus, all ages
$5,000 MSW, Allowance and Handicap win bonus, all ages
$10,000 open MSW 2yo win bonus, plus $5,000 FSS
$10,000 open MSW 2yo win bonus, plus $5,000 FSS
SUMMER MEE T: Up to $5,000 in many overnight conditions
Florida Derby - $100,000 FL-Bred, $100,000 FSS
Gulfstream Park Oaks - $50,000 FL-Bred, $50,000 FSS
MEET: Up to in many overnight conditions Florida - FL-Bred, FSS - FL-Bred, FSS
$1.2 million Florida Sire Stakes 2yo Series
$1.2 million Florida Sire Stakes 2yo Series
September 7 - $100,000 FSS Deser t Vixen | $100,000 FSS Dr. Fager
October 19 - $200,000 FSS Susan’s Girl | $200,000 FSS Affirmed November 30 - $300,000 FSS My Dear Girl | $300,000 FSS In Reality
September 7 - $100,000 FSS Desert Vixen | $100,000 FSS Dr. Fager October 19 - FSS Susan’s Girl | FSS Affirmed November 30 - $300,000 FSS My Dear Girl | $300,000 FSS In Reality
FTBOA Gil Campbell Memorial Handicap
$150,000 F TBOA Gil Campbell Memorial Handicap November 30 - Florida-breds $100,000 plus $50,000 FSS, 3yo-and-up, 1 mile
EQUINE CARE
By Heather Smith Thomas
EPM in Horses –
Equine Protozoal Myoencephalitis in horses is a challenging disease. Dr. Sharon Witonsky (Associate Professor and researcher at Virginia Tech) has been involved in EPM research for many years. EPM was in the news a lot in earlier years but not so much today— partly because there have been some improvements in dealing with it and partly because other disease have taken more of the spotlight.
“There haven’t been transformative increases in our knowledge, however, and by comparison we are hearing more about concerns with Lyme disease, and the neurologic form of equine herpes, and a few other diseases, which diminish attention to EPM,” Witonsky said. “EPM is still very much of a concern and we are currently making incremental progress, but not progressing as quickly as we were in the past.”
EPM RESEARCH
“Current EPM research is looking at improving our ability to accurately diagnose cases, as well as improved therapeutics for enhanced recovery. Additionally, there are ongoing studies to try to determine why horses develop EPM and what can be done to improve treatment outcomes. We have a few studies looking at immune dysfunction to try to figure out what is happening with the horses that develop disease—so we can improve treatment outcomes,” Witonsky said.
“Some horses definitely have altered immune responses,” Witonsky continued. “We are trying to further define these changes and how this affects their ability to respond to S. neurona (the major EPM-causing organism) infection. One of the big challenges when looking at horses and their immune responses is that we don’t know the time period from when they get exposed until when we see the disease. Sometimes it’s really difficult, because by the time we see the disease, probably 99% of those horses are trying to make a protective immune response.”
“We have a couple different approaches to examine the altered immune response. One approach is to look at immune cells and the molecules they produce in the EPM-affected horses. We also have ongoing studies to determine if there is a genetic predisposition for the disease.”
Other studies are focused on determining the pathologic, including neuropathologic, changes
Abnormal posture
Carrie Finno photo
Still a Frustrating Disease
associated with EPM. If we can figure out the mechanisms for the pathologic changes, we may be able to assess human medications which are being used. Investigators are also looking at the potential for other organisms to cause this disease.”
Researchers and veterinarians still don’t always understand why some horses develop neurological signs after picking up the organism, and others do not. We don’t have new data, although there are some hypotheses. A study published in 2000 showed that stressed horses (from work, and young horses in training) have an increased risk for disease.
“We also know there is a breed predisposition as well,” Witonsky said. “Early studies found more cases in Standardbreds, Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses, but there is no more recent data.”
Regarding a vaccine, research is still in the very preliminary stage.
DIAGNOSING EPM
“The current standard for diagnosis of EPM is being able to get both blood and spinal fluid and look at the antibodies against the organisms. We feel that a horse has EPM if we get antibody production within the central nervous system,” Witonsky said.
“There are different tests available from a few commercial laboratories that run different diagnostic assays. A recent publication from UC-Davis indicates that, over the next several years, with additional studies, we will see how accurate the tests are for diagnosing EPM cases,” she said.
In years past, some people thought that toe-dragging was considered the “classic” clinical sign of clinical EPM, but toedragging can be seen in other neurologic diseases as well as EPM.
“The signs we actually look for that are consistent with EPM are the three A’s which are asymmetry, ataxia [incoordination], and atrophy [of muscles]. We also often see behavioral change in addition to these other changes. The clinical signs will depend upon where the organism actually localizes within the brain, brainstem or spinal cord. This is what dictates the clinical signs, which could also include facial nerve paralysis—which is another
classic sign. Toe-dragging can also go along with the weakness or incoordination,” Witonsky said.
“We really don’t know which clinical signs indicate active infection of S. neurona causing EPM. When a horse presents with these signs during our exam, we don’t know whether this horse has active EPM or simply residual neurologic deficits. We need to talk to the client, trainer and rider to get more information about history and progression of signs, etc. to get more clarity. With diagnostic tests, we can only see if the titers are increased, but we don’t really have a way of knowing for sure that it is an active infection,” she says.
TREATMENT & PROGNOSIS
“We don’t know if the severity of signs correlate to long-term prognosis. We don’t know, until we start treating the horse, whether it will respond or not. If the horse already has muscle atrophy, it may be more difficult for that horse to respond and recover, compared to a horse that does not have atrophy, but we really don’t know if a horse is going to respond to treatment until
Dr. Sarah Colmer performs spinal tap to collect a fluid sample
Carrie Finno photo
EQUINE CARE
we start the treatment,” Witonsky said.
There are currently three FDA-approved medications for treating EPM in horses. Marquis® is the trade name for ponazuril, which is a paste. Protazil® is a trade name for diclazuril, which is in a pellet formulation and ReBalance™ is the trade name for sulfadimethoxine pyramethamine which is a liquid.
“Currently veterinarians are using some combination of antiprotozoal medications as well as other supportive therapies,” Witnosky said. “I use a lot of decoquinate as well as levamisole. There are also other immune supplements available and some people use vegetable oil to increase absorption of Marquis. Other supplements that might help include vitamin E [for muscle health and function], NSAIDS and some people use DMSO.”
In a few cases some clinicians are also using steroids, depending on the severity of the case.
“Other things people need to consider are alternative approaches like acupuncture and herbs, to see if those help restore balance, coordination and recovery,” Witonsky said. “We all have preferences for the medications and treatments we use. When I start treatment for a horse, I decide what I want to use and then reassess to see if the horse is responding at the rate I would expect. When a horse is not responding adequately, I reassess the horse to be as certain as I can, that the horse doesn’t have another concurrent disease. However, if I think the horse is getting progressively worse from EPM, I may combine certain therapies of antiprotozoal medications, levamisole, immunotherapies and potentially have the horse assessed by a veterinary acupuncturist.
“In an early study, 60% of the horses responded to treatment, but only improved approximately one grade. Now we have some improved diagnostic testing and realize we may need to treat some horses longer—especially the ones that we suspect might relapse.
“The combination of improved diagnostics and longer-term treatment, awareness of the owners, etc. may result in a greater success rate. However, no studies have been published to assess this. One paper suggests that about 25% of horses tend to relapse.
“Regarding resolved and new infections, if we treated a horse and it still has neurologic deficits, we don’t have a way to diagnose whether it has active infection or residual deficits. Some of us tend to treat these horses longer because we want to give them the best opportunity to recover. However, we can’t always distinguish between resolved and new infections at this time.
“With any infection, if we treat them and they show recurrent signs after they have recovered, we need to reassess them to see
if they have EPM, some other disease, or both EPM and another concurrent disease,” Witonsky said.
“Whether relapses tend to be milder just depends on the horse. From my perspective, relapses can show up with the same clinical presentation the horse had initially. If the horse was initially showing clinical signs/deficits in the left front leg and right hind leg, and the horse presents again with signs in the left front leg and right hind leg again, I’m more likely to think the horse has relapsed. However, we don’t have a way to definitively prove this. We also can’t say that relapses tend to be milder,” she said.
“If we have a horse we are treating for EPM and the horse is not responding the way we’d expect, we reassess that horse to try to figure out if we need to do something different in treatment for EPM or if there is a concurrent disease affecting the horse. Some of these horses seem to have more than one disease, and it’s a good idea to have your veterinarian check and assess them,” Witonsky said. TFH
Filly with facial paralysis
Carrie Finno photo
YEARLING: May 15, 2024 ($250) or November 15, 2024 ($500) AND 2-YEAR-OLD SUSTAINING: January 15, 2025 ($250) or February 28, 2025
FLORIDA-BREDS AROUND THE COUNTRY AUGUST 2024
Stakes,
FLORIDA-BRED FINISHERS – STAKES RACES
Joey Muscles C 2 Khozan Smokin Red Hot John Grossi
Loco Abarrio G 4 Valiant Minister Ballyhoo Moon Rivermont
Maryquitecontrary M 5 First Dude Mary Kate ‘n Kelly R. G. Lundock
McEwen G 3 Khozan Solved Brent Fernung, Crystal Fernung & Mike Reilly
Mystic Lake F 3 Mo Town Salty
Naughty Rascal C 2 Rogueish Baby Doll Edward Seltzer, Beverly Anderson, Helen Barbazon & Joseph Barbazon
$100,000 FSS City of Ocala, 3yo-and-up, fillies and mares, 7f
$660,000 Florida Cup, March 30
Six $100,000 Florida-Bred Stakes plus FSS Win Bonuses
Night Cap
Incentive Fund Winner at Tampa Bay Downs Sire: J P’s Gusto Breeder: Lonnie Stokes Owner: Kristin Cabrera
FLORIDA-BRED FINISHERS – MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT
LEADING FLORIDA SIRES OF 2024
The following list includes currently active, deceased, and pensioned stallions, with racing results updated through Sept. 2, 2024. Statistics provided by The Jockey
3
LEADING FLORIDA JUVENILE SIRES OF 2024
Photo by Tre Wheway
Photo by Tre Wheway
Photo by Sally Moehring
2024 STAKES WINS BY STATE OR PROVINCE
OPEN STAKES TOP 5
GRADED STAKES TOP 5
TAMMY A. GANTT
Associate Vice President Director of Membership Services
& Events
FEC Contributing Editor & FTC Industry & Community Affairs
Upcoming Events
Oct. 4 – The Florida Thoroughbred PAC golf tournament will be held at the Del Webb Stone Creek Golf Club in Ocala. A shotgun start kicks off golf at 12:30 p.m. with many promotions offered on the course. A dinner will be held at the end of the tournament. For tickets call 352-639-2160.
Oct. 19 – The second leg of the Florida Sire Stakes featuring the $200,000 Susan’s Girl and $200,000 Affirmed at Gulfstream Park.
Oct. 25 – The FTBOA annual membership meeting will be held online. The meeting starts at 10 a.m. Regular members were emailed meeting details in late September. An RSVP is required to confirm the participation link. The meeting is open to current, regular FTBOA members.
Nov. 14 – Horse Farms Forever is hosting a Conservation Summit featuring from 5 to 7 p.m. at Ocala Breeders’ Sales to continue the conversation on safeguarding horse farmland. Visit horsefarmsforever. com.
Nov. 30 – The final leg of the Florida Sire Stakes featuring the $300,000 My Dear Girl and $300,000 In Reality at Gulfstream Park.
Dec. 6 – The FTBOA Member Holiday Charity Open House will be held from 6 pm to 8:30 p.m. at the FTBOA offices at 801 SW 60th Avenue in Ocala.
The theme is Santa’s Tropical Holiday and includes a Caribbean dinner cookout, tiki hut bar, a silent auction, museum tour, music and outdoor fireside chats. Admission is a toy valued at $10 or more which goes to the Boys and Girls Club of Ocala. RSVP is required by Nov. 29 to 352-629-2160 or info@ftboa. com. The event is open to a member and one guest. (Call for additional guest options). Dress in vibrant colors and tropical patterns is encouraged.
Dec. 14 – The Florida Sire Stakes comes to Tampa Bay Downs featuring the $100,000 City of FTBOA Ocala and $100,000 FTBOA Marion County for three-year-olds and up.
Upcoming Deadlines
Nov. 15 – The Florida Sire Stakes deadline is for yearlings whose May 15 payment was not made. It is $500. Missing this yearling deadline means a $5,000 fee on January 15. Do not assume a horse you purchased in a sale or privately has had a payment made. Sales catalogs list horses who are FSS eligible at the time of the sale because the deadline had not passed yet, meaning a payment may still be due. Visit FTBOA.com/registrysearch to check on status. The two-year-old payment deadline is Jan. 15. If missed, check for additional deadlines. TFH
JOHN D. FILER PHOTO
Already the sire of NOONI, the $1.8 MILLION OBS MARCH SALE TOPPER and winner of the SORRENTO S. (G3) at Del Mar, and WIN N YOUR IN, victorious in the SHARP SUSAN S. and third in the FTBOA FLORIDA SIRE DESERT VIXEN S. at Gulfstream Park.
Second-crop yearlings have commanded up to six-figures at the Keeneland September Sale, including a $100,000 colt and a $90,000 filly.
Look for more second-crop yearlings at the OBS October Sale.
You Have to BREED or BUY
Hat Trick (JPN)-Miss Smarty Pants, by Smarty Jones
