BY BROCK SHERIDAN XXXXXX1 OLDSMAR, FL—R Adios Jersey remained perfect in her sixth career start as the Florida-bred filly cruised to an 11-length victory against four rivals in the $100,000 Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Florida Sire Stakes City of Ocala at Tampa Bay Downs on Dec. 11. The daughter of Ocala Stud stallion Adios Charlie out of Marion Theatre, by Montbrook led from the start to complete the seven furlongs in 1:22.60 while under wraps from jockey Paco Lopez. The time was just .20 off of the stakes record set by Surprise Wedding in the 2017 City of Ocala. The Florida Sire Stakes City of Ocala is for fillies and mares, 3-years-old and older who are by FTBOA-registered Florida stallions and was the co-feature on the Tampa Bay Downs program with the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Marion County for eligible colts and geldings, 3-years-old and older who also competed over seven furlongs. Breaking from post two, R Adios Jersey went right to the front and quickly had daylight on 10-1 choice Bramble Berry and jockey Jose Ferrer to her outside. Although it appeared as though Lopez tried to keep the speedy filly under a controlled rein, R Adios Jersey easily sprinted through a first quarter-mile in a quick :21.79 while a length-and-a-half ahead of Bramble Berry in second with Starship Nala another length farther back in third. R Adios Jersey widened that margin while racing around the bend and turned for home three lengths in front after a half-mile in a more reasonable :44.35. Starship Nala made a nice three-wide run on the turn to take over the second spot but was never a threat. The quick fractions had no impact on the bay filly as she drew off in the stretch under a hand ride from Lopez to dominate her rivals with little effort. Starship Nala finished second, a length-and-a-half faster than Bramble Berry in third. Heiressall was fourth with Island Magic completing the order of finish. R Adios Jersey was the 1-5 favorite and returned $2.40 to win. “That was kind of easy, but when you have a very nice, fast filly like that, it can look easy,” Lopez said. “I wanted her to go in 22 [seconds] and 46 [for the quarter-mile and the half-mile splits], but [21.79] and [44.35]… she’s just very fast. She wanted to go so hard but I didn’t fight her too much because she was doing it very comfortable. She was really sharp today and [trainer] Georgina [Baxter] did a great job getting her ready.” Richard Averill, who co-owns the filly under his Averill Racing LLC banner with Anthony Mattera’s ATM Racing, said former major league outfielder Jayson Werth also became a partner recently. “She is not just one of the better fillies in Florida but maybe one of the fastest in training,” Averill said. “Through four wins, five wins and now six wins, she is definitely the nicest horse I’ve ever owned. She just keeps on winning and now it’s a lot of pressure every time she runs.” 19
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Averill does not shy away from the pressure however, as he had invited so many guests into the winner’s circle that the win picture had to be moved onto the track to accommodate the large party. “We wanted this race for the hometown team and it’s great when the plan comes together,” Averill, a resident of Bradenton, Fla., said. “I always try to plan a party here with my friends and family and co-workers, and right now it’s a feeling of stress relief because I don’t have to answer all the questions of ‘why didn’t you win.’ It’s fun to get new people into the game, like Anthony [Mattera], who moved down from New Jersey, and Jayson [Werth], and today is a day they will always remember in a good way.” R Adios Jersey won her debut by 12 ½ lengths in December of 2020 before winning a first condition allowance and a $50,000 optional claiming starter allowance in February, both also at Gulfstream. She then won the Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies at Tampa Bay Downs on March 28 before taking a five-month break away from the races. Baxter then sent her to Charles Town for the Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks on Aug. 27 and she won by a length-and-a-half while leading from start to finish. The City of Ocala was her first start since the Charles Town win and the $60,000 first-place check increased her career bankroll to $427,400 in six starts. Bred in Florida by Ocala Stud and J. Michael O’Farrell, R Adios Jersey was purchased by Averill for $12,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale in 2020 where she was consigned by Ocala Stud. Marion Theatre has four winners from six starters including October Time, a 2-year-old colt by Uncaptured who has not won in five starts. She also has an unnamed yearling colt by Greenpointcrusader and a weanling filly by The Big Beast. She was bred to Win Win Win in 2021.
Tenacious Rally Gives Shivaree Marion County Win Jacks or Better Farm Inc.’s Shivaree defended his title in the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Marion County with a determined effort that started with a four-wide trip around the turn and continued with a stretch-long chase that resulted with a head victory in the final strides. The Marion County Stakes featured a field of six eligible colts and geldings, 3-years-old and older, who are by registered Florida sires and went seven furlongs at Tampa Bay Downs. Shivaree broke fifth of six in the Marion County and jockey Samy Camacho allowed him to keep that position down the backstretch while racing seven lengths off of front-runner Well Defined with R Mercedes Boy second. Well Defined finished the first quarter-mile in :22.08 with R Mercedes Boy still giving chase in second as they raced into the turn where Shivaree began to pass horses on the outside. R Mercedes Boy took the lead turning for home as Well Defined Continued on next page THE FLORIDA HORSE n JANUARY 2022
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