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Florida FOCUS
Compiled by Brock Sheridan
Tie Goes to the Florida-breds in Gasparilla
Florida-breds Adios Trippi and Special Princess ran most of the seven furlong Gasparilla Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs Jan. 17 as bookends with the former leading the way from the start while the latter sat last of seven during the early running. But they hit the finish line together in a dead heat for the win to split both the winner’s share of the $125,000 purse and the $25,000 win bonus for Floridabreds that was presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association. Adios Trippi and jockey Antonio Gallardo started evenly from post four with evenmoney favorite Feeling Mischief on the outside of the 3-year-old fillies and 35-1 longshot Make A Scene also getting a good
SV PHOTOGRAPHY
Special Princess, Adios Trippi Dead Heat For Win Florida-bred fillies split $25,000 Florida-bred Win Bonus
Florida-bredsSpecialPrincess(#1)andAdiosTrippi
beginning. But Adios Trippi emerged from the trio to take the lead by a length for the run down the
OBITUARY Mary K. Haire
HAIRE FAMILY PHOTO
Mary K. Haire, 84 of Dunnellon, Fla., passed away on Jan. 21. Mary was born in Washington D.C. and was the youngest of three girls. She had three children whom she adored, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even great-great grandchildren. The visitation and service was held Jan. 28. at Roberts Funeral Home of Dunnellon. Looking back at her decorated career as a breeder and owner, she may not have achieved the top dollar price tag at the sales, but the chance to have something strike gold on the race track was much more MaryK.Haire of a victory to her. The mating of Ecliptical to her Tri Jet mare Toasted Almond, produced graded stakes-winner Exclusive Praline, a winner of 15 starts and $610,330. Haire also bred Exclusive Rosette, a stakes winner, track record holder and successful broodmare as the dam of graded stakes-winners Misty Rosette and Storm Wolf; and Littleprincessemma, who produced Triple Crown-winner American Pharoah. She also bred Ohio Derby and Indiana Derby (G2)-winner East Hall, who earned $870,620. She is remembered as a loving mother and grandmother, no-nonsense businesswoman, charitable member of the community and dedicated to her passions. She will be sorely missed, never forgotten, and has a legacy that will live on forever through her daughter and grandaughter. They promised to her that they one day find themselves in the paddock before the Kentucky Derby with one of their own. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory can be made to Florida Thorobred Fillies, PO Box 937, Ocala Fla., 34478 or the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance c/o The Jockey Club, 821 Corporate Dr. Lexington, KY 40503 or online at https://www.thoroughbredaftercare.org/donate/ ■
backstretch ahead of Feeling Mischief in second with Florida-bred Big Rings third. Adios Trippi increased her lead to two lengths after a quarter-mile in :22.57 with Feeling Mischief and Big Rings together in second while Special Princess was last, six lengths from the lead. Adios Trippi, Feeling Mischief and Big Rings continued in that order around the turn while completing the half-mile in :45.65 as Special Princess and jockey Ademar Santos began to advance from between rivals. Adios Trippi was never threatened in the run for home as Big Rings chased in second while Special Princess began to rally from the far outside. Nearing the wire, it appeared Adios Trippi would hit the finish alone as Special Princess continued to pass horses on the outside in an apparent run for second before she suddenly found one more gear and produced the dead heat for the win in a time of 1:24.89 on the fast track. Feeling Mischief was another length-anda-quarter farther back in fourth followed in order by Big Rings, Charge It All, Make a Scene and Marketability. Adios Trippi is by Ocala Stud stallion Adios Charlie and is out of Stage Trip, by Trippi and won for the second time in four starts. After she broke her maiden in her secContinued on page 10
8 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2021
