1ST, FTBOA DR. FAGER S. 3RD, FTBOA AFFIRMED S. (16-4-4-3, $237,710)
SW AT 2 & 3 AT GULFSTREAM PARK SP AT 2, 4 & 5 AT TAMPA & MONMOUTH (41-9-4-7, $353,737)
1ST, FTBOA DR. FAGER S. FTBOA AFFIRMED S. 2ND, FTBOA IN REALITY S. (7-3-1-0, $303,900)
GRADED SW AT GP, G1SP AT SARATOGA, G3SP AT BELMONT IN 2024. 2ND, FTBOA DR. FAGER S. (27-9-8-3, $819,910)
AT 2, WON FIRST TIME OUT AT GP, SW IN SOPHOMORE DEBUT, MULTIPLE SW AT TAMPA (20-4-3-4, $276,990)
UNDEFEATED IN FIRST THREE STARTS AT 3, MULTIPLE SP, INCL. 2ND IN THE GALLANT BOB S-G2 (109 E-SPEED FIGURE) (6-3-1-1, $198,830)
SW AT 2 IN 2024, DEBUT MSW WINNER AT GULFSTREAM PARK, RUNNER-UP IN THE HOLLYWOOD BEACH S. IN 3RD START
$71,424 Avg. Earnings Per Runner 121 Runners / 17 Blacktype including six FTBOA F.S.S. performers
CAJUN BREEZE
Congrats / Cajun Dawn, by Awesome Again
DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS
FEATURES
FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’ AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION
PRESIDENT
George Isaacs
CEO & EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
Lonny Taylor Powell
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
Valerie Dailey
SECOND VICE PRESIDENT
Francis Vanlangendonck
TREASURER
Joseph M. O’Farrell III
SECRETARY
Beckie Cantrell
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Valerie Dailey
DIRECTORS
Tiffany Atteberry, DVM, Beth Bayer, Colin Brennan, Jerry D. Campbell, Marilyn Campbell, Brent Fernung, Mike Hall, Richard Heysek, 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
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. Closed 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm & Federal Holidays
FLORIDA EQUINE COMMUNICATIONS
PRESIDENT/BOARD CHAIR
George Isaacs
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
Valerie Dailey
SECOND VICE PRESIDENT
Francis Vanlangendonck
TREASURER
Joseph M. O’Farrell III
SECRETARY
Beckie Cantrell
CEO & PUBLISHER
Lonny Taylor Powell
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Peggy Yost
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Brock Sheridan
ASSISTANT EDITOROPERATIONS & DEVELOPMENT
Steve Koch
CONTRIBUTING EDITORSALES & INDUSTRY AFFAIRS
Tammy A. Gantt
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT/ADVERTISING
Vicki Davis
SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Nancy Moffatt
Decoupling: A Multibillion-Dollar Threat to Florida’s World-Renowned Thoroughbred Legacy
A new proposal (HB 105/SB 408) will deal a devastating economic blow to the state by authorizing Thoroughbred pari-mutuel permit-holders to go back on a decades-long agreement and “decouple” from thoroughbred horse races, allowing them to operate as stand-alone slot machine casinos.
This decoupling of gaming from live horse racing will eliminate the 33,500 jobs supported by Florida's world-renowned Thoroughbred industry.
HB 105 directly conflicts with last year’s commitment by the Legislature when it made a robust investment in growing the state’s agricultural industry, prioritizing horses raised, trained, and raced in Florida.
What’s at stake?A huge price for Florida
The Florida Thoroughbred industry contributes $3.24 billion to the Florida economy, substantially more than the $3.1 billion annual total economic impact of all collegiate athletics in the state.
The entire Florida equine industry generates $12.8 billion, with Thoroughbreds contributing more than one-quarter of this total.
Florida is the third leading equine state by population, with 335,000 horses — of which more than 1 in 4 (87,600) are Thoroughbreds.
A Winning Legacy: Florida is perennially the top regional producer of national Thoroughbred starters, starts, wins, open stakes wins, and graded stakes wins (horse racing’s highest echelon).
The equine industry supports 112,000 jobs in Florida, with 33,500 (30%) linked to Thoroughbreds.
Individuals who do not own horses, joined with spectators, annually spend $2.7 billion on travel, dining, and lodging in Florida — more than one-third of it (34%) in Marion County.
Florida dedicates 561,000 acres to equine and related activities
Marion County, known as the “Horse Capital of the World®,” accounts for 210,000 acres of this greenspace total. The county is home to 75,000 horses, nearly 50% of them
Thoroughbreds, contributing $4.3 billion in total economic impact — 22% of the county’s GDP. Nearly three-quarters of U.S. juvenile race horses receive early training in Marion County, certifying Ocala as an epicenter of the global Thoroughbred industry.
Support Florida’s Agriculture and Horse Industry. Oppose HB 105/SB 408.
FLORIDA FOCUS
Compiled by Brock Sheridan
Old Homestead Returns to Stakes Action With Sam’s Town Score
Making his first start against stakes company in more than two years, Old Homestead returned with a vengeance in winning the $75,000 Sam’s Town at Delta Downs on Jan. 3. The 6-year-old Florida-bred went wire-to-wire in taking the five-furlong contest against five other 3-year-olds and older. It was his first start in a black-type event since finishing off the board in the $250,000 Rita Hilton Memorial at Charles Town Races in August of 2022.
Ridden from post three by Vicente Del-Cid, Old Homestead was a half-length in front of 17-1 longshot Empire of Gold through a half mile in :22.52 on the fast track. He stretched his lead throughout before winning by a length-and-threequarters as the 4-5 favorite. Empire of Gold held on for second, a length-and-a-half ahead of Hap Hot in third. Lagoon, Autumns Strong Man and General Shipman completed the order of finish. Florida-bred Tape to Tape was scratched.
Trained by Brett Brinkman for Marablue Farm LLC and Pegasus Stud LLC, Old Homestead paid $3.60 to win while completing the distance in :57.70.
Old Homestead won four of his first five starts in 2022 including the $342,000 Lafayette at Keeneland and the $99,000 Concern at Laurel Park. He was also second to Conagher in the $101,000 Housebuster at Colonial Downs before finishing the year in the Hilton. He had two starts in 2023, including a second to Hesmyhoneybadger
in an $80,000 optional claiming at Fair Grounds and a fifth-place finish in an allowance race at Louisiana Downs on turf.
He then had 17 months off before returning to finish fourth in a five-furlong allowance race won by Tape to Tape in October of last year at Delta Downs then won a Delta Downs allowance in his last start on Dec. 11.
Old Homestead has now won half of his 12 career starts with two seconds while earning $382,920. He is by Overanalyze out of Pearl de Vere, by Songandaprayer and was bred in Florida by his owners. He is the only stakes-winner for Pearl de Vere, who has two winners from two starters and five foals. She has an unraced 3-year-old filly, Opaque, by Practical Joke and an unnamed yearling filly by McKinzie. She was bred to Gunite in 2025. n
Florida-bred G W’s Girl Takes Mockingbird for First Career Stakes Win
G W’s Girl and jockey Francisco Arrieta ran down heavy favorite Shisospicy in deep stretch to win the $150,000 Mockingbird at Oaklawn Park on Jan 4. It was the first career stakes victory for G W’s Girl, who defeated eight other 3-year-old fillies going six furlongs.
Sent to the post at 2-5 odds, Shisospicy broke best of all from post seven and had a length advantage early before 33-1 longshot Lady Crush sprinted up from the inside to take the lead with five furlongs to run. G W’s Girl settled into fourth on the rail with Clapping Trees to her outside, about five lengths behind Lady Crush, who blazed through the first quarter mile in :21.60.
Lady Crush surrendered in the turn as Shisospicy took the lead with Chatter giving chase in second and G W’s Girl still four lengths back in third. Shisospicy hit the top of
Florida-bred Old Homestead | Photo by Hodges
Florida-bred G W’s Girl | Photo by Rene Torbit / Coady Media
the stretch three lengths in front of Chatter as G W’s Girl was full of run on the outside and began closing in. G W’s Girl ran down Shisospicy inside the final 50 yards to win by a length in 1:10.44 on the fast track. Shisospicy finished second, five-and-ahalf lengths clear of Chatter in third. They were followed by Flash Master, Helen’s Revenge, Piggy Tales Up, Battleshipper, Lady Crush and Clapping Trees.
G W’s Girl paid $12.80 to win.
It was also the first start on dirt for G W’s Girl, who broke her maiden by a length-and-a-half going five furlongs on the grass at Delaware Park in September. Trainer Greg Compton then sent her to Keeneland to face the boys in the $238,000 Indian Summer at five-and-a-half furlongs on the grass on where she finished fifth behind winner Governor Sam on Oct. 6.
G W’s Girl earned $81,000 for owner Mag Racing LLC to push her lifetime bankroll to $110,475 in her three races. Mag Racing purchased her for $130,000 out of the Triple J Equine Sales consignment at the 2024 Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale. She was also an $80,000 yearling at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
By Munnings out of Essence of Audre, by Exchange Rate, G W’s Girl was bred in Florida by Larry Alan Wynn of Newberry, Fla. She is the first stakes winner for Essence of Audre, who has four winners from four starters and six foals. Essence of Audre also has an unnamed 2-year-old colt by Basin and an unnamed yearling colt by Mitole. n
Florida-bred Naughty Rascal Placed First in Pasco Stakes at Tampa Winner earns $17,500 in FTBOA Bonus Money
Florida-bred Naughty Rascal finished second but was placed first after the disqualification of winner Owen Almighty in the $92,500 Pasco at Tampa Bay Downs on Jan 11, giving the Floridabred colt his third career stakes victory.
Six 3-year-olds went seven furlongs in the Pasco with Naughty Rascal earning $62,500 including a $17,500 Florida-bred bonus presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association. There was also $50,000 in Top 3 bonus money for Florida Sire Stakes runners, but despite being by Solera Farm stallion Roguish, Naughty Rascal had not been nominated to the lucrative FTBOA program.
Sent to the post at 1-2, Owen Almighty and jockey Iran Ortiz Jr. broke on top from the outside post six and were quickly
joined to his inside by Florida-bred Rookie card coming out of the backstretch chute. Jockey Edwin Gonzalez allowed Naughty Rascal to sit behind those two in third from two lengths back then gradually moved up to join the leaders while three wide as they went the first quarter mile in :21.92 on the fast track.
Heading into the turn, Owen Almighty shifted into the path of Florida-Bred Rookie Card, forcing jockey Juan Alvarado to check the bay colt as Naughty Rascal took a short lead on the outside.
Owen Almighty used his inside position to regain the front coming out of the turn after a :44.53 half-mile and was a neck in front past the furlong marker. Owen Almighty crossed the finish a length in front of Naughty Rascal in second with Very Bold fourand-a-half lengths farther back in third. Cockeyed was fourth followed by Rookie Card and Juan Colorado.
The final time was 1:22.50.
The track stewards immediately posted the inquiry sign and after a short deliberation, disqualifed Owen Almighty and placed him fifth for shutting off Rookie Card going into the turn. Naughty Rascal was declared the winner while Very Bold inherited second, Cockeyed third and Rookie Card fourth.
Trained by Gerald Bennett, Naughty Rascal paid $8.20 to win. Naughty Rascal entered the Pasco off a second-place finish to Donut God in the $80,000 Inaugural at Tampa Bay Downs on Dec. 7 and added to his victories in last year’s $95,000 Proud Man going six furlongs and $95,000 Armed Forces at a mile on the turf, both at Gulfstream. He was also third behind winner Crazy Frazy in the $79,000 Aventura going a mile in September and broke his maiden on debut in July, both at Gulfstream.
The bay colt improved to four wins in six career starts with a
Florida-bred Naughty Rascal (green cap) | Photo by SV Photography
FLORIDA FOCUS
second and a third and increased his career earnings to $220,630 for owners Mr Pug LLC and J.P.G. 2 LLC.
A double alumnus of Ocala Breeders’ Sales, Naughty Rascal was purchased by J.P.G. 2 for $39,000 out of the de Meric Sales consignment at the 2024 March Sale. He first sold for $22,000 to Silvestre Avila at the 2023 OBS Winter Mixed Sale where he was consigned by Boutte Sales.
Out of the Smarty Jones mare Baby Doll, Naughty Rascal was bred in Florida by Edward Seltzer, Beverly Anderson and Helen and Joseph Barbazon. Baby Doll has produced eight foals with six winners in as many runners. n
Ashima Leads From Start to Finish to Win First Stakes in Sunshine Filly and Mare Turf
Wallace R. Moore Jr.’s Ashima and jockey Emisael Jaramilo led at every pole in winning the $75,000 Sunshine Filly and Mare Turf by a length-and-a-quarter on Jan. 11 at Gulfstream Park for her first career stakes victory. The dark bay or brown filly trained by Salvatore Santoro defeated six other Florida-bred fillies and mares, 4-years-old and older, over a mile on the turf.
Jaramillo hustled Ashima from post five to beat 6-5 favorite Great Venezuela and jockey Leonel Reyes into the clubhouse turn as rider John Velazquez placed Princess Bettina in a good position just behind them on the rail.
Ashima put two lengths on Great Venezuela around the bend to finish the first two furlongs in :23.36 as Princess Bettina stayed close in third while keeping an inside track. They continued in that order through a half-mile in :47.16 and six furlongs in
1:10.45 as Ashima remained resilient in the run for home.
Never threatened in the stretch, Ashima completed the distance in 1:33.73 on the firm turf as Great Venezuela finished second, a half-length faster than Princess Bettina in third. They were followed in order by Love Miami Love, Maryquitecontrary, Beach Ready and My Sunny Valentine. Parallel was scratched.
Ashima paid $17 to win.
It was the fourth straight win, all at Gulfstream Park, for Ashima going back to a four-length score against $8,000 claiming fillies at Gulfstream on Oct. 20, a race in which she was claimed by trainer Carlos David. Santoro and Moore then claimed her for $8,000 out of her next race when eight-lengths the best, and in her next race, saw her win against first condition, $20,000 optional claiming fillies on Dec. 12.
“I liked her and I just felt something towards her. I said, ‘You know what, we need to claim this horse,’” Santoro said. “All this horse wanted was, ‘I love you, too.’ That’s all we did.
“Right now she’s my only horse. I’ve got like five or six others that are probably coming in.”
The 4-year-old filly has now won six of 13 career starts with a second and two thirds while earning $150,590.
Ashima is by The Big Beast out of Nurse John, by Colonel John and was bred in Florida by Cat Racing Stable. She is the first stakes winner for Nurse John, who has two winners from two starters from three foals. She has an unnamed yearling colt by Modernist. n
Lightning Tones Captures One Sharp Cookie Late to Take Sunshine Classic
Winning for the first time since taking the 2023 Carry Back at Gulfstream Park, JC Racing Stables LLC’s Lightning Tones circled the field in the turn then ran down frontrunning Shaq Diesel in deep stretch to take the $75,000 Sunshine Classic at the Hallandale Beach oval on Jan. 11. Trained by Carlos Narvaez and ridden by Jorge Ruiz, Lightning Tones outlasted six Florida-breds, 4-years-old and older, going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the fast track.
Never one to get out of the starting gate quickly, Lightning Tones was last into the clubhouse turn from post nine as One Sharp Cookie showed the way by two lengths ahead of Souper Watson in second with Khozeiress third on the rail. Jockey Edgard Zayas sent One Sharp Cookie to a three-length lead on Souper Watson and Khozeiress through a :23.61 first quarter mile and the half mile in :47.48 as Lightning Tones trailed the field from more than seven lengths back.
One Sharp Cookies tried to get away in the turn as Shaq Diesel
Florida-bred Ashima | Photo by Lauren King
moved to within a length with a quartermile to the finish when Lightning Tones began making up ground while fourwide. One Sharp Cookie was still clear at the top of the short stretch but Lightning Tones was rolling on the outside in a race to the first finish line. Lightning Tones collared One Sharp Cookie inside the final sixteenth and won by a length-anda-quarter in 1:44.34. One Sharp Cookie was second, a length-and-a-half in front of 2-1 favorite Secret Chat in third. Shaq Diesel, Awestome Train, Souper Watson and Khozeiress completed the order of finish. Belts ‘n Brooks, Big Martini, Holiday Pay, defending champion Lure Him In and Power Humor were scratched.
Lightning Tones paid $15.40 to win at odds of 6-1.
Claimed by Narvaez for $16,000
William (Bill) Murphy
William (Bill) Murphy, 87, passed away peacefully on Jan. 2, 2025, from complications of pneumonia. Born in Durban, South Africa, in 1937, Bill lived a remarkable life marked by his love for horses and dedication to his family and career.
Bill was raised around horses, a passion instilled in him by his father, a champion jockey and trainer. In 1977, Bill immigrated to the United States, and in 1984, he and his family settled in Ocala, Fla., where they established Elangeni
in July, Lightning Tones went into the Sunshine Classic off a third-place finish behind Morgan Point in a first condition, $25,000 optional claiming going a mile-and-a-sixteenth at Gulfstream on Dec. 15 in his second start for the new connections. He had debuted from the new barn with a runner-up performance to Thought in a $16,000 optional claiming starter allowance going a mile over a sloppy track in October.
He has now won five with six seconds and four thirds in 25 lifetime starts while banking $237,730.
Lightning Tones is by Tonalist out of Rosesandlightning, by Lightnin N Thunder and was bred in Florida by H & A Stables LLC. He is the only winner from three starters for Rosesandlightning, who also has an unnamed yearling colt by Practical Joke. n
For 34 years, Bill was a successful breeder, raising numerous stakes winners, including Silver Ending, Ms Brookski, Graeme Six, Red Jazz, and many others. His contributions to the Thoroughbred industry earned him great respect and admiration.
Bill is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years, Annabel; his two daughters, Alison Lyewski and Belinda Davis; and his four cherished grandchildren. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather whose warmth, wisdom, and humor touched everyone who knew him. n
Farm.
Bill Murphy | Photo by John Neverez
OBITUARY
Florida-bred Lightning Tones | Photo by Ryan Thompson
FLORIDA FOCUS
Temistocles (Tommy) Santos Garcia
Temistocles “Tommy” Santos Garcia, 80, passed away on Jan. 6, 2025, in Ocala, Fla. Born on Sept. 12, 1944, Tommy was a renowned Thoroughbred jockey for more than 35 years and subsequently dedicated 20 years to breaking and training horses, a testament to his enduring passion for equine sports training horses and other riders. Tommy was celebrated not only for his professional achievements but for his vibrant personality and caring heart.
Known for his kindness, compassion and jovial spirit, he left a positive imprint on everyone he met. His life was rich with relationships, marked by a deep involvement in the lives of his children and grandchildren, whom he adored profoundly. He was also an accomplished artist and an avid dancer, sharing his love for life and creativity with those around him.
Tommy’s presence was a gift to his community and his legacy of joy and generosity will live on through his extensive family and all who knew him.
Tommy is survived by his sisters, Rosa and Lilliam Santos; daughters, Christina Santos, Alexandra Santos-Pietri, Chantelle Santos, and Diana Delatre; his partner of 30 years, Marjorie Baker; 13 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Maria and Philip Santos; wives, Maria Santos and Margarita Santos; and siblings, Gladys, Lucy, Philipe, Hector, and Felix.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Blessed Trinity Catholic Church or to a cashapp for Marjorie and his farm in his memory. Tommy’s life was a remarkable journey, and his spirit will forever gallop in the hearts of extended family, his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and those he touched. n
First Career Stakes Victory for Ninja Star in Sunshine Turf (Synthetic)
Strategically navigated through traffic in the far turn by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., Ninja Star quickened in the stretch to run down Anamnestic and win the $75,000 Sunshine Turf at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 18. Moved off the grass to the synthetic course, the Sunshine Turf featured eight Florida-bred 4-year-olds and older going a mile-and-a-sixteenth.
Ninja Star had two horses beat going into the clubhouse turn as 8-5 favorite Victory Achieved led way by two lengths with Prevent second and Boppy O third. Victory Achieved and jockey Dylan Davis set quarter-mile fractions of :21.44 and :46.32 before the field began to compress passing the half-mile pole.
Prevent moved to within a half-length of Victory Achieved midway around the bend as Ninja Star began to advance between horses in the two-path from four lengths back. Anamnestic went by Victory Achieved in the last furlong as Ninja Star and Treasure King were also in full flight on the far outside.
Ninja Star hit the front in the final sixteenth and held sway on Treasure King to his outside to win by a half-length in 1:41.51. Treasure King finished a length faster than Anamnestic in third followed by Boppy O, Victory Achieved, Adios Cole, Prevent and If
Trained by Kevin Rice for Donald L. Ming, Ninja Star paid $14.20 to win.
Not for Luck. Lord Eddard Stark was scratched.
Temistocles “Tommy” Garcia | Family Photo
Florida-bred Ninja Star | Photo by Ryan Thompson
It was the third win in the last five races for Ninja Star, who won an upper level, $100,000 optional claiming going a mile on the turf at Tampa Bay Downs on Dec. 14 and a first condition allowance race going a mile-and-70-yards on synthetic at Presque Isle Downs on Oct. 9. The 4-year-old gelding entered the Sunshine Turf off a third-place finish to winner Drama Chorus in a second condition, $32,000 optional claiming at a mile on the turf at Tampa Bay on Dec. 27.
His previous best against stakes horses came when third in the $110,000 Equistaff Sophomore Turf won by Crystal Quest at Tampa Bay Downs in March of last year.
Ninja Star has now won five of 20 career starts with six seconds and three thirds and the $45,105 first-place check boosted his lifetime bankroll to $225,670.
Bred in Florida by Rebecca Ming, Ninja Star is by Gary D, who stands in Florida at Ming Farms. He is the only winner from two starters for the First Samurai mare Samantha Samurai, who has an unnamed 2-year-old colt and an unnamed yearling colt, both by Curlin’s Honor, who stands at Pleasant Acres Stallions. She was bred to Gary D in 2024. n
Damon’s Mound Returns Off Lay-Off to Take Sunshine Sprint
Making his first start in more than a year, Cliff and Michele Love’s Damon’s Mound produced a resilient victory in the $75,000 Sunshine Sprint at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 18. Making his first start for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, Damon’s Mound bested four other Florida-breds, 4-years-old and older over six furlongs. Banded Rocket set the pace down the backstretch after breaking from post two as Damon’s Mound and jockey Junior Alvarado pressured the 30-1 longshot through the first two furlongs in a rapid :22.19. Banded Rocket and Leonel Reyes were still in front midway around the turn when 9-5 second choice Comedy Town began to press while four wide and 6-5 favorite Classify used a ground saving trip to move into contention. Banded Rocket gave way at the top of the stretch as Comedy Town took a short lead over Damon’s Mound and Classify on the rail after a half mile in :45.10. Those three were heads apart with a furlong to run when Damon’s Mound persevered to win by a neck in 1:09.80 on the fast track. Comedy Town was second, a length-and-a-quarter
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FOALS OF 2023
2-Year-Old Last Chance (unstarted 2yo’s only): May 1, 2025 ($10,000) or June 30, 2025 ($15,000)
FOALS OF 2024
Yearling: May 15, 2025 ($250) or November 15, 2025 ($500), AND 2-Year-Old Sustaining: January 15, 2026 ($250) or February 28, 2026 ($500) OR
2-Year-Old Standalone: January 15, 2026 ($5,000)
Rated by Merit swept the 2024 Florida Sire Stakes By Battalion Runner standing at Ocala Stud Breeder/Owner: St Elias Stable
FLORIDA FOCUS
First Foal for Simplification
ahead of Classify in third. Gatsby finished fourth after hopping at the start and Banded Rocket was fifth. Loco Abarrio, Mish and Pure Class were scratched.
“He seems bigger and stronger right now,” Alvarado said. “He’s been working very good and when a good horse is coming from a big layoff for Mr. Mott, he always gets them ready. He always has them 120 percent ready, and that was the case today.”
Damon’s Mound paid $6.40 to win.
A winner of the 2022 Saratoga Special (Grade 2) at Saratoga Race Course in his second career start, Damon’s Mound won the Grade 2 Gallant Bob at Parx Racing and the $350,000 Rita Hilton Memorial in 2023. He finished his sophomore campaign with a fourth in the Grade 1 Malibu won by fellow Florida-bred Speed Boat Beach at Santa Anita in December of 2023 before going to the sidelines for more than 12 months.
Damon’s Mound has now won five with two seconds from a dozen starts and the $46,500 first place check increased his career earnings to $723,800.
Bred in Florida by Cliff Love of Friendswood, Tx., Damon’s Mound is by Girvin out of San Antonio Stroll, by Stroll. He is the only winner from two starters for San Antonio Stroll, who has an unraced 3-year-old colt, Grand Gesture, by Girvin; an unnamed 2-year-old filly by Girvin; and yearling colt by Ocala Stud stallion Roadster. n
Pleasant Acres Stallions announced on Jan. 20 the arrival of the first foal by Florida-bred Horse of the Year Simplification. Born Jan. 17, the bay colt is out of the Quality Road mare Calidad and is owned by First Finds Farm and Brittany Updike.
“Simplification is a good looking, classy stallion. His first foal is exactly what we expected— strong, healthy, good bone and great conformation,” Director of Stallion Services Christine Jones said. “What a brilliant way to start his career as a stallion. We expect big things for his future.”
Simplification broke his maiden as a 2-year-old by 16 3/4 lengths before winning the Grade 2 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth
by three-and-a-half lengths and the Listed Mucho Macho Man by four lengths in his sophomore season. As a 3-year-old, he also placed in the Grade 3 Holy Bull, Grade 1 Curlin Florida Derby, Grade 3 West Virginia Derby and Grade 3 Harlan’s Holiday. As a 4-year-old, he placed in the Grade 2 WinStar Gulfstream Park Mile.
Graded stakes-winner Simplification is out of Simply Confection, by Candy Ride (Arg) and is the only son of Not This Time standing outside Kentucky. Simplification was bred in Florida by France and Irwin Weiner and retired with earnings of $873,110.
Simplification stands at Pleasant Acres Stallions for a fee of $6,500.
–Pleasant Acres Stallions Press Release (Edited) n
Colt out of Calidad, by Simplification | Pleasant Acres Stallions Photo
Florida-bred Damon’s Mound | Photo by Lauren King
What A Summer is Second Straight Stakes Victory for Ms. Bucchero
Florida-bred Ms. Bucchero led the entire way under jockey Xavier Perez then held off a late-running St. Benedicts Prep to win the $100,000 What A Summer at Laurel Park on Jan. 18. In winning her second consecutive stakes, Ms. Bucchero defeated five other fillies and mares, 4-years-old and older going six furlongs.
Ms. Bucchero brushed with Spencerian to her outside shortly after leaving from post two but recovered quickly to assume command while staying on the rail. She led by two lengths ahead of Kant Hurry Love through a quarter mile in :22.86 then added to her lead around the turn while finishing four furlongs in :46.30. She was three lengths in front in mid-stretch as 6-5 favorite St. Benedicts Prep began making up ground on the outside but Ms. Bucchero held on to win by a nose in 1:12.25 on the fast track.
“She’s one of the fastest fillies that I’ve ever rode in my career,” Perez exclaimed. “She doesn’t want to be told what to do. I popped her out of there and dropped her head. You can see on the backside I have a loop on the rein. She was relaxed. When I tightened up my reins at the quarter pole and asked her to go, she gave me everything she had.”
Trained by Diane Morici, who races the 5-year-old mare under her Morici Racing Stable LLC banner, Ms. Bucchero paid $6.40 to win.
She won the $99,000 Willa On The Move going six-and-a-half furlongs over a muddy and sealed track at Laurel on Nov. 29 and was second to Apple Picker in the $100,000 Alma North at sixand-a-half furlongs at Laurel in July. Between those two races, she finished out of the money in the Sensible Lady in her only start on grass.
Reliable with a record of eight wins from 15 starts and three seconds, Ms. Bucchero boosted her lifetime earnings to $324,950.
Bred in Florida by Pamela Edel, Ms. Bucchero is by Bucchero out of Give Glory to God, by Mutakddim. Give Glory to God has produced four winners, including two stakes-winners, from four starters and five foals. With Overdriven, she produced stakeswinning Florida-bred Red Crescent.
Ms. Bucchero is a graduate of the 2022 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale where she did not meet her reserve when consigned by Nice and Easy Thoroughbreds. n
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1926 - 2026
Celebrating 100 Years Of Thoroughbred Racing at Tampa Bay Downs
February 14, 2026 11th annual Jockey & Jeans fundraiser.
Florida-bred Ms. Bucchero | Photo by Jim McCue
FLORIDA FOCUS
Doppelganger’s First Foal is a Filly
Pleasant Acres Stallions announced the arrival of Doppelganger’s first foal—a filly out of Saucy Dame, by Distorted Humor. Born on Jan. 24, the filly is owned by David Perrine of Perrine Time Thoroughbreds.
“The bloodline this filly is blessed with is exceptional” Director of Stallion Services Christine Jones said. “There is so much black type on the dam side that we can’t even mention it all. I am confident this foal is going to be a force.”
The foal’s second dam is multiple stakes-winner Storm Beauty, by Storm Cat, an earner of $178,164 and winner of the Listed Miss Preakness at Pimlico and the $49,500 Wilma C. Kennedy at Ellis Park. Storm Beauty is the dam of four-time black-type winner and Grade 2-placed Stormy West and Grade 3-winner Buffum.
Doppelganger is the only Grade 1-winning son of Into Mischief standing in the United States not standing in Kentucky. He broke his maiden in his first start as a juvenile and was second in the Grade 2 San Felipe and third in the Grade 3 Affirmed, both at Santa Anita, during his 3-year-old season. As a 4-yearold, Doppelganger took the Grade 1 Carter Handicap presented by NYRA Bets at Belmont Park and the $136,500 Battery Park at Delaware Park.
Doppelganger is out of the multiple graded stakes-placed, stakes-winner Twice the Lady, by Quiet American Doppelganger stands in Florida at Pleasant Acres Stallions for a $10,000 fee.
–Pleasant Acres Stallions Press Release (Edited) n
Powerful Victory in Thunder Road by El Potente
El Potente, which translates to “the powerful”, lived up to his moniker with a clear victory in the Grade 3 Thunder Road, a $100,000 test for 4-year-olds and older going a mile on the turf at Santa Anita on Feb. 1. Trained by Dan Blacker and ridden by Hector Berrios, the 6-year-old El Potente earned his first stakes victory while winning for the second time in two starts this year.
He entered the Thunder Road after taking a second condition, $80,000 optional claiming by two lengths going a mile on the turf at Santa Anita on Jan. 4.
“He responded perfectly,” Berrios said of the winner.
Sent to the post as the 3-2 favorite after previous favorite Seal Team (GB) prematurely broke through his gate before the start, El Potente settled nicely behind Air Force Red as they headed into the clubhouse turn. El Potente continued to race in second, a length-and-a-half behind Air Force Red, through quarter-mile fractions of :22.63 and :46:17 before drawing even with the leader around the far turn. Those turned for home together after six furlongs in 1:09.43 but El Potente took over in the stretch to
Florida-bred El Potente | Photo by Benoit
Filly out of Saucy Dame, by Doppelganger | Pleasant Acres Stallions Photo
win by three lengths in 1:32.39 on the firm turf.
Seal Team made a late run to get second with Air Force Red hanging on for third. Zio Jo, Cabo Spirit, Astronomer, Lammas (GB), Wizard of Westwood and Packs a Wahlop completed the order of finish.
“A lot of credit goes to Hector,” Blacker said. “He really gets him to switch off and he runs for him too. You can see when he asks him to go, that turn of foot. I think he responds really well for Hector.
Owned by Mike Way’s My Way Racing LLC, El Potente paid $5 to win.
El Potente has not finished out of the top three since April of 2022 when fourth against $40,000 maiden claimers at Oaklawn Park. In ten starts since, he has six wins, two seconds and two thirds including a three-race winning streak at Santa Anita in 2023 that started with him taking a $50,000 maiden claiming in January of that year. His only previous start against stakes company came when third, less than a length behind winner Sumter in the $92,000 Lure going a mile on the Santa Anita
THE ART OF REMI
grass in October.
“It was just patience,” Blacker said of El Potente’s long road to becoming a stakes winner. “He needed time to really mature and reach his peak. We just gave him time when he needed it. [Way] has been so patient and allowed him to do it. Now we are reaping the rewards.”
The dark bay or brown horse improved his career record to six wins in 14 starts with two seconds and two thirds. The $60,000 earned for winning the Thunder Road increased his lifetime bankroll to $248,796.
El Potente is by Temple City out of the stakes-placed Florida-bred mare Charmsil, by Silver Charm and was bred in Florida by Charmsil LLC. El Potente was the last foal and first stakes-winner out of Charmsil, who has five winners from nine starters and 10 foals.
He is a graduate of the 2021 Ocala Breeders’ Sales June Sale where McMahon and Hill Bloodstock as agent purchased him for $35,000 out of the Nice and Easy Thoroughbreds consignment. TFH
Breeders, Horsemen Unite to Fight Florida Decoupling Bills
Former Kentucky Senate Leader Thayer to Advise Group
PRESS RELEASE
OCALA, FL—The Thoroughbred Racing Initiative—an industry collaboration created to fight for live horse racing in Florida and elsewhere in the United States — officially launched on Feb. 18.
The TRI’s immediate mission is to bring the Thoroughbred industry together to provide funding and other resources to defeat antiracing and breeding legislation in the Florida House of Representatives (HB 105) and Senate (SB 408). Those bills would allow Gulfstream Park to keep its gaming licenses without the current mandate that it also conduct live racing. HB 105 was amended to let Tampa Bay Downs maintain its card club without live racing, although the 99-year-old Oldsmar track issued a statement stressing its commitment to horse racing and saying it did not initiate the bill amendment.
“Thoroughbred racing in Florida is under attack,” said TRI president David O’Farrell, general manager of his family’s Ocala Stud. “The bills filed in the Florida legislature threaten the future of live racing, breeding and our 33,500 jobs and $3.24 billion economic impact. This isn’t just a Florida issue; the ripple effects will impact racing and breeding nationwide. For decades, Florida legislators have protected the Thoroughbred industry, but this bill prioritizes corporate interests over horsemen, breeders and our industry’s huge agri-business and tourism contributions. We must take a stand now to ensure Thoroughbred racing has a future.”
The TRI is the brainchild of O’Farrell, TRI vice president and prominent owner-breeder Jon Green of DJ Stable and trainer Mark Casse, a member of both the North American and Canadian racing halls of fame. Dr. Barry Eisaman, a veterinarian who with wife Shari
operate the full-service farm Eisaman Equine in Williston, also is a founding member.
“Thoroughbred racing in Florida is under attack... the bills filed in the Florida legislature threaten the future of live racing, breeding and our 33,500 jobs and $3.24 billion economic impact. This isn’t just a Florida issue; the ripple effects will impact racing and breeding nationwide.”
– TRI President David O’Farrell
The TRI launch was announced on Green’s weekly Rail Talk podcast. The organization’s website is thoroughbredracinginitiative.com, with the motto “Protecting Racing. Preserving Tradition. Securing the Future.” Thoroughbred industry participants and enthusiasts are encouraged to sign up for updates and to donate at thoroughbredracinginitiative.com/contact/
Aron Wellman, founder and president of the Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners syndicate that races all over America, also has joined the TRI board. Damon Thayer of Thayer Communications & Consulting is the senior advisor. Thayer spent 22 years in the Kentucky State Senate, the last 12 as the Senate Majority Floor Leader, during which he championed the horse industry. That included pushing through legislation to protect the Historical Horse Racing pari-mutuel gaming product that has led to unprecedented success for Kentucky’s year-round racing circuit.
The TRI also is collaborating with the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association; Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co., the National Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association, representing about 30,000 Thoroughbred owners and trainers throughout North America; its Tampa Bay HBPA affiliate; and the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen, representing owners and trainers at Gulfstream Park. The FTBOA, which has battled Florida decoupling measures over the years, began aggressively lobbying against HB 105/SB 408 since the bills were filed. That includes working closely with the National HBPA, which views decoupling as a national issue.
“When done right, every dollar that a state invests in an industry such as Thoroughbred
David O’Farrell, TRI President
racing and breeding’s agri-business is repaid many times over,” Thayer said. “The Florida legislature has understood that and been a terrific steward of its horse industry. TRI’s core mission is to keep it that way. We cannot afford to lose Florida’s storied Thoroughbred industry.
“We’re not asking lawmakers for subsidies. We’re asking for legislatures to understand that investing in the Thoroughbred industry is no different than investing to keep and grow other labor-intensive industries that return so much in jobs and economic impact benefitting the entire state. This is similar to the situation we faced in Kentucky less than five years ago, and I am happy to assist my Florida friends in this effort.”
O’Farrell said TRI will make sure legislators and the public hear the Florida horse industry’s story. Gulfstream Park’s Florida Derby is wellknown as the leading producer of Kentucky Derby winners (25) and for attracting top horses from around the world for the Pegasus World Cup, but the contributions and influences go far beyond the racetrack. That includes:
• Breeding: Florida-breds include legendary champions such as Dr. Fager and Affirmed. One of North America’s most influential sires, the great Mr. Prospector, started out in Florida.
• Boarding: Florida is home to 87,500 Thoroughbreds of all ages.
• Sales: Kentucky Derby winners such as Nyquist and I’ll Have Another were sold at the state’s famed 2-year-old auctions. Florida is a leading exporter of Thoroughbreds, including OBS selling 4,147 horses for a total of $180 million in 2024.
• Training: The state’s many training centers give not just Florida-born horses but countless Kentucky-breds their earliest training. That included 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna, Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and 3-year-old champion Sierra Leone. California-based Bob Baffert, the winningest trainer in the history of the Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup, sends all his yearlings to Ocala for their early education, including 2024 juvenile champion Citizen Bull and champion male horse National Treasure.
“While Florida is our immediate focus, TRI could get involved in other states where live racing is under siege,” O’Farrell said. “Thoroughbred racing and breeding throughout North America is an ecosystem. While Florida is a linchpin, we need the other jurisdictions of all sizes for the industry to prosper. We are going to do our part to fight for the industry and sport we all love, and we invite every stakeholder to join us.”
“FTBOA is pleased and excited to see our friends with the TRI come on board to join our fight to oppose decoupling while continuing live Thoroughbred racing in Florida.” FTBOA CEO Lonny Powell said. “They are colleagues who have a deep passion for the Industry as well as having skin in the game.
“They now join a team that includes the official horsemen’s groups for both Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs, plus OBS and the National HBPA along with ourselves. We welcome their support and participation.”
Continues on page 27
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When done right, every dollar that a state invests in an industry such as Thoroughbred racing and breeding’s agri-business is repaid many times over.
“
”
FTBOA is pleased and excited to see our friends with the TRI come on board to join our fight to oppose decoupling while continuing live Thoroughbred racing in Florida. They are colleagues who have a deep passion for the Industry as well as having skin in the game.”
– FTBOA CEO Lonny Powell
Mark Casse, TRI Vice President
– Damon Thayer
Damon Thayer, TRI Senior Advisor
Lonny Powell, FTBOA CEO
Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
Photo
Serita Hult Photo
BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Having to battle nearly every step of the seven-furlong Inside Information (Grade 2), Florida-bred Mystic Lake put on a show of tenacity in winning the $215,000 contest against four other fillies and mares, 4-years-old and older on Jan 25. Mystic Lake cashed in on a $132,000 payday for owners C2 Racing Stables LLC and Stefania Farms LLC that included an $8,000 Floridabred bonus presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association. She increased her career earnings to $1,033,354 to become the 185th Florida-bred millionaire.
Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. sent Mystic Lake out of post three like a shot but they were quickly joined to their outside by 2024 Inside Information-winner Olivia Darling and even-money favorite Emery, winner the Grade 2 Raven Run at Keeneland in her last start.
Those three fillies raced in tandem down the backstretch as Mystic Lake was a head in front of Olivia Darling between horses with Emery a half-length back in the three path through the first two furlongs in an honest :22.94.
Olivia Darling and Emery tried to get by Mystic Lake while passing the three-eighths pole but Ortiz kept her in contention on the rail before Luis Saez on Jody’s Pride found a seem and took a short lead with a quarter-mile to run.
the replay to be sure. [Jody’s Pride] kept digging in, [Emery] was coming, but I knew we had horse, and she battled and battled. She showed a different dimension today, she had to battle for the first time, she showed a lot of guts.”
The Inside Information was the third graded stakes victory of her career, adding to her wins in the Grade 2 Charles Town Oaks in August the Grade 3 Miss Preakness at Pimlico in May. She also counts among her 2024 stakes wins the $75,000 Gasparilla and $100,000 Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies at Tampa Bay Downs and the Listed Sugar Swirl at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 21.
The Sugar Swirl was her first start since September when fourth in the Grade 1 Cotillion won by eventual Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna at Parx Racing.
Jody’s Pride had a narrow advantage to the outside Mystic Lake at the top of the stretch then tried to put away her rival in the run for home. But Mystic Lake put her ears back and regained the lead inside the final furlong when Emery began making up ground on the far outside.
Mystic Lake would not surrender and won by neck in a final time of 1:22.59 on the fast track. Emery was second with Jody’s Pride another head back in third as Olivia Darling and Haulin Ice completed the order of finish. Dazzling Move, Miuccia, Floridabred Nic’s Style and Sterling Silver were scratched.
Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Mystic Lake paid $6.40 to win.
“I was a little concerned when the three hooked up and she was inside but Irad [Ortiz Jr.] did a masterful job as always,” Mark Cornett of Naples, Fla., said. Cornett makes up C2 Racing with brother Clint Cornett of Flower Mound, Tex. “He got her leveled off inside the eight-pole so you saw how game she was to the wire.”
Joseph said he had to watch to the race replay to be sure she had won.
“I only knew we had it won at the wire - and I had to watch
“We gave her time off after the Cotillion,” Joseph said. “She had a hard campaign, but we wanted to try the Cotillion, the Grade 1, and if she was placed we would have been very happy. She showed a lot of heart to be fourth. Then we gave her a break. We thought about going out to the La Brea [Grade 1 at Santa Anita Dec. 26], but we would have to ship so far, we decided to stay at home, and that helped us today. It was the right decision.”
“We really had confidence going in,” Cornett said. “She needed [the Sugar Swirl] and we really didn’t tie the screws down for that race. We had this race in mind all along and obviously it worked out nice.”
Mystic Lake is by Mo Town and is the only foal out of Salty Soul, by Itsmyluckyday and was bred in Florida by Peggy Costanzo. She has now won half of her 14 career starts with three seconds and a third.
Mystic Lake is a two-time graduate of Ocala Breeders’ Sales having first sold for $3,500 to Tom McCrocklin as agent at the 2022 October Yearling Sale where she was consigned by Francis and Barbara Vanlangendock’s Summerfield. McCrocklin the consigned her to the 2023 OBS March Sale where Turf Express Racing Partners purchased her for $130,000.
Mystic Lake joins a long list of Florida-bred winners of the Inside Information. Maryquitecontrary (2023), Classic Point (2015) and Musical Romance (2012) won the race under it’s current title while Splendid Blended (2006), U Can Do It (1998), Nanneri (1992), Social Pro (1989), Tappiano (1988), Chic Belle (1984) and Sober Jig (1981) won the race when it ran under the Shirley Jones Handicap moniker. TFH
Saffie Joseph, Jr | Photo by Lauren King
A LOOK BACK
BY BROCK SHERIDAN
With trainer Bob Baffert eligible to make a run at expanding on his record six wins in the takes this opportunity to look back on the career of Silver Charm. The famous Florida-bred star gave Baffert his first Derby and first of many victories in several major stakes—no doubt helping propel a Hall of Fame career for the charismatic trainer.
Robert and Beverly Lewis’ Florida-bred Silver Charm began his career with a rather innocuous second-place finish in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Del Mar in August of 1996—beginning a career that would end with significantly more prominence and achievements.
During the next three years, the handsome and long-striding grey would become the cornerstone to several of Baffert’s training records while establishing an identity as a Thoroughbred with as much tenacity as talent.
Two weeks after his debut, Silver Charm carried jockey David Flores to a length-and-a-half victory in another Del Mar maiden special weight—winning by a length-and-a-quarter as a popular 2-5 favorite.
Three weeks later and in his last start as a 2-year-old, Silver Charm and Flores provided Baffert with the first of his record 18 wins in the then Grade 2 Del Mar Futurity, the first sign of the great
careers that lied ahead for silver-haired team.
Silver Charm made his sophomore debut on Feb. 8, 1997 in the Grade 3 San Vincente at Santa Anita, a major stepping-stone in Southern California for the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby.
With Chris McCarron aboard, Silver Charm sat just off the frontrunning Funontherun down the backstretch then spurted through an opening on the rail at the top of the stretch to win by nearly two lengths. Finishing second at 13-1 was the Paco Gonzaleztrained Free House, establishing a rivalry that would last through that year’s Triple Crown. It was also the first of 13 wins in the San Vincente for Baffert.
Five weeks later, Free House took the Grade 2 San Felipe at Santa Anita by three-quarters of a length ahead of Silver Charm in second. Gary Stevens was given the mount in the Santa Anita Derby in April, but Silver Charm came up a head shy of Free House, finishing second.
Kentucky Derby 1997 | Churchill Downs Photo
On May 3, 1997 Silver Charm became the sixth Florida-bred to win the Kentucky Derby, producing the first of six Derby triumphs for Baffert and giving Stevens his third score in the Run for the Roses. Baffert is tied with trainer Ben Jones, who also saddle six Derby winners.
Florida-bred Captain Bodgit was a head back in second with Free House third.
Again, it was a narrow head that separated a winning Silver Charm and runner-up Free House in the Preakness (G1) on May 17 and again, Silver Charm gave Baffert his first triumph in the second leg of the Triple. Today, Baffert counts a record eight Preakness victories.
The rivalry between Silver Charm and Free House hit an apex in the mile-anda-half Belmont (G1) when the two greys hit the top of the stretch heads apart with Touch Gold behind them in third. Racing on the inside, Silver Charm began to get clear of Free House in deep stretch as Touch Gold inched closer on the far outside.
The Triple Crown title disintegrated when Touch Gold ran past second-place Silver Charm in the final strides to win by less than a length with Free House finishing a length father back in third.
Following 1944 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Pensive’s loss to Bounding Home in the Belmont, Silver Charm is among 22 others to miss becoming Triple Crown winners in New York. He was the first of three Baffert trainees with the infamous notation before Real Quiet in 1998 and War Emblem in 2002.
Silver Charm would make only one more start as a 3-year-old, finishing second to Awesome Again in the Grade 1 Malibu on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita. He was later honored with an Eclipse Award as that year’s champion 3-year-old male.
Baffert; and Clark Handicap (G2), second of three for Baffert.
That year Silver Charm was also second to Awesome Again in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
After winning the San Pasqual (G2) in 1999, giving Baffert the first of a record five wins in the race; Silver Charm had four more starts before retiring.
Silver Charm remains second on the list of all-time richest Florida-breds with earnings of $6,944,368 behind Skip Away with $9,616,360, winning half of his 24 career starts with seven seconds and two thirds. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007.
By Silver Buck out of Bonnie’s Poker, by Poker, Silver Charm was bred in Florida by Mary Lou Wooton and is a two-time graduate of Ocala Breeders’ Sales.
Janie Roper consigned him to the 1995 OBS August Yearling Sale where Hartley/De Renzo purchased him for $16,500. Hartley/ De Renzo would consign him to the OBS Spring Sale the following year where C.J. Gray purchased him for $100,000.
Following his illustrious racing career, Silver Charm entered Stud at Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky where he produced 15 stakes winners including multiple graded stakes-winners Preacheratthebar and Miss Isella. In December of 2004 he was purchased by the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders’ Association and stood at the Shuzunai Stallion Station beginning in 2005 before moving to Shichinohe Stallion Station in 2008. He finished his stud career in Japan at Iburi Stallion Station, where he stood from 2009-2014.
As a 4-year-old Silver Charm won the San Fernando Breeders’ Cup (G2), giving Baffert his first of a record five wins; the Strub (G2) the first of a record five for Baffert; the $4 million Dubai World Cup (G1), the first of four for Baffert; the Kentucky Gold Cup Handicap (G3); Goodwood (G2), the first of a record eight for
In December of 2014, Silver Charm retired to Old Friends thanks to the cooperateive efforts of JBBA, the Lewis family and Three Chimneys. He remains at Old Friends today and is the oldest living resident at the Georgetown, Ky., farm. He is also the oldest living Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner. Silver Charm turned 31 on Feb. 22. TFH
Silver Charm and Bob Baffert
Silver Charm and Sandy Hatfield | Old Friends Photo
Silver Charm | Churchill Downs Photo
Last Leaf | Photo by Judit Seipert
BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Ocala Breeders’ Sales company kicked-off their 2025 auction season with the January Mixed Sale conducted on Jan. 25 with a broodmare prospect by Not This Time topping the one-day auction. The January mixed sale was reduced to a one-day live auction with 2-year-olds and Horses of Racing Age being sold in the OBSOnline January auction
In previous years, the January Mixed Sale was held over two days with a consignor preferred session and Horses of Racing Age comprising the first day and an open session taking place the second day.
Hip 56, Last Leaf, a 6-year-old stakes-winning broodmare prospect purchased by Joe Peacock’s Senor’s Senoritas for $140,000, topped the live action. At recent auctions, Peacock has been building his broodmare band under the Senor’s Senoritas banner for his recently retired stallion, the multiple graded stakes-winner Senor Buscador, who earned nearly $13 million during his career on the track.
Consigned by G. Martinez Training as agent, Last Leaf is by Not This Time out of stakes-placed My Miss Kallie, by Paddy O’Prado. Last Leaf won the Hollywood Beach and was multiple graded stakes-placed.
The top selling yearling was Hip 70 that sold for $97,000 to Lambholm as agent. A filly by McKinzie from the consignment of Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck’s Summerfield, she is out of the Bellamy Road mare Picolata, a half-sister to stakes-placed Maegans Princesses.
The top-selling Florida-bred was Hip 233 that dropped the gavel at $95,000 on a final bid by Sea Warrior Stables LLC. By Yaupon, the bay colt is out of Catsoutofthebag, by Discreet Cat and was consigned by Richard Kent’s Kaizen Sales as agent. Catsoutofthebag is a full sister to stakesplaced Fly at Dawn the colt was bred in Florida by Helen and Joseph Barbazon.
Another Florida-bred sold well in Hip 192, a chestnut colt from the consignment of Boutte Sales as agent. By Vekoma out of Arcelor, by Telling, the colt sold for $80,000 to John Kimmel and Nick Sallusto as agent. Arcelor is a halfsister to stakes-placed Lavalette Gold and the colt was bred in Florida by Margie M. Webb.
Hip 269 lit up the money board at $75,000 on a final bid from Eduardo Soto. Consigned by Lisa McGreevy’s Abbie Road Farm as agent, the bay colt is by Candy Ride (Arg) out of Fabulous Devotion, by Tapit and his third dam is multiple Grade 1-winner and stakes-producer Society Selection.
Hip No. 233, Florida-bred colt by Yapon | Photo by Judit Seipert
Hip No. 70, filly by McKinzie | Photo by Judit Seipert
Hip 116 went for $72,000 on a final bid from Gray A. Day. By Frosted out of Small Axe, by Dixieland Band, the filly was consigned by Afleet Equine Services as agent. Small Axe is out of Golden Mean, a full-sister to multiple Grade 1-winner Peaks and Valleys and stakes-winning, multiple stakesproducer Alternate.
Hip 26, a bay colt by Army Mule, garnered a final bid of $70,000 from SB Consulting. Out of Maisie, by Stay Thirsty, the colt was consigned by Danielle Loya’s Silver Oaks Farm as agent. Maisie is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-winner and stakes-producer Lovely Bernadette.
Riley’s Boy went to $65,000 to acquire Hip 214, a Floridabred colt by Vekoma out of Blue Katana, by Formal Dinner, a full-sister to Cosmo Bell, who was graded stakes placed in Japan; and a half-sister to stakes-winner Bernie Blue and stakes-place Pyrite Blue. Consigned by Richard Kent’s Kaizen Sales as agent, the dark bay or brown colt is a half-brother to stakes-winners Crafty Blue Kat and Pyrite Blue Magna. The colt was bred in Florida by Jennifer A. Johnson and Gillian K. Johnson.
Hip 152 is a Florida-bred filly from the consignment of Lisa McGreevy’s Abbie Road Farm as agent that sold to Trivial Partners for $60,000. The bay filly by Yaupon is out of the stakes-placed mare Tea for Two, by Valid Expectations, a full sister to stakes-winner Bridesmaid and a half-sister to Grade 2-winner Postponed; stakes-placed, stakes-producer Pardonmecomingthru and stakes-producer Cuero. The filly was bred in Florida by Royal Bloodstock Sales LLC and Sandra Powers.
Arindel spent $57,000 to obtain a Florida-bred colt by first crop sire Roadster, who stands at Ocala Stud. Selling as Hip 295 from the consignment of Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck’s Summerfield, the bay colt is out of the Florida-bred mare Hardcore Cat, by Wildcat Heir, a half-sister to Florida-bred Grade 2-winner Dorth Vader.
The one day auction produced gross sales of $3,098,700 from 212 head for an average of $14,617 and a median price of $7,500. The average price was down 8.2% from $15,928 last year on gross sales of $4,491,800 from 282 Thoroughbreds. The median was down 6.7% from a median of $8,000 a year ago.
Lisa McGreevy led all consignors while selling from her Abbie Road Farm consignment with 25 head bringing $528,200. Richard Kent’s Kaizen Sales sold 16 head for $349,000.
Joe Peacock’s Senor’s Senorita was the leading buyer with his lone purchase of the top-selling mare for $140,000 while H.H. Agent bought two head for $100,000.
The next sale on the OBS calendar is the prestigious March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training scheduled for March 11-13. Under Tack programs are slated for March 5-8.
Florida-bred Dream Concert Tops OBSOnline January Sale
Multiple stakes-placed Florida-bred Dream Concert elicited a final bid of $110,000 from Tiger Racing to top the OBSOnline January Sale for 2-year-olds and Horses of Racing Age.
The January digital auction was conducted from Jan. 23-30. It marks the third auction held under the OBSOnline banner.
Consigned as Hip 425 by trainer Kathleen O’Connell as agent, Dream Concert is out of the stakes-winning Concerto mare Spanish Concert, who has two winners from as many foals to race The 5-year-old daughter of Jess’s Dream has four wins from 19 career starts with $202,930 in earnings.
Bred in Florida by James Michael Chicklo of Ocala, Dream Concert is nominated to the Grade 3 Endeavour at Tampa Bay Downs Feb. 1. She most recently finished third to winner Little Jamie in the $100,000 Wayward Lass at Tampa Bay Downs Jan. 11 where she was beaten just a nose for place honors.
The top selling newly turned 3-year-old was Hip 403, a daughter of Practical Joke who sold for $46,000 to Daniel McGreevy. Consigned by Wavertree Stables, the filly is out of the Quality Road mare Happy Road and is from the female family of Grade 1 winner Bustin Stones. She breezed in 32.1 during the optional under tack show.
As of Jan. 31, the OBSOnline January sale generated $273,200 in gross receipts from 12 horses sold. The average was $22,767 with the median coming in at $7,500. Nine horses failed to meet their reserve.
-- OBS PRESS OFFICE TFH
Statements from Additional National Organizations Opposing Decoupling
Editor’s Note: Other statements from national nrganizations were published in the February issue of The Florida Horse
The Board of the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen, formerly the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, met Feb. 3 to address HB 105, the pending legislation seeking decoupling in Florida that would allow Gulfstream Park to separate its gaming license from the requirement to continue to conduct live racing.
The Board of the FTH voted unanimously against decoupling and is against the passage of HB 105. Their statement issued Monday reads:
“The future of Thoroughbred racing in South Florida is too important and too uncertain if HB 105 is passed. We cannot take that risk without a definitive plan going forward.
The organization wants to actively engage and work with 1/ST RACING and Gulfstream regarding the future of racing in South Florida. We have requested a series of meetings with 1/ST and Gulfstream so that the interested parties can collectively come up with a sustainable solution that would be in the best interest of racing.
“Unless and until that solution is developed and agreed upon, the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen will be against decoupling or any legislation that threatens continued Thoroughbred racing in South Florida.”
The FTH joins many of their counterparts in other jurisdictions (Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, National HBPA) and major industry stakeholders such as Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm’s John Sikura, in coming down against the legislation.
Decoupling Statement from Illinois Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association
Tell Tallahassee to oppose HB 105: Separating Gulfstream’s gaming from racing licenses would devastate the $3.24 billion thoroughbred industry
Horsemen, horsewomen and everyone who loves horse racing
in Florida and beyond:
HB 105, if passed, could devastate Florida’s thoroughbred racing and breeding industry and its connected agri-business by allowing Gulfstream Park to separate its gaming license from the requirement to conduct live horse racing. The thoroughbred racing and breeding industries in Florida account for $3.24 billion annually in economic development, with 87,600 thoroughbred horses providing 33,500 jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in equine exports. Decoupling could cripple Ocala and Marion County, the Horse Capital of the World® and home to some of the world’s premier 2-year-old in training sales and deal a blow to Broward County’s tourism.
Now is the time to act! This issue has far-reaching implications outside Florida. We need you to sign this petition, share it with clients, staff, family and friends and post the link on social media to send a loud message to Tallahassee that tens of thousands of jobs, a huge agri-business and important component of Florida tourism are being jeopardized by HB 105.
Open Letter From OBS to the Industry on Florida Decoupling Legislation
With an economic impact of more than $3.2 billion to the state, the importance of the Thoroughbred industry in Marion County, and Florida as a whole, cannot be overstated. Any action that threatens the viability of our racing and breeding operations is deeply troubling and unacceptable. Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company, Inc. (OBS) is proud to be the leading seller of twoyear-olds in training in the world and while the sales attract a broad group of domestic and international buyers, it is critical that OBS along with the Florida horsemen and breeders have a stable environment in our own backyard. OBS is a center of commerce for the Thoroughbred marketplace in Florida and often relied upon to generate income to help sustain training and breeding operations. Therefore, we have been steadfast in our opposition to decoupling.
It is important to understand that the bill for decoupling is in the initial stages and has a long way to get to the finish line. Simply put, decoupling will allow a Thoroughbred racetrack
Continued on page 35
EQUINE CARE
Early Pregnancy Loss in Mares
BY HEATHER SMITH THOMAS
Many mares conceive satisfactorily during the breeding season—often on the first or second breeding—but not all of them carry a pregnancy to term. Conception rates are higher than fullterm pregnancy rates, and most of those pregnancy losses occur early in gestation. There are many reasons for early pregnancy loss in mares and some of them are still unknown.
Dr. Ahmed Tibary, Professor of Theriogenology, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Washington State University (now Emeritus) said it is always wise to continue to monitor the pregnancy to see if it is progressing normally, after the first ultrasound confirms that the mare did conceive.
“We always see some early embryonic loss,” Tibary said. “Some losses are unexplained. There’s been some research on chromosomal abnormalities or cytogenetic abnormality.
These chromosomal aberrations occur when the structure or number of chromosomes is abnormal. This may involve one or more chromosomes—and can affect either part of or the entire chromosome.”
It is common to see eight to 10% loss in pregnancies according to Tibary.
“This is even more pronounced in older mares. We know they have higher losses due to aging of the oocytes. Some of the literature references state up to 30% loss in mares older than 18 years,” Tibary said.
The oocyte from an older mare may undergos changes that are not compatible with normal development.
“Studies have shown that those changes, and the quality of the oocyte, start showing up in some mares as early as 12 years of age. By 20 years, most mares have some problems. In these mares, we often see embryonic losses as high as 40% or 50%,” he said.
“We may not see an embryo at all on ultrasound, after insemination, and we don’t know what happened. We don’t know if the mare’s oocyte was simply not fertilized or was fertilized but she lost the embryo early. With ultrasound we can now see embryos as early as nine or 10 days, but we don’t know what happens before that. Did the embryo not make it beyond the oviduct and into the uterus? This has been studied using embryo collection but even then we are only looking at embryos that have made it into the uterus, which occurs 6.5 days after fertilization.”
We don’t know what might have happened within the oviduct.
“We always recommend a couple of re-checks after the first one confirms that the mare is pregnant—one at 25 to 28 days and the second one
Scanning for pregnancy | Photo by Sheerin
somewhere between 35 and 50 days, because there is high incidence of early embryonic death during the first 50 days,” Tibary said. “Seldom would you notice anything unusual in the mare, that early; you might assume that she’s still pregnant.”
Dr. Richard Geary (with Countryside Veterinary Clinic in Idaho, focusing primarily on equine reproduction) did his PhD work with Gordon Woods, a well-known equine reproductive physiologist.
“In a normal pregnancy, at about day 38, the developing placenta around the tiny fetus starts forming endometrial cups. At this point the uterus and placenta together start to secrete more progesterone, which helps maintain the pregnancy. If we can get the pregnancy to that 38-day stage, the mare will usually remain pregnant,” Geary said.
“Sometimes we see mares that need to be kept on progesterone supplementation until about 100 days. From that point they can usually carry a foal to term without progesterone supplement,” Geary said.
“After she goes past the 35 days, when the endometrial cups are already formed, if a mare loses the pregnancy she will not come back into estrus,” Tibary said. The endometrial cups on the placenta produce the important eCG hormone in the pregnant mare. If these are already formed and producing hormone, the mare may enter a pseudo-pregnancy state which can last up to four months.
“There have been many studies looking at how many mares failed to foal after they were diagnosed pregnant at 14 days, with a wide range of reported incidence of pregnancy loss, depending on the studies—ranging from about 2.5% all the up to 30%.
“When we look at what might cause embryonic loss, we might blame the uterus (the mare and the uterine environment for that embryo) or the embryo itself, or the stallion in some instances. There may be some outside environmental factors, as well,” Tibary said.
Timing of Breeding
“The longer we wait to breed the mare after she ovulates, the higher the risk for poor embryo quality,” Tibary said.
The clock is ticking on that oocyte as it waits for fertilization. Before the oocyte dies, it can still be fertilized but may be running out of optimum ability for good development.
“We see this happen when people take chances and breed the
mare even if it’s been a bit too long after ovulation. Sometimes you end up with a pregnancy at 14 days, but it doesn’t continue to develop,” Tibary said.
In these instances it might be better to wait until the next heat cycle to breed the mare, rather than start a pregnancy that won’t be viable. You may save time by waiting, rather than have the mare become pregnant and lose it and have to start over later.
Uterine Environment
“In the uterus, we check to see if there is inflammation and whether it is acute or chronic,” Tibary said. “Chronic inflammation can be the biggest risk factor for loss of pregnancy. This is why every mare going into the breeding shed should have an endometrial biopsy, particularly if she has any history of infertility or pregnancy loss. Then we can more accurately determine her chances for allowing the embryo to fix normally [and get enough nutrients from the uterus], and for maintaining pregnancy. We check to see if there is scar tissue or fibrosis of the endometrium.”
Uterine Cysts
Tibary said uterine cysts are also a concern but there are different views regarding their impact.
“In mares that have had several pregnancies we may see uterine cysts. There is debate about whether these are linked to early pregnancy loss,” Tibary said. “A German study showed that when there are large cysts or more than five, the risk for losing pregnancy is increased.”
Uterine cysts may hinder movement of the embryo within the uterus, before it fixes and starts attaching.
“This movement is required, to signal its existence to the mare [maternal recognition of pregnancy], and maintain pregnancy,” Tibary explains.
If this trans-uterine embryo migration is hindered, the mare is unable to recognize that she’s pregnant, the uterus releases prostaglandin F2 alpha (which stimulates the corpus luteum—the source of progesterone) and she returns to estrus.
“If the embryo attaches next to a cluster of cysts or near a large cyst, the fixation is more precarious. Mares have a better chance of maintaining pregnancy if these cysts are removed,” he says. Continued on next page
Equine Embryo at 7.5 days
EQUINE CARE
Progesterone Deficiency
“The problem most talked about as a cause of early embryonic loss and the most commonly treated is progesterone insufficiency. But this cause is hard to prove. Many people become frustrated with early pregnancy loss and just put the mares on progesterone. If their history has all the indications that they may be at higher risk of losing the pregnancy or they’ve had loss of pregnancy before, they are generally put on progesterone supplementation, such as Regumate ® (altrenogest) in hopes it will help—and it may help in some cases,” Tibary said.
Geary says hormone imbalance is one of the primary reasons for early pregnancy loss.
“The common situation is a mare that lacks sufficient progesterone to maintain pregnancy. The only way to know that, for sure, is to take a blood sample and measure progesterone levels in the mare,” he says.
“Typically what happens is the mare shows heat, is covered by the stallion, and at the 14-day ultrasound to check for pregnancy, there is usually no pregnancy because the uterine environment is inadequate to maintain the embryo—due to low progesterone.”
This is generally a malfunction of the corpus luteum; it fails to form on the ovary after ovulation. The corpus luteum is the structure that produces progesterone.
“This is generally an easy fix. We can provide the progesterone and give things a little boost,” Geary said.
Under normal circumstances, progesterone from the ovary safeguards the pregnancy for the first few weeks. When that source is lacking, it must be provided.
Stress From Disease/ Infections/Temperature
Systemic disease may have an impact on whether the mare maintains pregnancy. Any medical situation that puts too much stress on the mare such as high fever for a few days, or any disease
linked to production of endotoxin, will jeopardize pregnancy.
“The inflammation, endotoxins, etc. will create an environment that is not compatible with maintenance of the CL function,” Tibary said.
“There is also the fact that high environmental temperatures and humidity can lead to some loss of pregnancy.” This can put the embryo outside the window of healthy temperature.
“When I was practicing in the UAE, where temperature and humidity are very high, we could hardly keep mares pregnant if the adverse conditions occurred early in the pregnancy,” Tibary said.
Stress from extreme heat, systemic infection, severe pain, laminitis, etc. has been shown to cause lower progesterone levels. If the mare colics during early pregnancy, for instance, or undergoes surgery—with possibility of endotoxemia—this may compromise the quality of the CL and the pregnancy would be at risk.
Lactation Status
Whether the mare has a foal at side and is lactating may also make a difference in her risk for losing the embryo.
“According to one study, lactating mares have double the rate of pregnancy loss compared to non-lactating mares. I think it’s not lactation per se that causes this problem, as much as the affect of lactation on the mare,” Tibary said. “This would include the affect of nutrition and body condition that goes with it. Studies from South Africa have shown that nutrition [quality of energy and protein intake] will affect maintenance of pregnancy via the quality of the CL and production of progesterone.”
If the mare has too much stress trying to maintain herself, feed her nursing foal, and start a pregnancy, the pregnancy gets sacrificed.
Foal Heat Breeding
There is always discussion about whether breeding at foal heat is less successful than waiting until a later heat.
“Some early studies showed that foal heat breeding results in less fertilization and more incidence of early embryonic death. There are other studies, however, that have shown that foal heat breeding is successful—as long as the mare has not had any complications from foaling,” Tibary said.
This must be considered case by case. Some mares do fine when bred at foal heat, while others need more time to recover from foaling.
15 day ultrasound | Photo by M. Schnobrich
Nutrition
“If a mare is going into her first trimester and losing weight, there is a higher risk of early embryonic death,” Tibary said.
Pregnancy is always a luxury. If the mare’s body is having trouble maintaining itself, the pregnancy is often sacrificed.
Other Potential Causes
There are other potential causes of pregnancy loss that may be region specific, or specific to a certain year.
“We focus on things like fescue toxicosis being a problem for late term pregnancies, but it has been shown that mares on endophyte-infected fescue pastures can also have higher rates of early pregnancy loss. This is generally due to reduction in the hormone prolactin,” Tibary said.
Many horse breeders assume their mares are safe on fescue pastures until late pregnancy, but this is not always the case. Endophyte-infected fescue pastures should always be avoided for broodmares.
Early pregnancy loss has been associated with MRLS (mare reproductive loss syndrome).
“Those losses are generally later than 50 days, and many of them closer to foaling, but there were some between 80 and 120 days gestation,” he says.
Some stallions seem to produce pregnancies at higher risk for loss.
“There may be some abnormality in their DNA [chromatin] in the spermatozoa. These factors are hard to identify, unless we are dealing with stallions that have bred many mares and we have extensive data on the outcome of breeding,” Tibary said.
Similarly, in maiden mares that experience repeated pregnancy losses, there may be individual problems.
“A report a few years ago from University of Kentucky showed that some of these mares have normal cycles, they become pregnant when bred, but lose the pregnancy due to a chromosomal abnormality. The embryo or fetus can’t get past a certain stage. The chromosomal abnormality leads to a problem in development.”
This is a genetic factor that results in pregnancy loss. n
HOW DO WE KNOW IF A PREGNANCY MAY BE AT RISK?
Breeders often want to know how to tell if the pregnancy is not viable.
“There are indications that sometimes tell us we are dealing with a non-viable pregnancy, though we can’t start evaluating the embryo/ pregnancy until about 12 days after conception, with ultrasound. Pregnancy diagnosis is not just about finding the embryo/vesicle. We also assess the health of that vesicle and whether it is of appropriate size,” Tibary said.
This is also when the veterinarian checks for twins. Sometimes pregnancy will be lost when there are twins and they fix on the same side; chances for losing both are increased.
“This is one reason we check mares at 12 to 14 days. If there are twins, the embryo can still be moved. It does not stop its migration until day 16. We can separate and crush one of the embryos, allowing the other one to develop normally,” Tibary said.
“If the vesicle does not stop moving after day 16, there is something wrong. The embryo must fix at the base of the horn by day 16 or it will not survive. Another thing we look for is where the embryo stops. If it fixes in the body of the uterus instead of at the base of a horn, it will likely not be carried to term. It has to fix at the base of one of the horns,” Tibary said.
“We also look for edema. If there is excessive edema, something is wrong with the hormonal environment. Later, we want to see a proper embryo by day 21 or 22 and by day 25 we need to see a heartbeat. There are situations in which the vesicle will develop and be maintained for as long as 30 days, without a proper embryo inside it. The embryo died earlier,” he noted.
Later ultrasound examination looks at the fluid and membranes.
“We can detect things like a dislodged vesicle, loss of fluid, etc. The clinician may decide to help the pregnancy with progesterone or altrenogest. It is important to follow mares after breeding to determine the ones that may be at risk of losing the pregnancy or having complications,” Tibary said. TFH
to operate a stand-alone slot and card casino by removing the statutory requirement to conduct racing and fund purses and breeder awards for the horsemen that helped them qualify for the gaming license and supply the horses for the races. The push for decoupling by 1/ST Racing is disturbing, selfish and unfounded. 1/ST Racing should be applauded for their significant investment in racing, but it is counterintuitive that a company with “Racing” in their name would want to do anything that would harm racing in Florida and throughout the country. Make no mistake, if this bill passes, the impact WILL harm racing and will not be limited to Florida, the ripple effects will be nationwide, and the message will be deafening.
It is our hope and belief that decoupling of Thoroughbred racing will not become a reality in Florida. The problem is that the existence of the bill itself has created obvious concern, uncertainties throughout the industry and has likely impacted breeding decisions. This is not an isolated Florida issue; it is a national issue and opposition to the bill includes leaders from throughout the country that actually compete with Florida in attracting horsemen and breeders to race and breed in their state. This bill creates a disincentive to race.
The legislators have consistently and historically recognized the importance of Thoroughbred racing and breeding in Florida by creating a statutory framework that protects and promotes the Thoroughbred industry. The current effort to pass decoupling is ill founded and will favor one company while inflicting wide reaching damage to a signature industry of Florida and more importantly the livelihood of the thousands of people that rely upon the stability of the Thoroughbred industry.
In 2021, the legislators once again recognized the profound impact of the Thoroughbred industry to the state and specifically excluded Thoroughbred racing from being
decoupled and retained other protective measures to maintain racing days. In fact, when slot machines were initially approved in 2005, statutory language for Thoroughbred permitholders were unique compared to the other pari-mutuel permitholders. Since day one with the support of horsemen, breeders, and the Thoroughbred tracks (including Gulfstream Park and Calder), there has been a statutory requirement for an agreement for purses and breeders’ awards to be in place before a slot license could be issued to a Thoroughbred permitholder. Since the inception of slots, Jai Alai, Greyhound, and Standardbred permitholders have never been required to share slots revenue or have an agreement with the underlying participants. The requirements for Quarter Horse permitholders were ineffective due to loopholes in the statute.
Owners, breeders, trainers, and all horsemen have options when considering where to race and breed. Hence, it is vital that Florida continues to support Thoroughbred racing and breeding and not force businesses and jobs to flee Florida to more welcoming states. Having a vibrant horse industry in Florida that is competitive with other states protects an established, signature industry that not only provides a tremendous economic impact but promotes and preserves greenspace.
While it is certainly the prerogative of the owners of Gulfstream Park to walk away from racing and develop or sell their property, they do not and should not have the right to walk away with parting gifts of standalone slots and cards from the backs of the horsemen and breeders that are their partners and were critical in obtaining these privileges.
Decoupling will send the wrong message. Now is the time to do the right thing; step up, withdraw the bill as well as the notion of decoupling before it creates any more damage. TFH
2024 FLORID A-BREDS
FLORIDA-BREDS
Topped All Regional Breeding States by
•Combined Breeder, Stallion and Open-Race Owner Awards,
•Starters, Starts, WINS,
•Open Stakes Wins and
•GRADED STAKES WINS
Equine Speed is a Major Florida Export
*Except Kentucky
TAMMY A. GANTT
Associate Vice President Director of Membership Services & Events
FEC Contributing Editor, Sales and Industry Affairs,
FTC Executive Director
No Decoupling Help Us Make a Difference
Since 2011, FTBOA has been defeating the decoupling battle. We plan to do so again in 2025, and your help can make a difference. We are providing ‘Calls to Action’ on our website at FTBOA.com. These include:
• Sign the National HBPA petition against House bill 105
• Sign up for Wire to Wire to receive updates on the issue
• If you are a Florida resident, sign the National HBPA petition against Senate bill 408
• If you are a Florida industry member or business that benefits from the Thoroughbred industry, write a letter to your legislator
• Share our ‘No Decoupling’ efforts on your social media from our Meta (Facebook), X (Twitter), Blue Sky and LinkedIn pages
• Share, print and post our Decoupling: A Multibillion-Dollar Threat to Florida’s WorldRenowned Thoroughbred Legacy flyer
• Encourage FTBOA membership
FTBOA Member Day
I am excited to announce the FTBOA Member Day at the Races will be on Sunday, March 30 on
Florida Cup Day at Tampa Bay Downs at 11225 Race Track Road in Tampa. Through a progressive partnership of Tampa Bay Downs, FTBOA, and HBPA, we present to you a special day to celebrate the finest Florida-breds in competition for an estimated $750,000 in purses.
Gates open at 11 a.m. and the first race post time is 12:15 p.m. Sponsors of the event include Equistaff, Esmark, NYRA Bets, Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company, Pleasant Acres Stallions and Stonehedge Farm South.
Spotlights
Member Spotlights and Stallion Spotlights are published each week in Wire to Wire. For more than a year, we have been showcasing our members who have history in the industry and those new to the business. We’ve heard great stories about how members got into the business, why they love it so much and, of course, tales about their racehorse dreams, challenges and successes.
The Stallion Spotlights share valuable information not always found on a stallion page. These profiles give more exposure to the great stallions standing in Florida. TFH
Tropical GALA
14
JOHN D. FILER
Already the sire of TDN Rising Star NOONI, the $1.8 MILLION OBS MARCH SALE TOPPER and front-running winner of the $150,000 SORRENTO S. (G3) at Del Mar and runner-up in the $200,000 OAK LEAF S. (G2) at Santa Anita.
Also the sire of WIN N YOUR IN ($218,950), winner of the $200,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Susan’s Girl S. and the Sharp Susan S.
Look for exciting second-crop 2YOS at the OBS March Sale.
