FLORIDA FOCUS

Birdonthewire, also at Gulfstream. He also won the 2017 Grade 3 Carry Back Stakes, placed second in the 2017 Grade 2 Swale Stakes, and was third in the 2017 Grade 2 Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes, all at Gulfstream. He finished his career with earnings of $971,825

Noble Drama, who is out of Queen Drama, by Burning Roma, won the 2018 FTBOA Silver Charm Florida Sire Stakes, the 2018 FTBOA Florida Sire Wildcat Heir Stakes, the 2020 Sunshine Millions Classic Stakes, and the 2020 Benny The Bull Stakes. As of early December, he had career earnings of $742,837.

Gone Astray also produced stakes-winners Starship Bonita and Shifty She.

Starship Bonita won the 2017 FTBOA Florida Sire Susan’s Girl Stakes, the 2018 Sheer Drama Stakes, and the 2021 Sheer Drama Stakes just last month. Her career earnings through early December are $577,237.

Shifty She won the 2021 Powder Break Stakes, the 2021 Ginger Punch Stakes and the 2021 Grade 3 Noble Damsel Stakes. Her career earnings through early December are $335,995. n

Livingmybestlife Wins Second Consecutive Stakes in Seashell

Livingmybestlife took her second added-money event in as many starts Nov. 3 at Del Mar when the Florida-bred daughter of The Big Beast won the $103,750 Seashell Stakes by a length-and-a-half. Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Livingmybestlife defeated four other 3-year-old fillies going a mile on the main track.

Miss Fia, a 14-1 longshot, broke best of all from post four but was quickly overtaken by Livingmybestlife, who went straight to the lead from the outside post five. Livingmybestlife quickly cleared her rivals into the clubhouse turn and shifted to the two path where she put a two-length margin on Miss Fia in second with 2-5 favorite Moonlight d’Oro, who stumbled at the start, racing another length farther back in third. Livingmybestlife finished the first quarter-mile in a controlled :23.16 before leading by a length-and-ahalf down the backstretch with Moonlight d’Oro and Paige Anne racing together in second just before they finished the half-mile in :46.38. Livingmybestlife continued to show the way with a clear lead around far turn as Paige Anne took second while racing two wide and a length ahead of Moonlight d’Oro in third on the rail. Livingmybestlife extended her lead again to two-anda-half lengths turning for home as Moonlight d’Oro moved into second while passing Paige Anne on third.

But Livingmybestlife was in full stride down the stretch and was never challenged by the favorite as Clockstrikestwelve moved into third. Livingmybestlife finished the distance in 1:36.53 on the fast track and was a still a length-and-a-half clear under the wire. Moonlight d’Oro was second, three-and-aquarter lengths faster than Clockstrikestwelve in third. Paige Anne was fourth followed by Miss Fia in fifth.

Livingmybestlife paid $7.40 to win as the 5-2 second choice.

Trained by John Sadler, Livingmybestlife also won the $75,000 Lucky Spell Stakes at Los Alamitos Race Course going six furlongs on Sept. 24, also with Hernandez aboard.

Livingmybestlife broke her maiden in her second start by a neck at Oaklawn Park on April 24 before returning to her base in Southern California to win a $50,000 optional claiming starter allowance at Santa Anita by two lengths after five-and-a-half furlongs on June 18. She then finished fourth behind winner Forest Caraway and second to future Betty Grable Stakes-winner Bella Vita in two first level, $40,000 optional claiming races at Del Mar in August before winning the Lucky Spell.

Livingmybestlife is out of Wall Street Lady, by Speightstown and she was bred in Florida by Alex Leiblong and JoAnn Leiblong of Conway, Ark.

Livingmybestlife is the second foal out of Wall Street Lady, who also produced an unnamed full brother by The Big Beast in 2017. She also has an unnamed weanling colt by Bal a Bali (Brz) and was bred to Unbridled Express in 2021.

Wall Street Lady went through the 2019 Winter Mixed Sale at Ocala Breeders’ Sales in foal to The Big Beast where she was purchased by Maccabee Farms from the Kelli Mitchell consignment for $32,000.

Livingmybestlife has now won four of seven career starts with two seconds while earning $209,970. n

Florida-bred Livingmybestlife n Benoit Photo

Inthewinnerscircle Edges Stablemate in Cellars Shiraz

Live Oak Plantation’s Inthewinnerscircle edged stablemate Mademoiselle Nova with a well-timed late rally to capture the $65,000 Cellars Shiraz on Nov. 5 at Gulfstream Park.

The Mark Casse-trained daughter of Medaglia d’Oro out of Sweet Bernardini, by Bernardini, a stakes winner on turf last year at Gulfstream Park West, won her first stakes on Tapeta in her all-weather debut in the about a mile-and-70-yard stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

Casse-trained Mademoiselle Nova, who pressed the pace set by Can’t Buy Love into the stretch, appeared to be on her way to victory before Inthewinnerscircle got the better of her late following a perfectly executed ride by Cristian Torres. The homebred Inthewinnerscircle, who trailed the field while saving ground, was angled off the rail at the top of the stretch, where she launched a three-wide drive to victory.

Inthewinnerscircle paid $13.40 to win.

“We thought Mademoiselle Nova would be close, but probably not that close. She was sitting second the whole way. Inthewinnerscircle, she can be a little tardy coming from the gate. She had a bit of a slow start and we saw her at the back of the pack, but we know that she has such a great kick it can make up for it,” Casse’s South Florida assistant Nick Tomlinson said. “I honestly didn’t see Cristian until about the eighth pole after he swung her out and got her going. A great ride by him, and I’m very happy for the connections.”

Inthewinnerscircle, who ran about a mileand-70-yards in 1:42.17, edged runner-up Mademoiselle Nova by a neck. Tik Tok Famous finished another neck back in third. n

Mimajoon Wins First of Two Golden Gate Debutante Divisions

Florida-bred Mimajoon and jockey William Antongeorgi III upset the first of two divisions of the Golden Gate Debutante for 2-year-old fillies Nov. 26 at Golden Gate Fields as she paid $34.00 to win as a 16-1 longshot. The first division offered a purse of $52,350 while the second division posted a purse of $65,850 with eight starters.

Mimajoon was making her third career start in the Golden Gate Debutante after breaking her maiden in her second start by a half-length against special weight maiden fillies at Golden Gate going five furlongs on the turf, a race she won while leading from start to finish.

The bay daughter of Fed Biz flashed her speed again in the Golden Gate Debutante and she was first from the gate while breaking from post four in the field of five. Baby Steps, the 5-2 second choice in the wagering, was also away fast in post seven but she and jockey Pedro Fuentes could not keep pace with Mimajoon who went the first quarter-mile in a rapid :21.72 while keeping a length clear.

Antongeorgi patiently guided Mimajoon around the far turn as she maintained her lead on Baby Steps to while slowing down to complete the half-mile in :45.40. But Mimajoon extended that margin to two-and-a-half lengths in the stretch before even-money favorite Uncorked made a late run to get second while falling short to Mimajoon by a lengthand-a-quarter under the wire.

The final time was 1:11.47 on the fast track.

Both Mimajoon and Uncorked are trained

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Florida-bred Inthewinnerscircle n Lauren King Photo Florida-bred Mimajoon n Shane Micheli / Vassar Photography

Florida Focus Continued from page 11

by Jonathan Wong with Mimajoon running in the colors of breeder Scott Hebertson.

Mimajoon earned $30,250 and increased her earnings to $48,758 in her three starts.

Mimajoon is out of Sister Charlie, by Indian Charlie and in her initial start at Emerald Downs on Aug. 7, was fifth behind winner Koron in a five furlong maiden special weight. n

Strategic Bird Determined in Sandpiper Stakes Victory

Gary Barber’s Florida-bred Strategic Bird won a stretch-long battle with Devine Charger Dec. 4 at Tampa Bay Downs as the 2-year-old filly remained undefeated in two starts with a victory in the $50,000 Sandpiper Stakes.

The Sandpiper purse included a $50,000 win bonus for runners eligible for the Florida Sire Stakes but Strategic Bird did not qualify.

A daughter of Ocala Stud’s successful freshman sire Noble Bird, Strategic Bird was the even money favorite among the nine fillies in the six furlong Sandpiper.

She began her career with a flashy performance at Gulfstream Park on Nov. 13 when the Mark Casse trainee dominated a field of Florida-bred, maiden special weight fillies, winning by 12 ¾ lengths over five-and-a-half furlongs. She led at every point of call in her debut including a half-mile in :45 flat while leading by two lengths.

She kept her record spotless in the Sandpiper as she broke well from post one with Antonio Gallardo aboard and sprinted to a quick lead ahead of Florida-bred She’s So Beautiful from the outside post 10 and Devine Charger also to her outside in post two. Devine Charger tried to keep pace but Strategic Bird flashed a quick first-quarter-mile in :21.93 and had a length-and-half lead moving into the turn.

But Devine Charger made another run at Strategic Bird around the far turn and the two locked up at the top of the stretch after a half-mile in :44.91. After taking their battle to the finish, Strategic Bird raced under the wire a neck in front of Devine Charger with Florida-bred Chasing Happiness another seven lengths back in third. They were followed by She’s So Beautiful, Florida-bred Devilette, Tahaweel, Jacknife and She’s Peacky Keen. Dia de Sol was scratched.

“That was something incredible,” winning jockey Antonio Gallardo said. “At one point I was like, ‘Oh, ----.’ I was getting a little worried because she felt the pressure from that gray horse [Devine Charger], but she’s a feisty filly.”

Florida-bred Strategic Bird n SV Photography

Strategic Bird finished in 1:10.85 on the fast track, the fourth fastest in 44 runnings of the Sandpiper.

She paid $4 to win. In her two starts, Strategic Bird has $57,000 in career earnings.

Strategic Bird is out of the unraced Strategize, by Florida-bred Afleet Alex. She was bred by John Oxley Living Trust. Strategize also has an unnamed weanling colt who is a full brother to Strategic Bird. She was bred to Noble Bird again in 2021.

Strategic Bird is a two-time graduate of Ocala Breeders’ Sales having sold for to Luis Guevara for $2,000 at the 2020 October Yearling Sale. She then sold for $40,000 to TMC at the OBS Open Sale in June where she was consigned by Royal Thoroughbreds. n

Cattin Takes Down Inaugural and $50,000 FSS Win Bonus

Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt and Spendthrift Farm’s Cattin took down a good payday Dec. 4 at Tampa Bay Downs with a victory in the $100,000 Inaugural Stakes against eight other 2-years-olds going six furlongs. With $30,000, the winner’s share of the $50,000 Sandpiper, and the $50,000 win bonus as an eligible Florida Sire Stakes runner as presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association, the son of Pleasant Acres Stallion Neolithic booked $80,000 in winnings.

Cattin is a veteran of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes last year at Gulfstream Park when fourth in the $200,000 Affirmed on Aug. 28 and third in the $400,000 In Reality on Sept. 24, both won by Octane.

Making his first start since the In Reality, the Ralph Nicks-trained Cattin had Samy Camacho aboard for the first time and went to Tampa Bay Downs from his base at Gulfstream Park with assistant trainer Sonny Righter.

Florida-bred Full Disclosure broke fast from post four along with Magical Mousse to his inside and those two emerged together

from a tight pack in the initial strides to finish a first quarter-mile in :22.39 and the half-mile in :45.35. Around the turn, Cattin and Florida-bred Lightening Larry began to threaten on the outside before Cattin began to pull away from between horses to get free in the stretch.

Lightening Larry tried to stay with the leader but Cattin was two-and-a-half lengths clear in the stretch and maintained that margin under the wire in 1:10.90 on the fast track. Lightening Larry finished a strong second, five-and-three-qua rters lengths ahead of Grand Valley in third. They were followed in order by Magical Mousse, Old Town Road, Full Disclosure, 8-5 favorite Concrete Glory and Whistlewhileyoumow.

Cattin paid $11.40 to win.

“I thought he would run good today,” Righter said. “I was worried he might get shuffled back early, but Samy [Camacho] got him back in the race pretty quick and he caught a good trip after that. He was feeling good going into the race and he ran huge.”

Camacho said getting the inside position on Lightening Larry before the turn was a key to the winning trip.

“I got a chance to go inside [Lightening Larry] and when I put my horse in the clear, I thought the race was over,” Camacho said. “I feel great because Ralph Nicks gave me this great opportunity and I want to keep it going.”

Cattin now has two wins in four starts with a third with earnings of $164,550.

The Heiligbrodts purchased Cattin for $25,000 from the Beth Bayer consignment at the 2020 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Winter-Mixed Sale.

Cattin is a bay colt out of Adios Dawn, by Ocala Stud’s sire Adios Charlie and was bred by Curtis Mikkelsen and Patricia Horth. Cattin is the first foal from the unraced Adios Dawn, who also has a unnamed yearling colt by Pleasant Acres Stallions popular Bucchero and an unnamed weanling full-brother. Adios Dawn was bred again to Neolithic in 2021.

Florida-bred Cattin n SV Photography

Sugar Fix Claim Sweetened With Claiming Crown Tiara Score

With three wins since being claimed for $40,000 by current trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. out of a winning effort in July of last year, Florida-bred Sugar Fix had already proven to be a solid acquisition before the $95,000 Claiming Crown Tiara Starter Stakes Dec. 4 at Gulfstream Park.

But the 4-year-old filly increased her value further with her first career stakes victory going a mile-and-asixteenth on the turf in the Tiara against fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and older who had started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less in 2020-21.

The Tiara was one of nine starter stakes worth $810,000 in purses on the 23rd Claiming Crown program, being held at Gulfstream for the 10th consecutive year.

Created by the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association in partnership with the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, the Claiming Crown rewards and pays tribute to the claiming horses and their horsemen who provide the foundation for day-to-day racing programs around the country.

Sugar Fix broke well from post seven with Edgard Zayas aboard and was able to find a comfortable position just to the outside of 60-1 longshot Bean Counter while running behind the early speed of Florida-bred Centsless Drama and Act Like Artie going into the clubhouse turn.

Centsless Drama finished the first quarter-mile alone in :22.91 while running a halflength ahead of Act Like Artie in second with Bean Counter and Sugar Fix still together in a joint third. Down the backstretch, Centsless

Florida-bred Sugar Fix n Ryan Thompson Photo

Florida Focus Continued from page 13

Drama led by as much as a length-and-a-half with the running order remaining the same through a half-mile in :47.26.

Into the far turn, Zayas sent Sugar Fix to a three-wide challenge as she turned for home on even terms with Centsless Drama on the rail and Act Like Artie between horses after completing six furlongs in :1:10.59.

Sugar Fix shot to the lead inside the final furlong as Passion Plus began to rally into the second spot while Centsless Drama and Act Like Artie faded.

Zayas hand rode Sugar Fix to a lengthand-a-half victory in 1:40.19 with Passion Plus completing the Florida-bred exacta, three-quarters of a length ahead of Whimsical Muse in third. They were followed by Kahiko, Isadorable Alda, Act Like Artie, Toned Up, Bean Counter, Starship Mallomar, Centsless Drama and Florid-bred Una Luna. Florida-bred Classy Woman was scratched.

It was the second straight victory for Zayas and Joseph, who teamed up with Face of Victory in the $75,000 Express the race before. Sugar Fix was also able to avenge her loss in last year’s Tiara when she finished second to Queens Embrace after leading by a lengthand-a-half in deep stretch.

“Last year, she got a good trip, she just got beat. This year, I think she actually went into the race better,” Joseph said. “Last year, she won her prep at Kentucky Downs and then kind of lost her way. I don’t think she was at her best. This year, she got beat out there and then we couldn’t get a race to go so she had a good freshening. I thought today she ran a good race. It was a tough race. You never know if you’re going to win.”

Sugar Fix paid $8.40 to win.

Sugar Fix is by Treasure Beach (GB) out of D Fifty, by Arch and was bred by Ballybrit Stable. She improved her consistent record to 10 wins and five seconds in 23 career starts and the $53,010 first-place check for owners Mad Dog Racing Stable and Big Frank Stable increased her lifetime earnings to $315,019. n

Medina Spirit Collapses and Dies After Workout

Florida-bred Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade 1)-winner Medina Spirit collapsed and died after a workout at Santa Anita Dec. 6.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert for Amr Zedan’s Zedan Racing Stable Inc., Medina Spirit worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 before collapsing.

In a statement released by the California Horse Racing Board on Dec. 6, the state regulatory body said the official cause of the unexpected death will be determined by a full postmortem examination.

“The 3-year-old colt Medina Spirit was just completing a workout on the main track at Santa Anita [Dec. 6] when he collapsed near the finish line. He died immediately,” according to the CHRB statement. “This is termed a sudden death. All horses that die within facilities regulated by the California Horse Racing Board undergo postmortem [necropsy] examination at a California Animal Health and Food Safety diagnostic laboratory under the auspices of the University of California, Davis. Cause of death cannot be determined until the necropsy and toxicology tests have been completed.”

By Protonico out of Mongolian Changa, by Brilliant Speed, Medina Spirit has won half of his 10 career races with four seconds and a third while earning $3,545,200, which is eighth on the all-time list of Florida-bred money earners.

However, his victory in the Kentucky Derby remains in question after his post-race test revealed traces of the therapeutic substance betamethasone, which is banned on race day in Kentucky. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has not yet scheduled a hearing nor subsequently made a ruling on the Kentucky Derby matter due to delays in the sample evaluation process and legal wrangling by attorneys for Baffert and Zedan.

Bred in Florida by Gail Rice, Medina Spirit was most recently second to Knicks Go in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 6. He also won the Grade 1 Awesome Again against older horses at Santa Anita on Oct. 2, the $100,000 Shared Belief at Del Mar on Aug. 29 and the Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita on Jan 30. He broke his maiden in his first career start on Dec. 11, 2020 at Los Alamitos. n

Florida-bred Medina Spirit n Benoit Photo