florida horse
DESCRIPTION
Janauray 2012 Florida HorseTRANSCRIPT
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4 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012
20 ELITE STATUS2011 Florida-bred Champions By Jo Ann Guidry
28 BIG NIGHT FOR FLORIDAAT ECLIPSEAWARDSFlorida-bred Musical Romance was named championFilly and Mare Sprinter; Havre de Grace is Horse of theYear. By Michael Compton
36 ACCELERATED EARNING POWERa robust Stakes and FOA Program in place at Gulf-stream Park and Tampa Bay Downs By Michael Compton
40 STALLION SHOWCASEDoor were open to prospective breeders in January asthe areas popular stallion shows continued.Photos by Serita Hult
54 EQUINE CARE: ISMY HORSE JUST FAT?—or does he have a metabolic disease?By Sarah M Reuss,VMD,DACVIM
COVER PHOTO: BREEDERS’ CUP LIMITEDCONTENTS PHOTO OF FORT LOUDON: JIM LISA
DEPARTMENTS/COLUMNS
FEATURES
J a n u a r y 2 0 1 2 V O L 5 5 / I S S U E 1
CONTENTS
6 PRESIDENT’S REPORT8 EDITOR’SWELCOME10 FLORIDA FOCUS48 LEADING FLORIDA SIRES53 FTBOA CHASETOTHE CHAMPIONSHIP58 YOUR FLORIDA HORSE PARK By Connie Duff Wise
59 FARMMANAGEMENT By Jamie Cohen
60 PRACTICALLY SPEAKING62 PLAYER’S PAGE:QUIET TOO LONG By Paul Moran
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FTBOA OFFICERS ANDBOARD OF DIRECTORS
Phil Matthews, PresidentBrent Fernung, First Vice President FrancisVanlangendonck, SecondVice President
Sheila DiMare, Secretary Bonnie M. Heath III, Treasurer
DIRECTORS
CEO & EXECUTIVEVICE PRESIDENTLonny T. Powell
801 SW 60thAvenue • Ocala, Florida 34474(352) 732-8858 • Fax: (352) 867-1979 • www.ftboa.com
American Horse Publications • FLORIDA MAGAZINE ASSOCIATION • MEMBER BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU
© THE FLORIDA HORSE (ISSN 0090-967X) is publishedmonthly except July by THE FLORIDA HORSE, INC., 801SW 60th Ave., Ocala, Florida 34474, including the annual Sta-tistical Review in February.
Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors anddo not necessarily reflect those of Florida Equine Publicationsor the Florida Thoroughbred Breedersʼ and Ownersʼ Associa-tion. Publication of any material originating herein is expresslyforbidden without first obtaining written permission from THEFLORIDA HORSE©.
Statistics in the publication relating to results of racing inNorth America are compiled from data generated by Daily Rac-ing Form, Equibase, Bloodstock Research Information Serv-ices, and The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc., thecopyright owners of said data. Reproduction is prohibited.
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Printed by Boyd Brothers, Inc. BOYD
THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012 5
Joe Barbazon Linda Appleton PotterCraig Bernick George RussellDean DeRenzo Jessica SteinbrennerRoy Lerman Charlotte C. WeberDiane Parks Eddie Woods
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Michael Compton
BUSINESS MANAGER
Patrick Vinzant
ART DIRECTOR
John Filer
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
JoAnn Guidry
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Beverly Kalberkamp
CORRESPONDENTS
Jay Friedman, Doug McCoy, Cynthia McFarland, Mark Shuffitt
PUBLISHERFlorida Equine Publications, Inc.
(A corporation owned by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association)
Executive Office - 801 SW 60th Avenue • Ocala, Florida 34474
BOARD OF DIRECTORSPhil Matthews, President/Board Chairman
Brent Fernung, 1st Vice PresidentFrancis Vanlangendonck, 2nd Vice President
Sheila DiMare, SecretaryBonnie M. Heath III, Treasurer
CEO & EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Lonny T. Powell
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Caroline T. Davis
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6 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012
president’s report
Phil Matthews,President FTBOASERITA HULT PHOTO
By PHIL MATTHEWS
As members of the FTBOA, many of us don’t
have the opportunity to work with the staff
of the organization, whether they are on
the publications side or on the membership side.
Personally, I had little contact with most of those
people prior to my serving on the board of directors.
It has been a gratifying experience to get to know all
of these people and to witness first-hand the dedi-
cation to their work and their commitment to the As-
sociation.
Today, I would like to address one person in par-
ticular, Michael Compton, editor-in-chief of Florida
Equine Publications.
To give Michael the label of editor frankly sells
him short. He has been much more than that; the
proverbial glue that holds that department together.
Michael came to us from California 12 years ago
and he brought with him a passion and respect for
horse racing. Accolades followed soon after his ar-
rival with numerous awards from American Horse
Publications (AHP). In fact, The Florida Horse
magazine is AHP’s reigning five-time best state or
regional publication in the equine industry.
Beyond Michael’s literary skills, he brought a
team mentality to Florida Equine Publications (FEP)
and a strong work ethic. This team atmosphere be-
came contagious with his fellow employees.
It is literally with a heavy heart that I tell you
Michael is leaving us. He is moving on to pursue
his dreams and we wish him the very best.
Michael Compton will be sorely missed and even
harder to replace. This is obvious to anyone that
reads our publications and even more so to those
of you that had the opportunity to work more
closely with him on your advertising and other
publishing projects.
Brent Fernung may have said it best, “Michael
Compton has proven over the years to be one of the
most conscientious people that I have come in con-
tact with. He is an excellent writer with an astute
knowledge of horse racing and breeding, talents that
are in short supply. That, combined with his work
ethic, guarantees he will be sorely missed by the
Florida Thoroughbred industry.
For all of us, I would like to tell Michael that
we will miss him greatly but wish him the very best
in all of his future endeavors. Thanks, Michael, for
all you’ve done for us. �
Phil Mathews
Michael Compton has proven over the years to be one of
the most conscientious people that I have come in contact
with. He is an excellent writer with an astute knowledge of
horse racing and breeding, talents that are in short supply.
That, combined with his work ethic, guarantees he will be
sorely missed by the Florida Thoroughbred industry.
—Brent Fernung
ProverbialGlue
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Purpose and passion. The culture of the Thor-
oughbred industry is based on competitiveness.
Having a purpose and being passionate can cer-
tainly help generate victories of all kinds, for horses and
people, alike. The team at Florida Equine Publications
(FEP) and its stable of freelance talent has worked with
purpose and passion throughout my 12-year tenure as
editor-in-chief. Collectively,we have vigorously pursued
excellence on behalf of the readers of themagazine and
themembers of the FloridaThoroughbredBreeders’and
Owners’Association (FTBOA).
This columnmarksmy last as editor-in-chief of The
Florida Horsemagazine as I am moving on to pursue
new creative directions this year.
When I look back over my length of service to FEP
and the FTBOA, I am proud of what we have accom-
plished together—the entire staff, board of directors,
the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer
Services, readers and advertisers.
In March of 2000, following 10 years at California
Thoroughbredmagazine, I movedmy family across the
country to take the reins of The Florida Horse andWire
to Wire. Thanks to Richard Hancock, Jo Ann Guidry,
Patrick Vinzant, Jon Siegel and Terry Leffel, the tran-
sition from living in Southern California to Ocala/Mar-
ion County was an easy one.
It didn’t take long for me to gain a great appreciation
of what makes the Ocala area distinctive: open green
space, historic farms and a deep respect for horses has
clearly helped shaped this dynamic community.Over the
last decade, I have had the privilege to serve the com-
munity as a former boardmember of both the Public Ed-
ucationFoundation ofMarionCounty andmore recently
theMarion County Chamber of Commerce.
The highlights of chronicling Florida’s Thorough-
bred industry are too numerous to mention here. Of
course, I covered Breeders’ Cup victories—Ginger
Punch in the slop at Monmouth Park in 2007, Dubai
Majesty,Awesome Feather and BigDrama at Churchill
Downs in 2010 and Musical Romance this past No-
vember—immediately spring to mind.
My first article for the magazine 12 years ago was a
feature on Needles being inducted into the prestigious
Hall of Fame at the National Museum of Racing in
Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The storied Florida-bred’s long
awaited honor asHorse ofYesteryearwaswelcomenews
to the state’s prizedThoroughbred industry.
Bonnie Heath, III, whowas 6 years oldwhen his fa-
ther’s racehorse became the first Florida-bred in history
towin theKentuckyDerby, arranged a luncheon forme
to meet his father and interview him for the story. Over
lunch at Golden Hills Country Club we relived Nee-
dles’ historic Derby victory and all the emotions sur-
rounding his dramatic come-from-behind score.
Everyone affiliatedwith Florida’s horse industry for any
length of time understands that Needles’ Derby win
sparked an industry in Florida and he is credited with
being responsible for selling asmuch land in the area as
any real estate agent at that time.
Florida lost industry pioneers in the last 12 years.
Bonnie Heath, Fred Hooper, John Franks, Harry Man-
gurian, Arthur Appleton and George Steinbrenner are
just a few. I was fortunate to havemet all of them. It was
an honor remembering their accomplishments in print.
Their contributions to the Thoroughbred industry will
be felt for generations to come. Inmymany guided tours
of FTBOA’s gallery, I shared with curious visitors the
trophies, racing silks and photographs that highlight and
immortalize their greatest triumphs on the racetrack.
On Feb. 28, 2006, I watched a handsome juvenile
colt by Forestry parade around Calder’s paddock prior
to entering the auction ring during that year’s Fasig-
Tipton sale. Moments later, well quite a few moments
later, the Florida-bred colt was hammered down at a
record $16 million.
It was evident to everyone in attendance that day that
Coolmore and Darley had locked horns on the colt.
When the bidding came to a rousing conclusion, Cool-
more had prevailed. Later named The Green Monkey,
the colt was unable to deliver on the promise he flashed
at the sale in his brief racing career. Hope springs eter-
nal in this business, however, and his chance to make a
name for himself continues today as he stands stud in
Ocala at Hartley/De RenzoThoroughbreds.
In 2003, I attended the one andonlyGreat StateChal-
lenge at Sam Houston Race Park in Houston, Texas. It
8 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012
editor’s welcome
Michael Compton/JOE DIORIO PHOTO
It didn’t take long for me to gain a great appreciation ofwhat makes the Ocala area distinctive: open green space,
historic farms and a deep respect for horses has clearlyhelped shaped this dynamic community.
FarewellEditorsWelcome_Jan_USE.qxd:EditorWelcome 1/19/12 2:40 PM Page 8
THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012 9
was a day designed to shine a spotlight on state-bred run-
ners fromaround the country.Runners from theSunshine
State nearly stole the show that December afternoon,
winning two of the day’s stakes races with My Cousin
Matt and Elegant Designer, placing in two others and
falling toKentucky byonly twopoints, 36-34, in the end.
I traveled to BuenosAires in 2009 as part of a trade
mission toArgentina.As a guest of theArgentine Jockey
Club and theArgentinaThoroughbred BreedersAssoci-
ation, I took in the festivities surrounding that year’s re-
newal of the Grade 1 Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini, the
last leg ofArgentina’sTriple Crown, at San Isidro.
On that trip, in the company of Paul Davis from the
Department ofAgriculture andwithmywife serving as
an interpreter, I discovered that many conversations I
had with horsemen there mirrored the discussions we
have with horsemen here at home. Paramount issues
facing our industry are universal. People in other coun-
tries are concerned about the Thoroughbred industry’s
future and care passionately about the health and wel-
fare of the horses, aboutmedication issues and integrity.
In November of 2006, I received a hand-written let-
ter fromJohnNerud following a feature onhimpublished
in themagazine. It read simply: “Thank you for sending
me The Florida Horsemagazine. Florida’s breeding in-
dustry has grown up since the 1960s, and so has The
Florida Horse magazine. Regards, John.” Those few
lines from a legendary horsemanmean a lot to me.
I met Karl Koontz, the first editor of The Florida
Horse, for a feature on the 50-year anniversary of the
magazine, in 2008. Koontz was the editor of the maga-
zine’s inaugural issue in 1958.With horses working out
on the track at OBS one morning, we sat in the bleach-
ers overlooking the track and remembered his early days
at the helm of the publication. Hewas a treasure trove of
memories. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip down memory
lane and talking about the standout horses of that gener-
ation. He recalled them all with stunning clarity.
The print publishing industry has undoubtedly ex-
perienced tremendous change in
recent years. With the delivery
of information changing as fast
as advancing technology, we are
definitely in an age of transition.
It hasalwaysbeenourprimary
mission at FEP to make sure that
your interactions with the publi-
cationaremeaningful.Articlesare
designed tohelp readersbetterun-
derstand Florida’s Thoroughbred
industry and the people responsi-
ble forbreeding,owning, training,
selling and racing Florida-breds.
It has been a pleasure chron-
icling the exploits of Florida-bred racehorses and their
connections in print for FEP and the FTBOA. I am ex-
cited aboutmy future, and I know that despite the tough
economic times that have hit theThoroughbred indus-
try in recent years, Florida is poised for recovery and is
ready to embark on a new era of prosperity. �
CIND
YMI
KELL
PHOT
O
It has been a pleasure chronicling
the exploits of Florida-bred race-
horses and their connections in print
for FEP and the FTBOA. I am ex-
cited about my future, and I know
that despite the tough economic
times that have hit theThoroughbred
industry in recent years, Florida is
poised for recovery and is ready to
embark on a new era of prosperity.
EditorsWelcome_Jan_USE.qxd:EditorWelcome 1/19/12 2:40 PM Page 9
By PATRICK VINZANT
Florida-breds took center stage at Gulf-
stream Park on Jan. 8 with the sixth running
of the $60,000 Ocala Stakes. The Todd
Pletcher trained R Holiday Mood looked to
be the winner coming to the wire at the Hal-
landale oval, but a late rally by the Mark
Casse trained Delightful Mary proved too
close to call and resulted in a dead-heat.
R Holiday Mood went to the lead soon
after the start in the 1-mile contest for fillies
and mares 4-years-old and up. She was
hounded by a host of pursuers, including de-
fending race champAll Due Respect. R Hol-
iday Mood set the pace under pressure. She
was headed byAll Due Respect in the stretch,
but came back on to regain the lead and just
lasted to finish on even terms with Delight-
ful Mary. She set fractions of 23.91, 46.67,
1:11.10 and stopped the teletimer in 1:37.25.
Favored All Due Respect finished a length
back in third.
“When they crossed the wire I thought she
got beat,” said Todd Pletcher. “I had her en-
tered in an allowance race earlier in the meet,
but she tied up and we had to scratch her. I
think she’s best at six or seven furlongs, but
we thought we’d try her going a mile in this
spot and got half-lucky.”
R Holiday Mood races for her breeder E.
Paul Robsham Stable LLC. The Ocala score
marked the fourth win in seven starts for the
daughter of Trippi. She won the Miss Preak-
ness Stakes at Pimlico on May 20. She now
has career earnings of $127,800.
Jockey John Velazquez was pleased with
the effort his charge gave to finish in a dead-
heat.“I wasn’t able to get her to relax the way
I wanted in the first part. I kind of played
give-and-take with her a little bit because I
didn’t want to fight with her toomuch. When
she switched leads I hit her and she took off.
But then Delightful Mary came to us and I
was like ‘man, after fighting the whole way
here comes another,’” Velazquez said of R
Holiday Mood. “I was proud of her though,
she never gave up.”
Trainer Mark Casse was looking for De-
lightful Mary to return to the form that
earned her the 2010 Sovereign Award in
Canada for the top 2-year-old filly. The
$500,000 OBS graduate was bred by Hobeau
Farms and races for John C. Oxley.
“I thought she got up. I don’t think she
saw that other horse down on the inside,”
said Casse, whose filly was making only
her second lifetime start on dirt and first
since finishing third in the 2010 Breeders’
Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). She has five
wins in eight starts with earnings of
$435,277.
Casse said that the $300,000 Florida Sun-
shine Millions Distaff at Gulfstream Park on
Jan. 28may be next for the daughter of Lime-
house, while Pletcher was undecided about R
Holiday Mood’s next start.
“She ran so hard today I don’t think I can
bring her back in the Sunshine Millions.
That’s probably too close. We’ll see,”
Pletcher said.
10 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012
Get Rich Quick
Get Rich Quick toStand at Coco Ranch
Florida-breds Dead-heat
COGL
IANE
SEPH
OTO
Get Rich Quick will enter stud this
year at Guillermo Morales’ Coco Ranch
nearAnthony.A graded stakes-placed son
of Seeking the Gold, Get Rich Quick will
stand for $2,500 live foal.
Get Rich Quick ran second in the 2010
Colonel E.R. BradleyHandicap (G3). Dur-
ing his career, he won or placed in 13 of
34 starts and earned $272,566.
Get RichQuick is out of the Strawberry
Road (AUS) mare Danka. He is a half
brother to five stakes horses including Be-
danken and Much Obliged. For more in-
formation on Get Rich Quick contact
Guillermo Morales at 352-362-5877.
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THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012 11
It’s Me MomRomps in Minaret
It has taken 85-year-old breeder andowner Thomas Bosch of Holiday, Fla. his en-tire adult life to get a horse like Florida-bredIt’s Me Mom.
The wait has been worth it.“We’ve had a lot of winners, but none like
her,” said Bosch’s wife of 59 years, Jean, afterthe 3-year-old filly, trained by Lynne Scace,closed her ascendant 2011 campaign with an8¼-length victory from Moon Buzz in the50,000 Minaret Stakes at Tampa Bay Downson Dec. 31.
It’s Me Mom’s time of 1:09.68 for the sixfurlongs shattered the stakes record of 1:102/5 set by Forli’s Lass in 1993 and was lessthan a second off the track record of 1:08.69set in April by Sneaking Uponyou.
It’s Me Mom is 8-for-13 lifetime, includingfour stakes victories. The winner’s share of$30,000 raised her career earnings to$335,200. It’s Me Mom paid $3.60 as theheavy favorite in the 10-horse field. Her win-ning margin was the same as the margin sheposted winning the Minaret Prep on Dec. 7.
“Oh, we love her,” Jean Bosch said. “She’swonderful. She has always been good to us.Her mother was great for us, too – she brokeher maiden here at Tampa in 2006. We hadhopes It’s MeMomwould be this good, but wedidn’t know.We just hoped and hoped.”
Ridden by regular rider Willie Martinez, It’sMe Mom was ahead by three lengths beforethe other nine fillies andmares had a chance toreact. With scant encouragement from Mar-tinez, It’s Me Mom cranked out quarter-milefractions of 22.07 and 44.65 and was neverthreatened a step of the way, Martinez sittingvirtually statue-like throughout the stretch.
Leandro Goncalves, the jockey on runner-up Moon Buzz out of the Steve Margolis barn,offered no excuses.
Yournotthebossofme finished third.
Florida-bred Itʼs Me Mom
in Ocala Stakes
COOL
EYPH
OTO
Florida-breds Delightful Mary (outside)and R Holiday Mood dead-heat
Singlet Captures Xtra Heat StakesBy PATRICK VINZANT
Florida-bred Singlet easily captured the $73,500 Xtra Heat Starter Stakes for 3-year-
old fillies atAqueduct on Jan. 5. The daughter of Real Quiet bred by the McKathan Broth-
ers defeated Union Victory by six
lengths as the 3-5 favorite.
Ramon Dominguez was aboard
theTony Dutrow charge who won for
the third time in four starts. She
completed the six furlongs over the
inner dirt in 1:11.73. Singlet paid
$3.30, $2.40 and $2.10. Union Vic-
tory returned $3.50 and $4, and
Torchme paid $6.60 to show.
Florida-bred Singlet
COGL
IANE
SEPH
OTO
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12 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012
Mr. Prankster came fromoff the pace and
a six-week layoff to win the $50,000 Turfway
Prevue Stakes at Turfway Park Jan. 7, getting
back on track for trainerMikeMaker, who co-
owns the colt with Thomas Conway. John
McKee was aboard for the well timed ride.
Magical Season, also trained by Maker,
finished 31⁄2 lengths behindMr. Prankster after
getting shuffled back early and closing hard
up the center of the track. Frankie is Rock
tracked the pace and got up for third, another
half-length back.
Written for 3-year-olds going 61⁄2 fur-
longs, theTurfway Prevue is the first of three
local preps for the Vinery Racing Spiral
Stakes (G3) in March.
Pressured by D’Wildcat Road all the way
to the top of the stretch, Jasizzle jumped out
first under Perry Ouzts and set the first three
quarters in :22.46, :45.49 and 1:11.83. After
D’Wildcat Road gaveway, Ouzts urged Jasiz-
zle to meet a new challenge coming fromCir-
cus Clown and Frankie is Rock, but while
those twowere bearing downon the pacesetter,
Mr. Prankster had steadily advanced from the
middle of the field and ran them all down, free
and clear five wide. Final time was 1:18.96.
Mr. Prankster was the post time favorite at
6-5 and paid $4.40, $3, and $2.80.
After missing by a neck in his debut inAu-
gust,Mr. Prankster won his next race and then
was a strong second in the Fitz Dixon Me-
morial Jr. Stakes. His steady advance was
temporarily stalled by a disappointing finish
in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) in No-
vember and a subsequent brief illness. The
colt earned his first stakes win with his return
to action in the Turfway Prevue.
By Stonewall Farm Ocala stallion It’s No
Joke out of Cremedelacramer, by Avenue of
Flags, Mr. Prankster now has two wins and
two seconds in five starts and earnings of
$88,612. – Turfway Park Publicity
LANG
PHOT
O
Florida stallion Itʼs No Joke
SUZI
EOL
DHAM
PHOT
O
Stonewall Farm Ocala stallion It’s Not Jokerepresented by first stakes winner
Mr. Prankster Takes Turfway Prevue
Mr. Prankster
Apriority OvercomesTrouble to WinMr. Prospector
Trainer David Fawkes was at
Gulfstream Park earlier this year after
sending out Harold Queen’s 2010
Eclipse champion sprinter Florida-
bred Big Drama to set a track record
winning the $100,000 Mr. Prospector
Stakes. He was back in the same spot
Dec. 31 after Donald Dizney’s 4-year-
olf Florida homebred colt Apriority
won the same race.
While Big Drama won off by four
lengths in the six-furlong dash, Apri-
ority won by a desperate nose after a
near disastrous start when he stumbled
badly, nearly unseating jockey Luis
Saez while breaking from the one-post
in the talented field of seven as Klar-
avich Stables and William H.
Lawrence’s 3-year-old gelding Florida-
bred Zero Rate Policy set the pace
under pressure.
A son of Grand Slam,Apriority was
making his first start since finishing
sixth in the $1.5 million Breeders’Cup
Sprint (G1) at Churchill Downs on
Nov. 5 and paid $7.20 for $2 to win
while timed the distance in 1:09:28
over the fast track. Zero Rate Policy
finished a game second with Stud El
Aguila’s 3-year-old Indiano only a
half-length further back in third.
– Gulfstream Park Publicity
Florida-bred Apriority
COGL
IANE
SEPH
OTO
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C C’s Pal started off the New
Year the same way she ended her
2011 campaign – in the winner’s
circle at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Taking over from the pacesetters
in midstretch, the 5-year-old mare
rolled to a commanding 2¾-length
victory in the 141st edition of the
$75,000 Ladies Handicap, her sec-
ond straight stakes victory atAque-
duct. Ridden by JuniorAlvarado, C
C’s Pal settled in third as 6-5 fa-
vorite Katy Now and Bahama
Bound raced through fractions of
24.95, 49.74 and 1:13.86, then charged up on
the outside to take the lead approaching the
eighth pole, hitting the wire in 1:52.85 for the
11⁄8 miles.
“She tries hard,” said Alvarado, who was
aboard when C C’s Pal won the six-furlong
Garland of Roses on Dec. 3. “When I rode
her six furlongs, she was running in the end.
I rode her long right now, and she was run-
ning in the end, too. [Distance] doesn’t matter,
she’s just a big-heart filly.”
C C’s Pal has now won three of her four
starts since joining trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr.’s
barn, two of them sprinting. She also placed
third in the Grade 2 Go forWand, a one-turn
mile, on Nov. 25.
“To be honest, I wasn’t sure she
could get amile and an eighth, but if
you’re ever going to get a mile and
eighth it’s going to be here on this
inner track,” said winning owner
Eric Fein of CC’s Pal, who had also
been under consideration for the six-
furlong Interborough on the New
Year’s Day card. “I left it [which
race] up to Rick.We actually would
have run in both if we could have.
That’s how good she is doing.”
Sent off as the 7-5 second
choice, CC’s Pal returned $4.80 for
a $2win bet and extended her career record to
7-5-5 from 25 starts. She has earned
$451,086. The daughter of Alex’s Pal was
bred in Florida by Beth Bayer.
Bahama Bound finished a neck in front of
Katy Now for second, with One Last Dance
finishing fourth and Fools in Love fifth. Kar-
mageddon was scratched. – NYRA Press
14 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012
COGL
IANE
SEPH
OTO
C C’s Pal Rings in New Year With Victory in Ladies
Longtime Ocala horsemanWill Johnson has been tabbed as the
new stallion manager at John Sykes’CloverLeaf Farms II and has
already begun duties at the Reddick-based stud farm.
An Ocala resident since 1975, Johnson most notably worked
for 20 years at Franks Farms stallion operation in Ocala.
Johnson will oversee established leading Florida sire
Repent, along with his top son Crown of Thorns, who
will stand his first season at stud in 2012.
“I cannot tell you how excited I am to have the op-
portunity to work with breeders again for such a top-
class stallion operation like CloverLeaf,” said Johnson.
“Mr. Sykes has always had a reputation for quality and
integrity. The quality shows in the top stallions he’s
brought to Ocala, and both Repent and Crown of
Thorns certainly uphold that tradition. They’re both
awesome individuals that sell themselves when you see them in
person and evaluate their credentials. The integrity is something
I am expected to carry out with breeders, and I can’t wait to get
to work with my fellow Florida horsemen during the upcoming
breeding season with these two exciting stallions.”
Repent is coming off a stellar year in 2011. He was the only
sire with five 2-year-old stakes winners – leading all sires in North
America – and also led all sires in Florida with 10 stakes winners
overall in 2011.
Crown of Thorns recently retired to Florida as a
multiple Grade 2 winner of $821,693. His biggest win
came during his undefeated 3-year-old campaign when
he dominated the Robert Lewis S. (G2) in stakes-
record time of 1:40.76 to become the early favorite for
the Kentucky Derby (G1).
“We’re thrilled to have such a respected and expe-
rienced horseman likeWill heading up the CloverLeaf
stallion division,” said Sykes. “His reputation for hon-
esty and hard work, along with his rapport with
breeders, will serve him well. We welcome him to the Clover-
Leaf team.”
For further inquiries, callWill Johnson at the farm at 352-591-
5871, or on his mobile at 352-427-1268.
SLOA
NPH
OTO
Will Johnson
Florida-bred C Cʼs Pal
Will Johnson Named Stallion Manager at CloverLeaf
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By MICHAEL COMPTON
Florida-bred Pomeroys Pistol carried a
class edge into the Sugar Swirl Stakes (G3)
against seven rivals atGulfstreamPark onDec.
10.AmyTarrant, her breeder, owner and trainer
had expressed some concern prior to the race
about her charge drawing the rail in the com-
pact field, but her pre-raceworrieswere erased
by the time the runners hit the top of the stretch
in the six-furlong, $100,000 event.
Under Javier Castellano, Pomeroys Pistol
was out-sprinted early and settled in behind
the early pacesetters. Approaching the far
turn, Pomeroys Pistol still found herself be-
hind a wall of horses. Once the field straight-
ened for the stretch drive, however, Castellano
swung his mount to the outside. Once in the
clear, she leveled off in a professional man-
ner and simply ran away from her rivals
through the lane en route to a facile, two-
length score, stopping the timer in 1:09.35.
“My only concern going into the race was
the one post,” said Tarrant. “I wasn’t worried
that she’s only had oneworkout sine theBreed-
ers’ Cup. I knowher andwhat she needs. I was
confident going into the race. She had three
quality weeks turned out on the farm, but
prettymuch kept herself fit running around her
paddock. I don’t like to grind on them before
they run.The time frame, five weeks since the
Breeders’ Cup, was perfect. Javier knows her
now and rides her with confidence.”
Castellano first partnered with Pomeroys
Pistol in the Gallant Bloom Handicap (G2)
Sept. 24 at Belmont Park. Pomeroys Pistol
won by four lengths that afternoon and
stamped her ticket to the Breeders’Cup Filly
and Mare Sprint (G1) at Churchill Downs on
Nov. 4. She bobbled at the break of that race
and finished a game fourth, about three
lengths behind fellow Sunshine State product
Musical Romance.
The Sugar Swirl was Castellano’s third
race calling the shots aboard Pomeroys Pistol.
“I had a beautiful trip,” he said, “a dream
trip. She is a really nice filly, really straight-
forward. I love her.You can do whatever you
want with her. I saved all the ground I could
and when I put her outside, she took off. She
was much the best in the field.”
Florida-bred Pica Slew, making her first
starts since January, finished second after
contesting the early pace. Strike the Moon
finished third.
Pomeroys Pistol has never finished
worse than third in four lifetime starts at
Gulfstream Park. Earlier this year she won
the Forward Gal Stakes (G2) and finished
second in the Old Hat Stakes (G3) and third
in the Davona Dale.
16 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012
Royal Currier Takes Valley ForgeBy MICHAEL COMPTON
Florida-bred Royal Currier proved his fondnes for the track surface at Parx Rac-
ing again on Dec. 20, taking down top prize in the $75,000 Valley Forge Stakes. In his
last trip to Parx, the son of Red Bullet set a six-furlong track record when he captured
the $250,000 Gallant Bob Stakes.
Kept slightly off the early pace, Royal Currier made a sweeping move around the
far turn of the six-furlong event, took command at the eighth pole and drew clear
late to score by 1¾ lengths under Stewart
Elliott. Royal Currier covered the distance
in 1:10.06 in notching his 8th victory
from 19 starts.
Bred by Adena Springs, Royal Currier is
conditioned by Patricia Farro and owned by
Mat Stables.
J J’s Lucky Train, winner of the Bay
Shore Stakes (G3) earlier this year, finished
second and odds-on favorite Poseidon’sWar-
rior was third.
Florida-bred Royal Currier
Pomeroys Pistol fires Best shot in Sugar Swirl
Florida-bredPomeroyʼs Pistol
COGL
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By JOANN GUIDRY
The 2011 Florida-bred champions were a
class of overachievers. The nine champions
won 22 stakes races in North America, in-
cluding 14 graded stakes. Of that latter number,
eight were Grade I stakes. And five of the nine be-
came millionaires in 2011.
Florida-bred Breeders’ Cup champion Musical
Romance claimed both the champion older female
and female sprinter titles. During a season that saw
him earn over a million dollars, Flat Out earned the
champion older male crown.
Fort Loudon swept the Florida Stallion Stakes on
hisway to being named the champion 2-year-oldmale.
Candrea proved the best of her division and tallied the
champion 2-year-old filly title. Brilliant Speed and
Turbulent Descent dominated their class, being named
champion 3-year-old colt and filly, respectively.
The fast and consistent Jackson Bend garnered
top honors as the champion male sprinter. In the
male and female turf divisions, the honors went to
two-time Grade I winner Teaks North and Bay to
Bay, respectively.
As a breeder, Ocala Stud was represented by three
Florida-bred champion in Musical Romance, Can-
drea and Turbulent Descent. Jacks Or Better Farm
was represented by Fort Loudon and Jackson Bend.
The Florida-bred champions are determined by
points accumulated during the year-long FTBOA
ChaseToThe Championship. In case of ties by points,
the tiebreaker is mostmoney earned.The Florida-bred
Horse of theYear and Breeder of theYear, as well as
other year-end awards are determined by the FTBOA
Board of Directors and season statistics.
20 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012
2011 Florida-bred Champions
Florida-bred Fort Loudon
JIM
LIS
AP
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TO
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THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012 21
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FORT LOUDON2011 FLORIDA-BRED CHAMPION
2-YEAR-OLD COLT
WhenFort Loudonwon the InReality Stakes onOc-
tober 15 at Calder RaceCourse, it was a historical
victory for Fred and JaneBrei’s JacksOrBetter Farm and
trainer Stanley Gold. That would be sweeping a division
of the Florida Stallion Stakes for three consecutive years.
Jacks Or Better homebreds Jackson Bend andAwesome
Feather swept the FSS in 2009 and 2010, respectively.
Now add Jacks Or Better homebred Fort Loudon to that
trifecta in 2011. Gold trained Jackson Bend, Awesome
Feather and Fort Loudon to their noteworthy accom-
plishment. It marked the first time in the history of the
FSS that the same combination of breeder/owner and
trainer has swept the series three years in a row.
After notching a pair of thirds in his first three outings,
Fort Loudon broke hismaiden in impressive fashion in his
fourth start. On July 16, the bay colt by Awesome of
Course rolled to a 10-length victory overChiptease. Itwas
a signal ofwhatwas to come in theFloridaStallionStakes.
First up was the $75,000 Dr. Fager Stakes of the
FSS on August 6. Fort Loudon, ridden by Luis Ju-
rado, made it look almost too easy as he cruised to a
win. He bested fellow Jacks Or Better homebred Ar-
gentine Tango by a length and a quarter with For Oby
in third. Winning time for the six furlongs was
1:13.55. Three weeks later on August 27, the
$125,000 Affirmed Stakes looked like a rerun of the
Dr. Fager Stakes. This time, Fort Loudon rolled to a
two-length victory and Argentine Tango was once
again second. Kings Over finished third. Fort Loudon
covered the seven furlongs in 1:26.75.
Well-rested after a six-week span between the Af-
firmed Stakes and the $300,000 In Reality Stakes, Fort
Loudon left no doubt that hewas the best Florida-bred 2-
year-old colt. He took over the lead in deep stretch, pow-
ering to victory by two and a half lengths. Twin took the
runner-up spot with Sarava’s Dancer settling for third.
Fort Loudon’s winning time for the eight and a half fur-
longs was 1:48.29. In sweeping the FSS, Fort Loudon
brought his seasonal record to fourwins and two seconds
in eight career starts. He banked $333,485 on the season.
Jacks Or Better Farm bought multiple graded stakes
winner and millionaire Lottsa Talc, the dam of Fort
Loudon, for $575,000 at the 1997 Keeneland Novem-
ber sale. She was in foal at the time to Unbridled’s Song.
By Talc out of Antilassa, by Anticipating, Lottsa Talc
won 16 stakes, including three graded stakes, and was
stakes-placed 15 times in a remarkable 65 starts. She
earned $1,206,248. LottsaTalc had a 2011 Consolidator
filly andwas bred back toAwesome of Course for 2012.
Stakes winner Awesome of Course, the sire of 2010
Florida-bred Eclipse champion Awesome Feather, was
also bred and raced by Jacks Or Better Farm. In addition
to Fort Loudon, he is also the sire of Jacks Or Better
homebreds Redbud Road, who won the Desert Vixen
Stakes, andAwesome Belle, whowon theMyDear Girl
Stakes, in the 2011 FSS filly division. Awesome of
Course, a son of Awesome Again out of the Lypard
mare Mais Oui, stands as property of Jacks Or Better
Farm at Brent and Crystal Fernung’s Journeyman Stud.
CANDREA2011 FLORIDA-BRED CHAMPION
2-YEAR-OLD FILLY
Candrea staked her claim to the Florida-bred 2-year-
old filly championship with a burst of brilliance in
the early fall. For the Trippi filly, raced by the trio of
KarlWatson,Mike Pegram and PaulWeitman, it proved
to be enough to claim the title.
Bred by Ocala Stud, Candrea flashed her preco-
ciousness early on. In her first start on July 7 at Holly-
wood Park, she broke her maiden by three and a half
lengths over Made to Love Her. Her winning time for
the five and a half furlongs was 1:04.20.
Candrea’s next start yielded her blacktype. She cap-
tured the Phil D. Shepherd Stakes on September 16 at
Fairplex. Her winning margin was four lengths over
Real Dream with Lasso From El Paso coming in third.
Candrea clocked a 1:24.87 for the seven furlongs. From
the Phil D. Shepherd Stakes, she was moved right into
22 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012
FLORIDA-BRED C H A M P I O N S 2011
FORT LOUDON2009 bay colt
by Awesome of Course –Lottsa Talc, by Talc
Breeder/Owner:Jacks Or Better FarmTrainer: Stanley Gold
2011 Race Record/Earnings:8-4-0-2/$333,485
2011 Stakes Record1st – In Reality Stakes (FSS)1st – Affirmed Stakes (FSS)1st – Dr. Fager Stakes (FSS)
JIMLIS
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Florida-bred Fort Loudon
FL_BredChampions.qxd:Florida Horse_template 1/19/12 2:52 PM Page 22
the top tier and a Grade I start.
In the Oak Leaf Stakes (G1) on October 2 at Santa
Anita, Candrea gave a good accounting of her abilities.
The Bob Baffert trainee finished second by half a length
toWeemissfrankie;Charm theMaker came in third. In but
five seasonal starts, Candrea posted twowins and one sec-
ond to bank $116,000.Ocala Stud bred, broke and trained
Candrea, selling her for $340,000 at the 2011 Ocala
Breeders’SalesMarch juvenile sale toSmackDownFarm.
Mike O’Farrell Jr., who serves as president of Ocala
Stud, privately bought stakes winner Burn Brightly, the
dam of Candrea. ByAmerican Chance out of theWood-
manmareHandleWithCare, BurnBrightlywon the 2000
Spring Fever Stakes and was stakes-placed four times on
her way to earning $147,407. Burn Brightly is also the
dam of Florida-bred stakes winner Dream ofAngels and
Florida-bred stakes-placed winner Good to Be Seen.
Dream ofAngels, also byTrippi and thus a full brother to
Candrea,won a trio of stakes andwas stakes-placed twice
to earn $227,090. Burn Brightly had a 2010 Montbrook
filly and was bred to Discreetly Mine for 2012.
Trippi, the sire ofCandrea and a former leadingFlorida
sire, previously stood at Ocala Stud. He was sold in 2008
and now stands at L’Ormarins Stud in SouthAfrica.
BRILLIANT SPEED2011 FLORIDA-BRED CHAMPION
3-YEAR-OLD COLT
Just call Brilliant Speed multi-talented. Charlotte
Weber’s Live Oak Stud homebred won 2011 graded
stakes on both the Polytrack surface and the turf, while
also being graded-stakes placed on the dirt. It was this
versatility that led him to a stellar season in which he
became a Grade I millionaire.
After Brilliant Speed posted
seconds in the Dania Beach
Stakes and Hallandale Beach
Stakes, both on the turf, trainer
Tom Albertrani changed the
game plan in a big way. He
shipped the bay Dynaformer
colt to Keeneland for the Blue
Grass Stakes (G1) on the Poly-
track synthetic surface.
Going off at odds of 19-1,
Brilliant Speeddelivered a stun-
ning win by a nose over Twin-
spired. Closing with a rush to
tally theBlueGrass Stakeswin,
Brilliant Speed covered the nine
furlongs in 1:50.92. The Blue
Grass Stakes victory earned the colt a start in theKentucky
Derby (G1), where he finished seventh to Animal King-
dom in the traffic-jam, 19-horse field. Skipping the shorter
Preakness Stakes (G1), Brilliant Speed’s next start would
come in the Belmont Stakes (G1). Brilliant Speed rallied
at the top of the stretch over a very sloppy track and fin-
ished a good third to Ruler On Ice.
For the Saratoga meet, it was time to switch Brilliant
Speed back to the turf with a successful outcome.As the
favorite in the Saranac Stakes (G3) o September 4, Bril-
liant Speed won by two and a half lengths in 1:48.73 for
the nine furlongs over the turf. Finished second was
Queen’splatekitten with King Congie third.
Next up for Brilliant Speed was a second by a length
toWestern Aristocrat on the turf in the Jamaica Handi-
cap (G1) at Belmont Park. He would close out his out-
standing season with a third to St. Nicolas Abbey (Ire)
THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012 23
CANDREA2009 bay filly by Trippi –Burn Brightly,by American Chance
Breeder: Ocala StudOwners: Karl Watson,Mike Pegram & Paul WeitmanTrainer: Bob Baffert2011 Race Record/Earnings5-2-1-0/$116,0002011 Stakes Record1st – Phil D. Shepherd Stakes2nd – Oak Leaf Stakes (G1)
BRILLIANT SPEED2008 bay colt by Dynaformer –Speed Succeeds, by Gone West
Breeder/Owner: Live OakStud/Live Oak Plantation
Trainer: Thomas Albertrani2011 Race Record/Earnings9-2-3-2/$1,022,0002011 Stakes Record1st – Blue Grass Stakes (G1)1st – Saranac Stakes (G3)2nd – Jamaica Handicap (G1)2nd – Dania Handicap2nd – Hallandale Beach Stakes3rd – Belmont Stakes (G1)3rd – Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1)
NYRA
PHOT
O
BENO
IT&A
SSOC
IATES
PHOT
O
Florida-bred Candrea
Florida-bred Brilliant Speed
FL_BredChampions.qxd:Florida Horse_template 1/23/12 9:49 AM Page 23
in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) on November 5 at
Churchill Downs. In nine outings on the year, Brilliant
Speed posted two graded stakes wins and was stakes-
placed five times to earn $1,022,000.
Brilliant Speed is out of the Gone West mare Speed
Succeeds,whowas purchased byWeber’s LiveOakPlan-
tation for $1.45million at the 2002Keeneland September
yearling sale. Unraced, Speed Succeedswas sold by Live
Oak, throughWarrendale Sales, agent, for $42,000 toHill
‘n’Dale Farm at the 2010Keeneland Januarymixed sale.
The last foal out of Speed Succeeds for Live Oak Stud
was Souper Speedy, a 2009 colt by Indian Charlie.
TURBULENT DESCENT2011 FLORIDA-BRED CHAMPION
3-YEAR-OLD FILLY
TurbulentDescentknowshowtodoanencore.Asa two
year old,Turbulent Descent was an undefeated Grade
I stakes winner. As a three year old, she notched a pair of
Grade I wins, a Grade II victory and was Grade I stakes-
placed twice. It was an outstanding season that earned the
Congrats filly the Florida-bred championship title.
After finishing second to Zazu in the Las Virgenes
Stakes (G1) on February 5 at SantaAnita,Turbulent De-
scent next scored a record-settingGrade Iwin. OnMarch
5, the Ocala Stud-bred filly got a measure of revenge,
besting Zazu by a neck in the SantaAnita Oaks (G1). In
doing so, she set a stakes-record time of 1:41.05 for the
eight and a half furlongs. The previous stakes record for
the race, known then as the Santa Susana Stakes, was
1:41 1/5 set by Hall of Famer Bold ‘n Determined.
TrainerMike Puype then shippedTurbulent Descent
to Keeneland for the Beaumont Stakes onApril 17.This
time she cruised to a five-length win over Honey Chile,
clocking 1:26.12 for the seven furlongs. Next stop was
the Acorn Stakes (G1) on June 11 at Belmont Park,
where Turbulent Descent finished second to It’s Tricky.
Summer means Saratoga and Turbulent Descent was
there in fine form. In the Test Stakes (G1) on August 6,
she beat sister Florida-bred Pomeroys Pistol by three and
three-quarters length. Her winning time for the seven fur-
longswas 1:24.17. It alsomarkedher initialNewYorkwin.
Turbulent Descent finished a disappointing fifth to
sister Florida-bred Musical Romance in the Breeders’
Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) on November 4 at
Churchill Downs. Ironically,Musical Romancewas also
bred and sold by Ocala Stud. With three wins and two
seconds in six starts, Turbulent Descent banked
$530,000 on the season. She is raced by Scott Sher-
wood’s Blinkers On Racing and partners.
Ocala Stud bought the unraced Forestrymare Roger’s
Sue, the dam of Turbulent Descent, for $105,000 at the
2004 Keeneland November mixed sale. She was in foal
at the time to Golden Missile. Ocala Stud sold Turbu-
lent Descent for $160,000 to Sherwood’s Blinkers On
Racing Stable at the 2010 OBS April juvenile sale.
Ocala Stud later sold Roger’s Sue privately to SFBlood-
stock and she had a 2011 In Summation colt.
Congrats, the sire of Turbulent Descent, previously
stood at Vinery Florida before being relocated to Vin-
ery Kentucky.
FLAT OUT2011 FLORIDA-BRED CHAMPION
OLDER MALE
Asa finally healthy five year old, Flat Out got down
to flat out running and winning in 2011. Nagged
by injuries and ailments in his first three seasons of rac-
ing, Flat Out made a grand total of only six starts,
notched three wins, andmade a little over $100,000. But
he showed he had talent, winning the 2009 Smarty Jones
Stakes at Oaklawn Park.That talent and being sound led
him to two graded stakes wins, four graded-stakes plac-
ings, more than a million dollars in earnings and a 2011
Florida-bred champion title.
Flat Out opened the season with a second to Awe-
someGem in the Lone Star Park Handicap (G3) onMay
30. Two starts later, the Preston Stables colorbearer
posted his first career graded stakes win. On July 2 at
Belmont Park, Flat Out captured the SuburbanHandicap
(G2) by a convincing six and a half furlongs over Hymn
Book.Winning time for the nine furlongs was 1:46.64.
Next stop for the Charles “Scooter” Dickey trainee
was Saratoga, where Flat Out first finished second to
24 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012
FLORIDA-BRED C H A M P I O N S 2011
TURBULENT DESCENT2008 bay filly by Congrats –
Roger’s Sue, by Forestry
Breeder: Ocala StudOwners: Blinkers On Racing
Stable & PartnersTrainer: Mike Puype
2011 Race Record/Earnings6-3-2-0/$530,000
2011 Stakes Record1st – Santa Anita Oaks (G1)
1st – Test Stakes (G1)1st – Beaumont Stakes (G2)
2nd – Acorn Stakes (G1)2nd – Las Virgenes Stakes (G1)
COGL
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Florida-bredTurbulent Descent
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Tizway in the Whitney Invitational Handicap (G1). He
followed that with a second to super filly Havre de
Grace in theWoodward Stakes (G1).
Moving on to Belmont Park, Flat Out proved that
NewYork was his kind of town. OnOctober 1, he hand-
ily won the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) by two
and a quarter lengths. Finishing second was Belmont
Stakes (G1) winner Drosselmeyer while Travers Stakes
(G1) winner Stay Thirsty was third. Flat Out clocked a
winning time of 2:03.17 for the 10 furlongs.
Flat Out then notched a disappointing fifth to
Drosselmeyer in the Breeders’Cup Classic (G1) on No-
vember 5 at Churchill Downs. He closed out the year
with a third to Wise Dan in the Clark Handicap (G1)
on November 25. In eight starts on the season, Flat Out
banked $1,195,283.
By Flatter out of Cresta Lil, by Cresta Rider, Flat Out
was bred byNicolaus Bock.The latter bought Cresta Lil
while she was carrying Flat Out for $5,000 at the 2005
KeenelandNovembermixed sale fromClairborne Farm,
agent. Cresta Lil, in foal to Anasheed, was then con-
signed byThoroughstock, agent, and sold for $3,500 to
A. Renee McCollum at the 2006 OBS October mixed
sale. Later acquired privately by Michael and Judy
Crowe, Cresta Lil’s last foal was PrairieWildcat, a 2008
Wildcat Heir filly.
Consigned by Thoroughstock, agent, Flat Out was
sold as a weanling for $11,000 to Picturesque Farm at
the 2006 OBS October mixed sale. Current owner Art
Preston purchased Flat Out for $85,000 from the Blue-
water Sales, agent, consignment at the 2007 Fasig-Tip-
ton Kentucky July yearling sale.
MUSICAL ROMANCE2011 FLORIDA-BRED CHAMPION
OLDER FEMALE / FEMALE SPRINTER
Musical Romance was the feel-good story of the
year. Purchased for amodest $22,000 as a two year
old, the Concorde’s Tune filly recovered from a cracked
pastern, and then went on to win the 2011 Breeders’Cup
Filly&Mare Sprint (G1) after being supplemented to the
race for $130,000.And talk about sharing thewealth,Mu-
sical Romance is owned by a nine-member partnership
racing under the banner ofMiami-based Pinnacle Racing
Stable. That partnership includes Adam Lazarus, the
founding and managing partner of Pinnacle Racing Sta-
ble, and Bill Kaplan, who trains Musical Romance.
At her Calder Race Course home base, Musical Ro-
mance began the season by winning a trio of stakes and
finishing second by a neck to Sassy Image in the Princess
Rooney Handicap (G1). She then left her home state for
the first time, shipping to Presque Isle Downs in northern
Pennsylvania. Undeterred by the change of scenery, Mu-
sical Romance prevailed by a neck over favoredArianaD
in the Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes (G2) on Sep-
tember 10. Inwinning her first graded stakes,MusicalRo-
mance covered the the six and a half furlongs in 1:16.40.
In the Thoroughbred Club ofAmerica Stakes (G2)
at Keeneland on October 8, Musical Romance was
second by a mere head to Holiday for Kitten. That ef-
fort and her outstanding season to date led the Pinna-
cle Racing Stable partnership to supplement Musical
Romance for $130,000 to the BC Filly &Mare Sprint
(G1) on November 4 at Churchill Downs. It proved to
be money well-spent as Musical Romance rallied
three-wide coming into the stretch, angled to the rail
and drew clear to win by a length and a quarter. With
the winner’s share of $540,000, Musical Romance
boosted her seasonal earnings to $1,040,734.
THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012 25
FLAT OUT2006 bay horse by Flatter –Cresta Lil, by Cresta Rider
Breeder: Nikolaus BockOwner: Preston Stables LLCTrainer: Charles L. Dickey2001 Race Record/Earnings8-2-3-1/$1,195,2832011 Stakes Record1st – Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1)1st – Suburban Handicap (G2)2nd – Whitney Invitational
Handicap (G1)2nd – Woodward Stakes (G1)2nd – Lone Star Park
Handicap (G3)3rd – Clark Handicap (G1)
MUSICAL ROMANCE2007 bay filly by Concorde’sTune – Candlelight Dinner,by Slew Gin Fizz
Breeder: Ocala StudOwner: Pinnacle Racing StableTrainer: Bill Kaplan2011 Race Record/Earnings14-5-3-1/$1,040,7342011 Stakes Record1st – Breeders’ Cup Filly &
Mare Sprint (G1)1st – Presque Isle Downs
Masters Stakes (G2)1st – U Can Do It Stakes1st – Ema Bovary Stakes1st – Barb’s Dancer Stakes2nd – Princess Rooney
Handicap (G1)2nd – Thoroughbred Club of
America Stakes (G2)2nd – Hollywood Wildcat
Handicap3rd – Connie Ann Stakes
COGL
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BREE
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LIMITE
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Florida-bred Flat Out
Florida-bred Musical Romance
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By the deceased Concorde’s Tune out of multiple
graded stakes-producer Candlelight Dinner, by SlewGin
Fizz, Musical Romance was bred and sold by Ocala
Stud, J. Michael O’Farrell Jr., president. Musical Ro-
mance sold for $22,000 at the 2009 OBSApril juvenile
sale to Bill Kaplan, agent for Pinnacle Racing Stable.
In addition to Musical Romance, Ocala Stud-bred
Candlelight Dinner is also the dam of Florida-bred
graded stakes winner Vuelve Ruben M. Candlelight
Dinner had a 2010 Montbrook colt, a 2011 Montbrook
filly and was bred to Circular Quay for 2012.
JACKSON BEND2011 FLORIDA-BRED CHAMPION
MALE SPRINTER
Jackson Bend, who swept the 2009 Florida StallionStakes series,wentwinless butwasgraded stakesplaced
four times in 2010. But the Hear No Evil 4-year-old colt
rebounded in a big way in 2011, winning a Grade I stakes
on his way to becoming amillionaire by season’s end.
Always a competitor, JacksonBend posted a second to
S.S. Stone in the Skip Away Stakes (G3) on April 3 at
Gulfstream Park. Next up was third to Motovato in the
MemorialDayHandicaponCalder.A road trip toSaratoga
would prove to be a winning tonic for Jackson Bend.
First up was the JamesMarvin Stakes on July 22 and
the small but gutsy chestnut colt tallied a win by two and
a half lengths over Hamazing Destiny. His winning time
for the seven furlongs was 1:20.91. Then on September
3 at Saratoga, Jackson Bend finally won his initial
graded stakes after 11 tries. But it was well worth the
wait as he won the Forego Stakes (G1) by three and a
quarter lengths over Jersey Twon with fellow Florida-
bred Aikenite third. Jackson Bend clocked a winning
time of 1:22.08 for the seven furlongs.
A month later, Jackson Bend was second to 2010
Eclipse champion Uncle Mo in the Kelso Handicap
(G2). Hewrapped up an outstanding season with a third
toAmazombie in the Breeders’Cup Sprint (G1).Trained
by Nick Zito, Jackson Bend tallied two wins, two sec-
onds and two thirds in eight starts to bank $422,000. To
date, he has career earnings of $1,250,950.
Bred by Fred and Jane Brei’s Jacks Or Better Farm,
Jackson Bend raced for his breeder when he swept the
2009 Florida Stallion Stakes. He now races for Robert
LaPenta and Fred Brei. Jackson Bend is pure Jacks Or
Better-bred top and bottom.
Hear No Evil, the sire of Jackson Bend, was bred and
raced by Jacks Or Better Farm. By Carson City out of
the Cox’s Ridge mare Nizy, stakes winner and graded
stakes-placed Hear No Evil earned $599,415. He stands
stud as property of Jacks Or Better Farm at Brent and
Crystal Fernung’s Journeyman Stud.
Sexy Stockings, the dam of Jackson Bend, is also a
Jacks Or Better homebred. In addition to Jackson Bend,
she is also the dam of Florida-bred stakes winner Garter
Belt and stakes-placed Grande Shores. By Tabasco Cat
out of graded stakes winner andmillionaire LottsaTalc,
by Talc, Sexy Stockings is a half-sister to Florida-bred
stakes winner Fort Loudon. Also a Jacks Or Better
homebred, Fort Loudon swept the 2011 Florida Stallion
Stakes and was named the 2011 Florida-bred champion
2-year-old colt. Sexy Stockings produced a 2010 Hear
No Evil filly and is in foal to Hear No Evil for 2012.
TEAKS NORTH2011 FLORIDA-BRED CHAMPION
TURF MALE
TeaksNorth became the member of two elite equine
clubs in 2011. He scored not one, but two Grade I
victories and became a millionaire as well.
Bred by J.D. And Phyllis Bryant’s BryLynn Farm,
Teaks North set the tone for his outstanding season with
his first start of the new year. On February 5, the 4-year-
old NorthernAfleet gelding bested Smart Bid by a nose
in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (G1). His win-
ning time for the nine furlongs over the turf was 1:46.39.
The victory gave Teaks North both his first graded
stakes and Grade I stakes win all rolled up in one.
Come summertime,Teaks North was doing anything
but taking at vacation at Monmouth Park. In the Mon-
mouth Stakes (G3) on June 12, the Justin Sallusto
trainee closed strongly in the final furlong to win by
26 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012
FLORIDA-BRED C H A M P I O N S 2011
JACKSON BEND2007 chestnut colt
by Hear No Evil –Sexy Stockings, by Tabasco Cat
Breeder: Jacks Or Better FarmOwners: Robert LaPenta
& Fred BreiTrainer: Nick Zito
2011 Race Record/Earnings8-2-2-2/$422,000
2011 Stakes Record1st – Forego Stakes (G1)
1st – James Marvin Stakes2nd – Kelson Handicap (G2)2nd – Skip Away Stakes (G3)
3rd – Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1)3rd – Memorial Day Handicap
BAY TO BAY2007 bay filly by Sligo Bay (Ire) –
Bala, by With Approval
Breeder: Adena SpringsOwner: Robert SmithenTrainer: Brian A. Lynch
2011 Race Record/Earnings7-1-2-1/$326,721
2011 Stakes Record1st – Nassau Stakes (G2)
2nd – Dance Smartly Stakes (G2)3rd – Diana Stakes (G1)
NYRA
PHOT
O
Florida-bred Jackson Bend
FL_BredChampions.qxd:Florida Horse_template 1/23/12 9:49 AM Page 26
three-quarters of a length over Sleepless Knight. Odds
on favorite Get Stormy finished third. Teaks North,who
races for Jules Boutelle, clocked 1:48.56 for the nine-
furlong turf test. Chalk up another graded stakes win.
But there was more to come. On July 2 in the United
Nations Stakes (G1), Teaks North kicked into another
gear in the midstretch and tallied his second Grade I ca-
reer win. He won by half a length over Chinchon (Ire)
with Stacelita (Fr) coming in third.Winning time for the
11 furlongs was 2:13.28.
On eight starts with three graded stakes wins, Teaks
North banked $817,564 on the season. He has career
earnings to date of $1,001,964.
The Bryants and Martha Fisher raced Teaks North
early in his career.. After being sold privately, he then
raced for Boutelle and Nick Sallusto in partnership with
Joe Bulger. In August 2010, Teaks North began racing
solely for Boutelle.
Teaks North is out of the deceased unraced High
Honors mare Teaksberry Road, who was acquired pri-
vately by BryLynn Farm. In addition to Teaks North,
Teaksberry Road is also the dam of Grade II stakes win-
nerWooden Phone, as well as stakes winners Chief Oki
Dokie and Teak Totem. Teaks North was the last foal
produced byTeaksberry Road, who died in 2009. Stakes
winner Teak Totem, a full sister to Teaks North, is a
member of the BryLynn Farm broodmare band. Teak
Totem is the dam of Florida-bred graded stakes winner
Adios Charlie and stakes-placed Streakin’Mohican.
BAY TO BAY2011 FLORIDA-BRED CHAMPION
TURF FEMALE
Afrequent traveler,Bay toBaywasdisplayedher talent
on the turf in both the United States and Canada in
2011.Shewonagraded stakes atWoodbine andwasGrade
I stakes-placed at Saratoga for owner Robert Smithen.
Bred by Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs, Bay to Bay
scoredher stakeswinof the seasonon June4 atWoodbine.
The BrianA. Lynch trainee was two lengths the best over
NeverRetreat in theNassau Stakes (G2).ValliWith aVow
was third.Winning time for themile turf test was 1:36.48.
Five weeks later at Woodbine, Bay to Bay this time
aroundhad tosettle for second toNeverRetreat in theDance
SmartlyStakes (G2).Shipped toSaratoga,Bay toBayposted
a third to Zagora (Fr) in theDiana Stakes (G1) on July 30.
On the season, Bay to Bay posted one win, two sec-
onds and one third in seven starts to bank $326,721.The
4-year-old filly by Sligo Bay (Ire) out of the graded
stakes-placedWithApproval mare Bala has career earn-
ings to date of $654,728.
Bay to Bay was consigned by Adena Springs to the
2008 Keeenland September yearling sale. There she was
purchased by current ownerRobert Smithen for $35,000.
Frank Stronach purchased Bala, the dam of Bay to
Bay, for $60,000 at the 2004 Keeneland January mixed
sale. Bala, who earned $230,105, was third in the 2001
Natalma Stakes (G3) and second in the Truly Bound
Handicap. Bay to Bay, who was Bala’s 2007 foal, won
the 2009Natalma Stakes (G3).Adena Springs sold Bala
in foal to El Prado (Ire) for $150,000 to Bluestone
Equine Management at the 2007 Keeneland November
mixed sale. She was later sold in foal to Harlan’s Holi-
day for $65,000 to Black Rock Stables at the 2011
Keeneland November mixed sale.
Sligo Bay (Ire), the sire of Bay to Bay and who pre-
viously stood at Adena Springs South, currently stands
at Adena Springs Canada.�
THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012 27
TEAKS NORTH2007 bay gelding byNorthern Afleet – TeaksberryRoad, by High Honors
Breeder: BryLynn FarmOwner: Jules BoutelleTrainer: Justin Sallusto2011 Race Record/Earnings8-3-0-0/$817,5642011 Stakes Record1st – United Nations Stakes (G1)1st – Gulfstream Park Turf
Handicap (G1)1st – Monmouth Stakes (G3)
MICH
AELB
URNS
PHOT
OBILL
DENV
ERPH
OTO
Florida-bred Teaks North
Florida-bred Bay To Bay
FL_BredChampions.qxd:Florida Horse_template 1/23/12 9:49 AM Page 27
BREE
DERS
ʼCUP
LIMITE
DPH
OTO
Big Night for Florida
“Iwant to thank Ocala Stud forbreeding a great horse (Champion
Female Sprinter Musical Romance)and selling her to us.”—Bill Kaplan
28 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012
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By MICHAEL COMPTON
Thoroughbred racing’s best were honored on Jan.
16 at the 41st annual EclipseAwards ceremony
at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills,
Calif.At the end of the nearly three-hour event, a female
walked away from the ceremony with Horse of theYear
honors for the third consecutive year as Havre de Grace
earned the 2011 title, following in the footsteps of
Rachel Alexandra in 2009 and Zenyatta in 2010.
Awinner in 5 of 7 starts in
2011, Havre de Grace earned
more than $1.6 million on
the season for Rick Porter’s
Fox Hill Farms and trainer
Larry Jones. She won the
Azeri Stakes (G3) and the
Apple Blossom Stakes (G1)
at Oaklawn Park. She beat
the boys in the prestigious
Woodward Stakes (G1) at
Saratoga over the summer
and returned to her division
to romp in the Beldame Invi-
tational (G1) in October. She
concluded her season with a
game fourth-place finish
against males in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
In her final race of 2011, she defeated Acclama-
tion at the polls, receiving 166 first-place votes for
Horse of theYear to runner-upAcclamation’s 26 votes.
“It is some kind of thrill to win an award I could
only dream about 10 years ago,” said Porter. “As many
of you in this room know, I’ve seen the lows and the
highs of this game. Havre de Grace is the highest.
There’s no question in my mind that she deserves this
honor. I want to thank Larry and Cindy Jones for their
horsemanship and for making this happen. I hope we
can do it again in 2012.”
In addition to her Horse of theYear award, Havre de
Grace was voted champion Older Female as well.
“I could talk a long time about all the thrills she
gave us last year,” said Porter. “She gave us, our fam-
ily, friends and all her fans a lot of excitement. It did-
n’t take me long to fall in love with her at the sale. She
had an incredible year in 2011. I’m blessed to own her.
I will always cherish this award.”
The Sunshine State basked in the Eclipse spotlight.
Florida-bred Musical Romance, bred by Ocala Stud
Florida-bredMusical Romance (at left) named championFilly and Mare Sprinter; Havre de Grace is Horse of theYear
“As many of you in this room know, I’ve seen the lowsand the highs of this game. Havre deGrace is the highest.”—Rick Porter
Horse of the YearHavre de Grace
COAD
YPH
OTO
at Eclipse AwardsTHE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012 29
EclipseAwards.qxd:Florida Horse_template 1/23/12 9:52 AM Page 29
and sold at OBS, was honored as the Eclipse cham-
pion Female Sprinter for co-owner and trainer Bill Ka-
plan and Adam Lazarus’ Pinnacle Racing Stable.
The daughter of the late stallion Concorde’s Tune
sold at OBS for $22,000. She enjoyed a banner sea-
son in 2011, capped off by an emphatic triumph in
the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at
Churchill Downs. Also numbered among her scores
was a dramatic victory in the rich Presque Isle Mas-
ters Stakes (G2) at Presque Isle Downs last Sep-
tember.
“This is for all the people in barn 50 at Calder,”
said Kaplan from the podium. “It’s for all the unsung
heroes—the grooms, exercise riders, blacksmiths and
vets. I want to thank Ocala Stud for breeding a great
horse and selling her to us. I
also want to thank jockey
Juan Leyva. This award is
proof to the world that a lit-
tle guy can invest a little and
make it to the top.”
Lazarus also took time to
acknowledge the founding father of Thoroughbred
partnerships, Cot Campbell of Dogwood Stable, who
received the Eclipse Award of Merit earlier in the
evening.
“All of us in this room share common character-
istics,” he said. “Number one, we love this game.
Number two, we have to be gamblers. Without Cot’s
idea of creating partnerships I would not be standing
in front of you tonight.”
Musical Romance secured 131 first-place votes,
comfortably turning back runner-up Hilda’s Pas-
30 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012
Royal Delta, winner of the Breeders’
Cup Ladies Classic (G1), was named
champion 3-year-old filly.
LANG
PHOT
O
EclipseAWARDS
Champion 3-year-oldmale Animal Kingdom
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sion, who received 53 votes.
Champion 3-year-old male,Animal Kingdom, also
boasts Florida ties. The Team Valor International
homebred is a son of Stonewall Farm Ocala stallion
Leroidesanimaux (BRZ), who was Eclipse champion
turf horse as a 5-year-old in 2005.
Animal Kingdom won the Vinery Racing Spiral
Stakes (G3) at Turfway Park and captured the Ken-
tucky Derby (G1) in his initial try over a traditional
dirt track. He finished second in the Preakness Stakes
(G1) and was injured in the Belmont Stakes (G1). He
won the Eclipse by a narrow vote, edging Caleb’s
Posse by a vote of 114-111. Mark Polivka of Team
Valor accepted the award.
Royal Delta, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Ladies
Classic (G1), was named champion 3-year-old filly.
She made seven starts last year at six different tracks.
In addition to taking down top prize in the Ladies
Classic, she also won the Alabama Stakes (G1) and
the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2). Following her
Breeders’ Cup win she was sold for $8.5 million to
Florida’s Besilu Stables of Benjamin Leon.
Royal Delta’s trainer, Bill Mott, received the
Eclipse Award as the leading trainer. Mott notched
two Breeders’ Cup victories. In addition to saddling
Royal Delta in the Ladies Classic, he lead over
Drosselmeyer to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1)
24 hours later. It was the third Eclipse Award for
Mott, who also won it in 1995 and ’96.
Champion 2-year-old colt went to Hansen. The son
of Tapit won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) in No-
vember, beating two other finalists in Union Rags and
Creative Cause. Co-owner Dr. Kendall Hansen ac-
cepted the award.
Two-year-old filly honors went to undefeated My
MissAurelia. Co-owner Barbara Banke, the widow of
Jess Jackson, accepted the award along with George
Bolton. My Miss Aurelia is named for Bolton’s
mother, Aurelia.
“Jess loved this sport,” Banke said. “He pulled me
in and hooked me. This is especially sweet for our
family. We raised this filly and she has always been
special to us. Jess named her.”
Bolton followed Banke to the microphone and
THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012 31
PALM
ERPH
OTO
Animal Kingdom (at left) also boasts
Florida ties. The TeamValor Interna-
tional homebred is a son of Stonewall
Farm Ocala stallion Leroidesanimaux
(BRZ), who was Eclipse champion turf
horse as a 5-year-old in 2005.
Champion 3-year-old fillyRoyal Delta
EclipseAwards.qxd:Florida Horse_template 1/19/12 2:54 PM Page 31
addressed the gathering.
“This is such a tribute to Jess,” he said. “She was a
star as a 2-year-old in training in Ocala. It’s rare to
have a horse go the gate four times and get better each
time. This is special. Thank you.”
Male Turf Horse went to Cape Blanco. Perfect in
three U.S. starts in 2001, Cape Blanco won the Man o’
War Stakes, the Arlington Million and the Joe Hirsch
Turf Classic Invitational, all Grade
1 events for Mrs. Fitri Hay, Derrick
Smith, Susan Magnier and Michael
Tabor.
Stacelita (FR) earned Female
Turf Horse honors for owner Mar-
tin Schwartz. Trained by Chad Brown, Stacelita cap-
tured the Beverly D. Stakes (G1) and won 10 of 18
lifetime races before being retired at season’s end.
“It’s been a special experience to share this with
my family,” said Schwartz. “She is a beautiful race-
horse who took us on a magical carpet ride. She won
six Grade 1 races in her career. She is one of a select
few to have won Grade 1 races in three consecutive
years.”
Male Sprinter went to Ama-
zombie, winner of the Breeders’
Cup Sprint (G1). The California-
bred runner is a son of former
Florida sire Northern Afleet. He
won four graded stakes in 2011,
including theAncient Title Stakes
(G1) at Santa Anita. Trainer and
co-owner Bill Spawr accepted the
award.
Fellow Cal-bred Acclamation
took home honors for champion Older Male. The son
of Unusual Heat reeled off five straight wins during
the season, culminating with a win in the Pacific Clas-
sic (G1) at Del Mar.
“After 55 years in the business, this is pretty great,”
said Old English Rancho’s Bud Johnston. “This is a
family business for us. My father started the business
in 1938. It’s been a family affair for many, many years.
This is an exciting moment. The greatest part of this
business is the people.”
Nineteen-year-old Kyle Frey was named champion
Apprentice Rider. Ramon Dominguez was named
champion Jockey for the second consecutive year.
Outstanding Breeder for the 8th time and 7th time
in the last eight years was Frank Stronach’s Adena
Springs Farm. Adena Springs-bred runners won 455
races in 2011 and earned $14.6 million.
Owner of the year went to Ken and Sarah Ramsey.
The Ramseys won the award in 2004.
Rapid Redux received a special Eclipse Award for
his record-setting on the racetrack. In winning his 19th
race of the year on Dec. 13, he equaled Citation’s all-
time record. On Jan. 4 of this year he extended his re-
markable win streak to 22 straight with a victory at
Laurel. Owner Robert Cole accepted the award.
“I claimed him for $6,250,” Cole said. “I turned
him over to trainer DavidWells and he turned him into
a priceless horse. David and Rapid Redux were perfect
in 2011.”
The Eclipse Awards are voted on by Daily Racing
Form, the National TurfWriters and Broadcasters and
the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. �
32 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012
EclipseAWARDS
“This is such a tribute to
Jess. She was a star as a
2-year-old in training in
Ocala. It’s rare to have a
horse go the gate four
times and get better each
time.”—George Bolton
BREE
DERS
ʼCUP
LIMITE
DPH
OTO
My Miss Aureliawon the award for
2-year-old filly.
EclipseAwards.qxd:Florida Horse_template 1/19/12 2:55 PM Page 32
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Horses are exempt from sales tax when purchased from their original breeder.Florida’s greenbelt exemption provides property tax breaks for Florida horse farms.
Physical climate allows for year-round training, racing, showing and business opportunities.
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e-mail:[email protected] S. Calhoun • 427-A Mayo Building, Tallahassee, FL 32399
FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION
801 SW 60th Ave. • Ocala, FL 34474 • 352-629-2160Fax: 352-629-3603 • www.ftboa.com • [email protected]
From coast to coast,Florida’s tax-friendly, pro-business
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THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012 37
FTBOA Stakes Funds for distribution for the
2011/2012 Gulfstream Park meet are estimated to be
$416,000, based upon 2010/2011 figures, which the
FTBOA will use for the Florida Sunshine Millions
($350,000) and “Win It to Get It.”
FTBOA Stakes Funds available for distribution at
Tampa Bay Downs are estimated to be $350,000
based upon 2010/2011 figures and include the
Florida Cup Day ($150,000) and the Florida-bred
Stakes Fund ($200,000).
SUNSHINE MILLIONS
The annual SunshineMillions, a collaborative effort be-
tweenFTBOA,FHBPAandGulfstreamPark, is set this year
for Jan. 28.While the previous editions of the popular day
of racing featuredFlorida-breds vs.California-breds in races
split between Gulfstream Park in Florida and Santa Anita
Park inCalifornia, this year’s renewal features only Florida-
breds in races atGulfstreamPark.Only Florida-bred horses
registered with the FTBOAwill be eligible for entry.
THE SUNSHINE MILLIONS RACES, CARRYING TOTALBPURSES OF $1.3 MILLION, ARE:
$400,000 Classic for 4-year-olds and up and
set at 1 1/8 miles.
$300,000 Distaff for fillies and mares,
4-years-old and up at 1 1/8 miles.
$150,000 Turf for 4-year-olds and up on the
turf at 1 1/8 miles.
$150,000 Filly and Mare Turf on the turf
at 1 1/8 miles.
$150,000 Sprint for 4-year-olds and up at
six furlongs.
$150,000 Filly and Mare Sprint at six furlongs
The event is funded in the following amounts: Gulf-
stream Park, $600,000; FHBPA, $350,000; FTBOA,
$350,000.
“WIN IT TO GET IT”
In an unprecedented move designed to reward own-
ers of Florida-bred horses and increase the value of
Sunshine State products, the FTBOA, FHBPA and
Gulfstream Park have designed “Win It to Get It.”
FTBOA Stakes Funds will supplement purses (for eli-
gible winner only) for six stakes races for 3-year-olds
during the 2012 Gulfstream Park meet with a supple-
ment of $100,000 to the winning owner (s) of Florida-
breds registered with the FTBOA. The $100,000
supplement will go to the owner of a Florida-bred who
wins any of the following races:
$500,000 Holy Bull Stakes (G3)
to be run on Jan. 29
(including FTBOA fund supplement of
$100,000)
$300,000 Forward Gal Stakes (G2)
to be run Jan. 29
(including FTBOA fund supplement of
$100,000)
earning powerAdvert isement
in place at GulfstreamPark and Tampa Bay Downs,starting 2012 on the righttrack is as easy as owninga Florida-bred
BILL
DENV
ERPH
OTO
GulfstreamTampaBay.qxd:Florida Horse_template 1/20/12 10:04 AM Page 37
38 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012
Accelerated
FTBOA:THE VOICE OF FLORIDA’S THOROUGHBRED INDUSTRY
Since its inception, the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’Association has been re-sponsible for Florida-bred registration and administration and distribution of the industry’s incentiveawards program, which encourages individuals to breed, train and race Thoroughbreds in Florida.
The FTBOA is dedicated to ensuring a prosperous business climate for the industry.With Florida’slow taxes and smart growth policies, basing a Thoroughbred operation in the Sunshine State makesperfect business sense. For more information, contact the FTBOA at (352) 629-2160.
FLORIDA DEPT. OF AGRICULTUREAND CONSUMER SERVICES
Adam Putnam, Commissioner 850-921-7916 • Fax 850-922-0374e-mail: [email protected]
407 S. Calhoun • 427-A Mayo Building, Tallahassee, FL 32399
FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION
801 SW 60th Ave. • Ocala, FL 34474352-629-2160 • Fax: 352-629-3603
www.ftboa.com • [email protected]
www.facebook.com/thefloridahorse
GulfstreamTampaBay.qxd:Florida Horse_template 1/20/12 10:04 AM Page 38
$300,000 Davona Dale Stakes (G2)
to be run Feb. 25
(including FTBOA fund supplement of
$100,000)
$500,000 Fountain ofYouth Stakes (G2)
to be run Feb. 26
(Including FTBOA fund supplement of
$100,000)
$1.1 million Florida Derby (G1)
to be run March 31
(Including FTBOA fund supplement of
$100,000)
$400,000 Gulfstream Oaks (G2)
to be run March 31
(Including FTBOA fund supplement
of $100,000)
To earn the FTBOA sup-
plement the winner must be
a Florida-bred registered
with the FTBOA prior to
becoming a 2-year-old. It
must also be by a sire regis-
tered with the FTBOA and
standing in Florida when
the foal was conceived in
2008.
FOAS
It is estimated that the
2012 Gulfstream Parkmeet
will generate approximately
$1.4 million for FOAs (es-
timated from 1 percent of
on-track exotic wagers and 8.5 percent of the purse ac-
count generated through intertrack wagering and inter-
state simulcasting).
FOAS MAY BE PAID AS FOLLOWS:
70 percent of the FOA to the Florida-bred
finishing in the first position.
20 percent of the FOA to the Florida-bred
finishing in the second position.
10 percent of the FOA to the Florida-bred
finishing in the third position.
FLORIDA-BRED PREFERREDRACES AT GULFSTREAM PARKAND TAMPA BAY DOWNS
The requirement of one Florida-bred preferred or re-
stricted race daily shall be changed to three Florida-bred
Preferred races offered daily.The three Florida-bred pre-
ferred races required daily shall be included within the
first 10 races offered daily. The designated races shall
be a mix of all conditions and types of races.
FLORIDA CUP DAY
Florida CupDay atTampa BayDowns has proved to
be one of the more popular signature racing days on the
calendar. The event is set this year for Saturday,April 7,
and will feature six guaranteed restricted Florida-bred
stakes races for $75,000 each. Only Florida-breds reg-
istered with the FTBOA will be accepted.
Tampa Bay Downs, Tampa Bay Downs HBPA and
FTBOA each will contribute $150,000 to fund Florida
CupDay.All fees will be added to the respective purses.
FEES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
$50 nomination fee
$350 entry fee
$350 starting fee
Nominations will close on March 24.
Entries will close onApril 5.
THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012 39
earning powerAdvert isement
COOL
EYPH
OTO
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40 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012
Hartley DeRenzo stallions:1. With Distinction
2. The Green Monkey3. Cool Coal Man
4. Belgravia5. Full Mandate
6. Simon Pure7. City Place
Ocala/Marion CountyThoroughbred farms openedtheir doors to prospectivebreeders in December andJanuary as the area’s popu-lar stallion shows got un-derway. More shows areslated for this month, and
they will befeatured in future issues.
PHOTOS BY SERITA HULT
Hartley/DeRenzo1
3
2
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Get Away Farm
42 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012
2012Stallion Shows
Get Away Farm stallions:1. Imperialism2. Two Step Salsa
1
2
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Double Diamond Farm Stallions:1. First Dude2. Wekiva Springs3. American Spirit
THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012 43
Double Diamond Farm
12
3
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THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012 45
Northwest Stud stallions:1. Flash Storm2. Gone Astray3. United States4. Pleasant Strike
Northwest Stud
1
2
34
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48 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012
The following list includes currently active, deceased, and pensioned stallions, with racing resultsupdated through December 31, 2011. Statistics provided by The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc.
Leading Florida Sires
LEROIDESANIMAUXWILDCAT HEIR GRAEME HALLNA Stk Gr Leading Leading Yrlg Yrlg 2yo 2yo
Name Sire Name Farm Name Earnings Strtrs Wnrs SW's Wins SW's Earnings Earner Earnings Sold Avg Sold Avg
Wildcat Heir Forest Wildcat Journeyman Stud $4,826,172 180 109 8 13 2 $5,066,293 John Johny Jak $215,061 24 $26,458 16 $39,531
Leroidesanimaux (BRZ) Candy Stripes Stonewall Farm Ocala $3,989,479 92 49 5 7 4 $4,266,068 Animal Kingdom $1,904,900 21 $37,293 3 $53,500
Graeme Hall Dehere Winding Oaks $3,133,568 121 73 4 4 3 $3,140,464 Duke of Mischief $721,681 12 $19,342 5 $17,600
Chapel Royal Montbrook Signature Stallions $3,081,268 215 100 1 3 0 $3,091,100 Navy Chapel $139,515 17 $14,629 11 $19,836
With Distinction Storm Cat Hartley/DeRenzo $2,721,204 134 67 4 6 0 $2,745,427 Decisive Moment $409,300 21 $26,200 39 $25,612
Concorde's Tune Concorde Bound Deceased $2,453,510 77 39 1 5 1 $2,489,757 Musical Romance $1,040,734 7 $27,214
Put It Back Honour and Glory Bridlewood Farm $2,251,640 175 72 7 11 2 $2,419,976 It's Me Mom $206,500 32 $17,556 24 $27,000
Greatness Mr. Prospector Stonewall Farm Ocala $2,348,229 73 44 3 10 1 $2,354,257 Immortal Eyes $271,215 1 $1,000 1 $2,000
Pomeroy Boundary Vinery Florida $2,162,948 80 41 6 11 2 $2,265,063 Pomeroys Pistol $521,188 13 $28,423 17 $78,235
D'wildcat Forest Wildcat Vinery Florida $1,994,266 115 57 1 1 0 $2,185,824 D'cats Meow $134,446 19 $18,142 25 $30,079
Montbrook Buckaroo Ocala Stud $2,135,755 83 43 3 6 2 $2,148,588 Tackleberry $599,667 4 $16,500 12 $35,142
Halo's Image Halo Deceased $2,082,349 79 41 5 8 1 $2,086,821 Atlantic Hurricane $391,033 4 $5,675 4 $12,250
Full Mandate A.P. Indy Hartley/DeRenzo $2,060,209 116 64 2 3 0 $2,064,225 Full of Gut $151,320 3 $1,400 5 $17,540
Value Plus Unbridled's Song Stonewall Farm Ocala $1,910,118 117 67 1 1 0 $1,940,456 All Due Respect $100,638 22 $10,582 4 $41,250
Roar of the Tiger Storm Cat Deceased $1,696,078 112 58 3 4 0 $1,696,650 Tazz $134,691 6 $8,833 9 $14,667
Three Wonders Storm Cat Deceased $1,617,633 101 56 1 2 0 $1,631,370 Trelawny $121,309
Burning Roma Rubiano Stonewall Farm Ocala $1,465,435 89 53 3 3 0 $1,467,342 Queen Drama $126,705 6 $6,833
West Acre Forty Niner Stonehedge Farm South $1,403,346 49 34 4 4 1 $1,403,346 Watch Me Go $258,070 1 $2,500 5 $9,900
Black Mambo Kingmambo Deceased $1,347,264 88 45 1 1 0 $1,362,310 Argentine Tango $113,075 3 $5,000 3 $10,903
City Place Storm Cat Hartley/DeRenzo $1,182,789 63 36 2 2 0 $1,241,522 City Sage $123,042 6 $9,583 16 $32,469
Mass Media Touch Gold Journeyman Stud $1,223,096 42 31 3 8 0 $1,232,692 Manicero $271,500 6 $19,917
B L's Appeal Valid Appeal Randolph Thoroughbreds $1,175,126 72 42 0 0 0 $1,175,126 B L's Tsumani $76,988 2 $1,000 2 $3,200
Awesome of Course Awesome Again Journeyman Stud $1,065,961 18 8 4 8 1 $1,065,961 Fort Loudon $333,485 1 $10,000
Act of Duty Mr. Prospector Bridlewood Farm $946,502 70 37 0 0 0 $952,546 Aintnothinbutakiss $71,940 3 $2,046 5 $7,640
Sarava Wild Again Bridlewood Farm $945,850 57 31 1 1 1 $945,850 Gladding $133,375 1 $1,000 2 $8,500
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50 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012
The following list includes currently active, deceased, and pensioned stallions, with racing resultsupdated through December 31, 2011. Statistics provided by The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc.
Leading Florida Juvenile Sires
WITH DISTINCTIONAWESOME OF COURSE CHAPEL ROYALNA Stk Gr Leading Leading Yrlg Yrlg 2yo 2yo
Name Sire Name Farm Name Earnings Strtrs Wnrs SW's Wins SW's Earnings Earner Earnings Sold Avg Sold Avg
Awesome of Course Awesome Again Journeyman Stud $781,579 7 3 3 6 0 $781,579 Fort Loudon $333,485 1 $10,000
With Distinction Storm Cat Hartley/DeRenzo $750,403 51 18 3 3 0 $771,160 For Oby $134,712 21 $26,200 39 $25,612
Chapel Royal Montbrook Signature Stallions $756,411 51 21 1 3 0 $756,411 Navy Chapel $139,515 17 $14,629 11 $19,836
Wildcat Heir Forest Wildcat Journeyman Stud $488,842 26 16 1 1 1 $710,362 Vexor $135,000 24 $26,458 16 $39,531
Put It Back Honour and Glory Bridlewood Farm $640,265 44 14 3 3 0 $646,251 Yara $103,920 32 $17,556 24 $27,000
High Cotton Dixie Union Ocala Stud $611,279 30 15 1 1 1 $644,743 Currency Swap $180,000 9 $26,222 23 $31,518
Saint Anddan A.P. Indy Journeyman Stud $509,341 35 16 1 1 0 $509,341 Saint D'aroak $78,388 3 $12,667 24 $18,396
D'wildcat Forest Wildcat Vinery Florida $450,836 36 12 0 0 0 $450,836 Blue Forty $70,042 19 $18,142 25 $30,079
Exclusive Quality Elusive Quality Journeyman Stud $445,405 34 13 1 1 0 $445,405 Exclusively Maria $98,258 14 $8,307 30 $21,550
Burning Roma Rubiano Stonewall Farm Ocala $419,065 17 9 2 2 0 $419,065 Queen Drama $126,705 6 $6,833
City Place Storm Cat Hartley/DeRenzo $340,369 24 11 0 0 0 $340,369 Bob's Place $55,574 6 $9,583 16 $32,469
Pomeroy Boundary Vinery Florida $302,762 21 6 1 1 0 $302,762 Mel Beach $103,254 13 $28,423 17 $78,235
Simon Pure Silver Deputy Hartley/DeRenzo $287,993 19 10 1 1 0 $287,993 Aracelis Baby M. $63,960 7 $6,757 22 $13,732
A. P. Warrior A.P. Indy Stonewall Farm Ocala $258,241 31 14 0 0 0 $264,276 Race to the Top $37,160 6 $13,083 4 $42,500
Teuflesberg Johannesburg Journeyman Stud $220,184 18 5 0 0 0 $227,225 Trinniberg $101,300 5 $22,000 7 $44,000
Black Mambo Kingmambo Deceased $223,639 11 5 0 0 0 $223,639 Argentine Tango $113,075 3 $5,000 3 $10,903
West Acre Forty Niner Stonehedge Farm South $214,190 10 7 0 0 0 $214,190 Melpomene $49,940 1 $2,500 5 $9,900
Concorde's Tune Concorde Bound Deceased $195,482 12 6 0 0 0 $195,482 Arabella's Tune $45,499 7 $27,214
Montbrook Buckaroo Ocala Stud $192,727 12 3 0 0 0 $192,727 Montessa G $69,735 4 $16,500 12 $35,142
Bring the Heat In Excess (IRE) Ward Ranch $185,087 11 9 0 0 0 $185,087 Firefall $37,843
BECOMEAwww.facebook.com/thefloridahorse • www.ftboa.com
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52 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012
The following list includes currently active, deceased, and pensioned stallions, with racing resultsupdated through December 31, 2011. Statistics provided by The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc.
Leading Florida Freshman Sires
SAINT ANDDANHIGH COTTON EXCLUSIVE QUALITYNA Stk Gr Leading Leading Yrlg Yrlg 2yo 2yo
Name Sire Name Farm Name Earnings Strtrs Wnrs SW's Wins SW's Earnings Earner Earnings Sold Avg Sold Avg
High Cotton Dixie Union Ocala Stud $611,279 30 15 1 1 1 $644,743 Currency Swap $180,000 9 $26,222 23 $31,518
Saint Anddan A.P. Indy Journeyman Stud $509,341 35 16 1 1 0 $509,341 Saint D'aroak $78,388 3 $12,667 24 $18,396
Exclusive Quality Elusive Quality Journeyman Stud $445,405 34 13 1 1 0 $445,405 Exclusively Maria $98,258 14 $8,307 30 $21,550
Simon Pure Silver Deputy Hartley/De Renzo $287,993 19 10 1 1 0 $287,993 Aracelis Baby M. $63,960 7 $6,757 22 $13,732
Teuflesberg Johannesburg Journyeman Stud $220,184 18 5 0 0 0 $227,225 Trinniberg $101,300 5 $22,000 7 $44,000
Call: 352.732.8858
www.facebook.com/thefloridahorse
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THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012 53
Following are the “FTBOA Chase to the Championship ” Point Standings through December 31, 2011.
Year-end divisional champions will be determined using the “FTBOAChase to the Championship” point system, a ranking that awards points forsuccess in stakes races.
The “FTBOA Chase to the Championship” allocates points for stakes wins ingraded races,open-company stakes and Florida’s signature racing days,with thenumber of points awarded based upon the classification of the race. Internationalstakes race status is governed by the International Cataloguing Standards Com-mittee. The first three finishers in all Group/Graded and listed races appearing inPart I of the International Cataloguing Standards and International Statistics Bookprinted by The Jockey Club receive “black-type” designation.Ten point bonus tobe awarded to any 2-year-old colt or filly sweeping all three legs of the Florida Stal-lion Stakes in determining the Champion 2-year-old Florida-bred.
The Florida-bred with the most points in each division on December 31is deemed champion of that division. Horse of the Year, Broodmare of theYear and Breeder of the Year will be voted on by the FTBOA Board of Di-rectors and announced at the FTBOA’s annual awards dinner.
In the case of a year-end tie in points in any division, earnings will beused to decide the tiebreaker. — Points are assigned as follows:
� World Thoroughbred ChampionshipBreeders’ Cup Race:Win: 20 pointsPlace: 15 pointsShow: 10 points
� Grade 1 Stakes Race:Win: 15 pointsPlace: 10 pointsShow: 5 points
� Grade 2 Stakes Race:Win: 5 pointsPlace: 3 pointsShow: 2 points
� Grade 3 Stakes Race:Win: 3 pointsPlace: 2 pointsShow: 1 point
� Sunshine Millions(equivalent to a Grade 2 Stakes Race):Win: 5 pointsPlace: 3 pointsShow: 2 points
� Other Florida-bredSignature Race Days(equivalent to a Grade 3 Stakes Race):(The Florida Million, Florida Cup,Florida Stallion Stakes Series):Win: 3 pointsPlace: 2 pointsShow: 1 point
� Open-Company Stakes($50,000+Purse) Points for WIN ONLY:Win: 2 points
� Selection Criteria for Florida-bred champions
Two-Year-Old Colt/GeldingFort Loudon (Awesome of Course) - 19 Jacks or Better Farm Inc Jacks or Better Farm Inc. Stanley I GoldCurrency Swap (High Cotton) - 15 Stonecliff Farm Klaravich Stables Inc &William H Lawrence Teresa M PompayVexor (Wildcat Heir) - 5 Carlos Rafael & Briggs & Cromartie Bloodstock Gold Mark Farm LLC John C Kimmel
Two-Year-Old FillyCandrea (Trippi) - 12 Ocala Stud Karl Watson, Michael Pegram & Paul Weitman Bob BaffertRedbud Road (Awesome of Course) - 8 Jacks or Better Farm Inc Jacks or Better Farm Inc Stanley I GoldAwesome Belle (Awesome of Course) - 7 Jacks or Better Farm Inc Jacks or Better Farm Inc Stanley I Gold
Three-Year-Old Colt/GeldingBrilliant Speed (Dynaformer) - 43 Live Oak Stud Live Oak Plantation Thomas AlbertraniCoil (Point Given) - 26 Glen Hill Farm Karl Watson, Michael E Pegram & Paul Weitman Bob BaffertToby's Corner (Bellamy Road) - 18 Dianne D Cotter Dianne D Cotter H Graham Motion
Three-Year-Old FillyTurbulent Descent (Congrats) - 55 Ocala Stud Blinkers On Racing, Dave Aurelio, Robert Butler, Joleen Coons, Lapso, et al Mike PuypePomeroys Pistol (Pomeroy) - 37 Hardacre Farm LLC Hardacre Farm LLC Amy TarrantAwesome Feather (Awesome of Course) - 17 Jacks or Better Farm Inc Stronach Stables Chad C Brown
Older Male (Four-Year-Olds and up Colt/Gelding)Flat Out (Flatter) - 45 Nikolaus Bock Preston Stables LLC Charles L DickeyTeaks North (Northern Afleet) - 33 Brylynn Farm Inc Jules Boutelle Justin SallustoJackson Bend (Hear No Evil) -32 Jacks or Better Farm Inc Robert V LaPenta & Fred J Brei Nicholas P Zito
Older Female (Four-Year-Olds and up Filly/Mare)Musical Romance (Concorde's Tune) - 44 Ocala Stud Pinnacle Racing Stable &William A Kaplan William KaplanAmen Hallelujah (Montbrook) - 25 Thorobeam Farm IEAH Stables,Whizway Farm, Robert Teel and Pegasus Holding Group Stables Richard E DutrowTrip for A.J. (Trippi) - 14 Peter D Fuller Peter D Fuller Milton WWolfson
Male Sprint (Three-Year-Olds and up Colt/Gelding, race distances one mile and less)Jackson Bend (Hear No Evil) - 30 Jacks or Better Farm Inc Robert V LaPenta & Fred J Brei Nicholas P ZitoApriority (Grand Slam) - 19 Donald R Dizney Donald R Dizney David FawkesAikenite (Yes It's True) - 17 Brylynn Farm Inc Dogwood Stable Todd A PletcherTrappe Shot (Tapit) - 17 Hobeau Farm Mill House Kiaran McLaughlin
Female Sprint (Three-Year-Olds and up Filly/Mare, race distances one mile and less)Musical Romance (Concorde's Tune) - 44 Ocala Stud Pinnacle Racing Stable &William A Kaplan William KaplanTurbulent Descent (Congrats) - 40 Ocala Stud Blinkers On Racing, Dave Aurelio, Robert Butler, Joleen Coons, Lapso, et al Mike PuypePomeroys Pistol (Pomeroy) - 37 Hardacre Farm LLC Hardacre Farm LLC Amy Tarrant
Male Turf (Three-Year-Olds and up Colt/Gelding, races run on the turf)Teaks North (Northern Afleet) - 33 Brylynn Farm Inc Jules Boutelle Justin SallustoJeranimo (Congaree) - 27 Brylynn Farm Inc B JWright Michael PenderBrilliant Speed (Dynaformer) - 23 Live Oak Stud Live Oak Plantation Thomas Albertrani
Female Turf (Three-Year-Olds and up Filly/Mare, races run on the turf)Bay to Bay (Sligo Bay) - 13 Adena Springs Robert Smithen Brian A LynchTrip for A.J. (Trippi) - 10 Peter Fuller Peter Fuller Milton WWolfsonRomacaca (Running Stag) - 9 Cashel Stud Inc Frank Carl Calabrese Nick Canani
ChaseToChampionship_Jan.qxd:Florida Horse_template 1/20/12 9:47 AM Page 35
By SARAH M REUSS,VMD, DACVIMUniversity of Florida College ofVeterinary Medicine
Obesity is becoming a more well-recognized
disease in all of our domestic animal species.
It can be either a cause or effect of other dis-
ease conditions or problems. Obesity can worsen or-
thopedic conditions such as arthritis and may
predispose horses to laminitis. It may be due to simple
overfeeding for the amount of exercise being per-
formed, or it may be due to an actual disease condition.
The two diseases that can cause abnormal weight gain
or distribution in horses are Equine Metabolic Syn-
drome (EMS, also referred to as insulin resistance) and
Equine Cushing’s Disease (also known as pituitary pars
intermedia dysfunction, PPID).
Cushing’s disease is due to dysfunction at the level
of the brain. There is damage to the hypothalamus, an
area of the brain that produces a hormone called
dopamine which is supposed to suppress the pituitary
gland.When this suppressive factor is no longer pres-
ent, the pituitary gland (specifically the pars inter-
media portion of the pituitary) begins to secrete
54 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012
PHOT
OSCO
URTE
SYUN
IVER
SITY
OFFL
ORID
A
IsMyHorse
The two diseases that can cause abnormal weight gain or
EquineCare
A horse shown withCushings disease
–or Does He Have a
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THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012 55
increased amounts of several hormones (e.g., ACTH,
MSH, B-endorphin) that cause some of the clinical
signs directly as well as an increase in cortisol release
from the adrenal glands. The pituitary gland contin-
ues to enlarge with functional adenomas (small tu-
mors). These can become large enough to compress
other areas of the pituitary gland and hypothalamus
resulting in some loss of their function as well. The
Cushing’s disease that we see in horses is different
than that seen in dogs or people, so PPID is the pre-
ferred term for the disease in horses.
PPID is generally seen in older horses. The average
age is 19-21, but it has been diagnosed in horses as young
as 7. The prevalence increases drastically after 30 years.
It is more common in ponies than horses. PPID causes
changes in the fat and muscle distribution in affected
horses. Fat accumulates in the crest of the neck, tailhead,
over the eyes, and in the sheath. At first, horsesmay have
more overall weight gain but over time, they lose themus-
cle along their topline leaving more of a potbellied ap-
pearance. One of themost telltale signs of PPID is called
hirsuitismwhich is an excessively long hair coat that does
not shed out normally. Laminitis or founder can affect up
to 80 percent of horses with PPID.Themechanism is un-
clear, but this painful conditionmay be the ultimate cause
of death in PPID affected horses.Other signs that youmay
notice in a horsewith PPID are increased thirst, increased
urination, lethargy, increased appetite, change in tem-
perament, recurrent infections, infertility, increased sweat-
ing, and/or persistent lactation in mares.
Testing for PPID is a common source of confusion
and debate. The baseline ACTH is the most common
screening test. This test involves just taking a blood
sample, so there is no risk to the horse. The main
problem with the test is that there is known seasonal
variation in ACTH in horses with levels being higher
in the fall. The “gold standard” test for PPID is the
dexamethasone suppression test. This test involves
drawing a baseline blood sample, administering dex-
amethasone, and then repeating a blood draw at 15
and 19 hours. There is some risk to this test as the ad-
ministration of dexamethasone has been linked to the
occurrence of laminitis in some horses. Other tests
include a thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation
test, combined dexamethasone-thyrotropin-
releasing hormone stimulation test, and domperidone
challenge test. Resting cortisol levels are not a good
test as there is a lot of normal variation in all horses.
Treatment of horses with PPID involves both man-
agement and drug therapy. Regular deworming, dental,
and foot care is necessary due to some of the clinical signs
seen with the disease. Body clipping is also very useful
for horses that do not shed out normally.Good quality hay
and feedwith high nutrient density should be fed. Equine
Senior is a good option for many of these horses if they
require a concentrate to maintain adequate body condi-
tion. The primary drug currently used in the treatment of
PPID is pergolide.This is an oral drugwithminimal side
effects, but it must be handled and stored carefully. Other
drugs that have been used include cyproheptadine,
bromocriptine, and trilostane. Herbal treatments such as
chaste berry have been advocated, but there is no scien-
tific proof that they are effective in horses with PPID.
Equine Metabolic Syndrome should be suspected in
any overweight horse described as an “easy keeper.”
EMS is seen in horses over 5 years of age and is most
common in ponies, Morgans, Arabians, and Fjords but
can be seen in any breed.There is current research look-
ing for a genetic marker, but this appears to be a dis-
ease with a genetic predisposition that is brought on by
Just Fat?
distribution in horses are Equine Metabolic Syndrome and Equine Cushing’s Disease.
Metabolic Disease?
EquineCare_MetobolicDisease.qxd:Florida Horse_template 1/20/12 8:58 AM Page 55
management factors. Most horses with EMS are obese with a body
condition score greater than 7 out of 9. They will also have regional
fat distribution like horses with PPID but will not have the muscle
loss. Horses with EMS often present for spontaneously occurring
laminitis that may occur in association with pasture or feed changes.
Diagnosis of EMS is dependent on the measurement of serum
insulin, as insulin resistance is part of the syndrome similar to Type
II diabetes in people. A resting serum insulin concentration can
be performed as a screening test, but the horse must be fasted
overnight prior to the blood sampling. Blood glucose is
checked at the same time, but most horses maintain a
normal blood glucose even with insulin resistance. If
this test is equivocal, a combined glucose-insulin rest
can be performed. An oral sugar test using Karo syrup
has also been developed.
Horses with EMS may develop PPID as they get
older. In other species, obesity has been associated with
a chronic inflammatory state which may cause PPID at
a younger age. Horses with EMS should be monitored
carefully for muscle atrophy, hair coat abnormalities, alterations in
metabolism, and exacerbation of hyperinsulinemia or laminitis. If
these develop, testing for PPID should be performed, as horses can
have both diseases.
Unlike PPID, there is no direct pharmacologic treatment for
EMS. The bulk of treatment is dietary and management. Horses
with EMS should go on a weight reduction diet. This includes no
grain and a dry lot or small paddock. For the first two weeks, they
should receive 1.5 percent of their current body weight per day in
hay. Weeks 2-6, they should be fed 1.5 percent of their ideal body
weight per day in hay. After that, they should receive 1 percent of
their body weight per day. The hay should be low in non-structural
carbohydrates. This can be confirmed via forage analysis or by
soaking hay for at least 30 minutes prior to feeding it. A vitamin
and mineral supplement should also be considered. Exercise is
very important for the horse not undergoing an active laminitic
bout, and should consist of 30 minutes of trot and
canter four to seven times per week. Most EMS
horses can return to some degree of pasture once
they have lost weight, however horses with recurrent
severe laminitis may be safest in a dry lot. Grazing muzzles can
also be very useful. Turnout should occur in the early morning or
late at night when grass sugar content is the lowest.
Historically, many horses with EMS have been treated with
levothyroxine (Thryo-L) a thyroid supplement.While these horses
do not have actual thyroid dysfunction, short term supplemental
thyroid hormone will increase insulin sensitivity and weight loss.
Weight loss will only occur, however, if calories are also restricted,
so levothyroxine may be prescribed for three to six months to ac-
celerate weight loss while other management changes are instituted.
Metformin is another drug used in people with insulin insensitiv-
ity that has been looked at for the treatment of horses with EMS.
So far, the studies that have been performed have conflicting re-
sults. Herbal supplements such as magnesium, chromium, and cin-
namon have not been shown to alter insulin sensitivity in horses.
While horses with EMS are often treated with thyroid hor-
mones, the existence of true hypothyroidism in the horse is con-
troversial. Historically, hypothyroidism has been linked to obesity,
laminitis, anhidrosis (non-sweating), recurrent tying up, and de-
creased fertility. In all of those cases, however, actual hypothy-
roidism could not be documented, and most of these horses more
likely suffered from PPID or EMS. To truly diagnose thyroid dys-
function, a thyroid stimulation test would have to be performed.
Equine Metabolic Syndrome and PPID remain a source of con-
fusion and frustration for many owners and veterinarians. Differ-
entiating between the two diseases can be difficult. The age of
onset, appearance of the haircoat, and presence of muscle loss may
all help in addition to blood tests. Management is a significant part
of both diseases, with the main goal being to prevent secondary
complications such as laminitis. �
56 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012
Is My Horse Just Fat?
EquineMetabolic Syndrome and PPID remain a source of confusion andfrustration for many owners and veterinarians. Differentiating between thetwo diseases can be difficult. The age of onset, appearance of the haircoat,
and presence of muscle loss may all help in addition to blood tests.
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58 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012
If you’re reading this column any time after
the first week of January, there’s a strong
chance that you, like every other mortal in
the universe, have already broken a new year’s
resolution or two. It’s a predictable process, one
that experts speculate occurs because we set the
bar too high and too unrealistically. They’re prob-
ably right. In our emotional determination to ac-
complish major change, we tend to visualize
radical, quick results that, realistically, take hard
work AND time.
But wait! This year – if you resolved to get in-
volved in a new activity, to watch a new sport, to
give back to your community or industry, to vol-
unteer, to explore new places or learn a new skill
– we have great news.
The 500-acre Florida Agriculture Center and
Horse Park, located in south Ocala, offers fam-
ily-friendly opportunities for everyone.
Want to see something new? Come to the Park
and watch a boisterous and entertaining Jack Rus-
sellTerrier race, or soak in the beauty of a dressage
horse performing a high-level test in the show ring.
Cheer on cross-country riders in three-day event-
ing, or visit the Park for a professional BBQ event.
Want to learn something new? Rent a horse
from Cactus Jack’s trail rides, and ride the famous
Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenways.
Don’t want to ride a horse? Take a hike—liter-
ally—on a foot trail. Come to a clinic at the Park,
or swing by the office and we’ll show you the
FloridaAgriculture Center and Horse Park Com-
prehensive Master Plan – a blueprint for devel-
oping the Park into an even larger economic
driver than it is even today.
Want to get involved? The Park has a myriad
of volunteer opportunities, from light office du-
ties and marketing projects to outdoor mainte-
nance and carpentry needs.Volunteers are needed
at horse shows, with parking for large events, and
so much more. We value your unique gifts, and
we are thrilled when you are able to share them
with this worthy project.
Want to invest financially? As a 501 c3 cor-
poration, any donation to the FloridaAgriculture
Center and Horse Park Authority or the Founda-
tion for the Florida Horse Park is 100% tax de-
ductible. For those interested in large gifts, we
have multiple legacy giving opportunities for
barns, arenas and other buildings, and we would
love to share more with you about these opportu-
nities at your convenience.
Resolutions, it turns out, can begin any day. I
think today is a good day – how about you? �
You make ALL the difference.
Sincerely,
Connie DuffWise
Your
Resolutions
FLORIDA HORSE PARK
Connie DuffWise
Chairman of the Board
FloridaAgricultural Center
and Horse Park
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Happy New Year! Hopefully, the year has
started out nicely and everyone is getting
used to some cooler temperatures. Preserv-
ing water quality to help protect our beautiful springs
and aquifer is a topic routinely mentioned, but I rarely
discuss how to USE LESS water on the farms (or even
in your homes, for that matter).
Let’s start with basics. Check all faucets, hose
sprayers and nozzles, automatic waterers, toilets and
pipes for leaks. Do you want to find out how much
water comes from that leaky equipment? To learn the
answer, go to: http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/sc4.html.
This is the USGS—Science for a Changing World
website. This interesting and very informative link
takes you to a page that calculates how much water
is lost from your home (which can be easily made to
work for barns). It also has lots of other very inter-
esting facts about water and water use. There is even
a good quiz about water knowledge. I’m depressed
to say that I didn’t score too well, so I guess I still
need more education, too!
Regarding automatic waterers, they can be a good
choice to help save water (as opposed to throwing out
unused water from buckets), but I am old-school and
will always prefer filling buckets so I know howmuch
my horses are drinking. If you are like me and refuse
to switch, then try using the unused bucket water by
adding it to your stall waste if you compost, which
will cut down on adding additional potable water, or
by using it on your landscaped areas instead of wa-
tering them from a hose. A big barrel can be used to
hold all of the water that is dumped out of the buck-
ets. This barrel of water can then be held until needed,
for things like bathing the horses.
Rain barrels placed at the end of the barns can col-
lect the water that normally drains from the gutters
on the roof, instead of just letting it drip to the
ground, potentially creating puddles and excess
runoff in those bad Florida summer storms. That col-
lected water can also be used for a variety of things,
helping to cut down on your groundwater use. This
water is perfect for watering your plants and flowers
on the farm, or it can also be used to water your track
and riding rings. You could get really “green” and
cover the barn roof with vegetation, helping to soak
up the rain (avoiding puddles) and treating any rain-
water runoff naturally to help eliminate excess sedi-
ments and nutrients.
Look to see if you get any excessive rainwater
runoff from big storms. Not that we get any real mud
in Florida, but heavy rainwater drainage and erosion
can definitely create gulleys and ditches on the farm.
Vegetation is a great natural soaker of rain water and
can also help slow water’s speed of travel. Planting
shrubs, bushes and grass in areas that normally are a
path for rain flow will help break up the “river” that
can be caused in a storm. Additionally, you can also
use this new vegetation in a “pretty” way to help
spruce up your barn area. Lastly, gravel in excessive
travel areas can work nicely as a sort of “permeable
pavement” for soaking up a bit more water.
Consider this fact: Seventy-five percent of the
Earth is water, but only a little more than 2 percent of
that is fresh water and almost two-thirds of that 2 per-
cent is locked up in the ice caps and glaciers. That cer-
tainly doesn’t leave much for us all to drink!
Hopefully these ideas have given you a good start on
ideas for water savings and/or better ways to use the
water already taken out of the aquifer.
As always, keep up the good
management practices!
FARM MANAGEMENT
Water SavingsWatch
Schedule a Farm Call:
JamieA. CohenFarm Outreach CoordinatorUF IFAS/Marion County Extension Service352-671-8792 • [email protected]
THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012 59
Consider this fact: Seventy-five percent of the Earth is water, but
only a little more than 2 percent of that is fresh water, and almost two-
thirds of that 2 percent is locked up in the ice caps and glaciers.
Cohen_FarmManagement.qxd:Florida Horse_template 1/20/12 9:01 AM Page 1
60 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANAURY 2012
Ifnecessity is the mother of invention then frugality
must be the sire. Long before the slogan “Use it up,
wear it out, make it do, or do without” became the
mantra of American consumers during World War II,
farmers had been observing this timeless practice.
One of the first things I learned on the farm was to
fix what needed to be fixed using whatever was avail-
able on site. Just because something was broken didn’t
mean you needed to drive all the way into town and buy
a replacement. More importantly, some repairs such as
a cracked water line or broken gate hinge need to be
performed immediately.
Most horse farms I’ve worked on had a shop with a
few basic tools (hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches, etc.)
as well as a storage area for items such as baling wire,
hay string, cracked water buckets, broken boards and
posts, tires, inner tubes and lots of other stuff no longer
good for its original purpose. Nearly all horse farmers
can fix most anything, at least temporarily, with a little
ingenuity, duct tape, baling wire, a hammer and what-
ever can be scavenged from the “junk pile.” Similar to
a pressure bandage, water line leaks can be stoppedwith
rubber strips cut from old inner tubes secured with bal-
ing wire.A broken gate hinge can also be repaired with
baling wire.
“Reduce, reuse, recycle” and “repurpose” are popu-
lar ways to say what farmers have long considered a
normal way of life. Following are a few examples of on-
farm recycling:
� Cracked water buckets can be use to carry fence repairor welding supplies.
� Fifty-gallon food grade barrels make great dry, rodent/bugresistant feed storage containers.Non-working chest typefreezers can also be used.
� Five-gallon food grade pails with lid are great for dry, ro-dent-proof mineral and/or supplement storage.
� Chain link fencing or old tires chained together make agreat pasture drag.
� Old fiberglass car top carriers provide waterproof storage.� Use two or five pound coffee cans in the shop for storing
nails, fence staples, screws, washers, etc.� Bleach or detergent bottles can be cut to make feed scoops.
� Old inner tubes make excellent hose and plumbing splices.� Feed sacks make good garbage bags for barn trash.� Old industrial conveyer belts can be cut to fit stall, wash
rack or trailer mats.� Vinyl billboard material can be used to provide ultraviolent
waterproof protection for outdoor equipment storage.� Even an old bathtub can be used as an attractive planter.Also, consider checking out local salvage centers for
building supplies. Used RV or mobile home trusses are
just the right size for a storage shed roof.
I even knew an old horse farm manager that con-
verted his ex-wife’s van into a smokehouse.
Even though many items around the farm can be
easily reused for other purposes, some things like used
horse shoes are more difficult to recycle unless you’re
a proficient welder or inventive blacksmith. Horse shoes
aren’t usually put with the other trash or dumpsters des-
tined for the land fill. Some farriers do recycle used
horse shoes, but many horse farms and training centers
accumulate a large number of shoes over a period of
years.
By the time you count labor and a trip to the recycle
center, it’s usually not worth the effort for the amount of
money paid for scrap steel and aluminum. I once knew
a farrier who gave his apprentice approximately 600
pounds of used shoes.The apprentice decided to sell the
scrap steel and buy new bar stock for forge practice. He
spent most of a day loading and hauling the shoes and
received a grand total of $40 and some change.
With that thought in mind, the UF/IFAS Marion
County Extension Service alongwith Ocala Recreation
and Parks Discovery Center will provide horse farmers
with an opportunity to recycle their used horse shoes.
Help set the record formost horse shoes recycled. Bring
your used shoes to EarthFest/Arbor Day on Saturday,
April 28, and enjoy all the activities and live entertain-
ment. If you can’t make it to EarthFest, call the Exten-
sion Service at 352-671-8400. Also, watch for “Lucky
U’ horse shoe collection sites around Marion County.
Proceeds will benefit the Ocala Farm Ministry. Since
Ocala is “Horse Capital ofTheWorld,” wemight as well
be horse shoe recycling capital too.�
PRACTICALLY SPEAKING
by UF/IFAS MarionCountyLivestock Agent
Mark Shuffitt
Reduce, Reuse, RecycleandRepurpose
One of the firstthings I learned onthe farm was to fixwhat needed to befixed using what-ever was available
on site. Justbecause somethingwas broken didn’tmean you needed
to drive all the wayinto town and buy
a replacement.
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Classifieds_Jan2012.qxd:Layout 1 1/20/12 9:13 AM Page 1
62 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2012
It is reasonable even in dark times to begin a new
year with a blank slate and brimming hope. Op-
timism is generally a good trait but just as Christ-
mas trees were trimmed last month and lists of
well-meant resolutions for 2012 were compiled, those
who occupy the current administration’s justifiably
maligned version of the Justice Department issued a
legal opinion in the nation’s capital that in effect stiff-
ened significantly the economic headwinds against
which racing’s ship has struggled in recent years.
At the end of a year that saw every measure of the
industry’s economic health continue the alarming
trend that has marched in lockstep with the decline
of the larger recessionary economy, the Justice De-
partment reversed its long-held opposition to many
forms of Internet gambling, removing a significant
legal hurdle for states that wish in what is no more
than a typical money grab to sanction online gam-
bling.
The opinion was issued in response to requests
from officials of the New York and Illinois state lot-
teries to clarify whether the Wire Act of 1961, which
prohibits interstate wagering over telecommunica-
tions systems, applies to states using the Internet to
sell lottery tickets within their own borders. Accord-
ing to the appointed minions of Barack Obama and
Eric Holder, it does not, a position that opens the door
for states not only to sell lottery tickets but allows In-
ternet poker and other forms of online betting that do
not involve sports. The opinion also implies that
states may by consensual agreement permit gambling
that does not involve sports across borders.
The opinion states: As long as the gambling oper-
ator and the customer are within the same state and
the betting activity does not include sporting events,
a state’s own laws apply.
Politicians desperate for money in the face of
mounting debt and the threat or in some cases the re-
ality of insolvency give little consideration to long-
term ramifications of cannibalizing their existing
constituency, in this case the racing and breeding
businesses that have long produced revenue to gov-
ernment and provided jobs to those who pay taxes.
Robbing Peter to pay Paul is in many cases a standard
business practice.
What the racing industry does not need at the mo-
ment is more competition for an already tautly
stretched gambling dollar.
Racing is largely exempt from the provisions of
the Wire Act of 1961 and relies heavily on wagers
placed by telephone and over the Internet as well as
alternative gaming options offered at racetracks. It
faces competition from a wild array of state lottery
games, some involving many states, casinos operated
by Native American tribes, some far afield of reser-
vations, and casino gambling in Nevada and New Jer-
sey. The federal government permitting states – which
regulate racing — to offer online lotteries, casino
games and poker only places the nation’s racetracks at
a more daunting competitive disadvantage.
As this is written, there has been no response from
the racing community to the threat of expanded state-
sponsored interactive gambling and the interests of
stakeholders once more goes without effective repre-
sentation in the District of Columbia. The industry
appears to have no position other than to turn the
other cheek.
Americans may have a voracious appetite for gam-
bling, second only perhaps to the spending habits of
the political class, but the current economic malaise
coupled with the seemingly endless expansion of op-
tions has seen business declines in Nevada and At-
lantic City as well as the nation’s racetracks. The
money supply is finite for those prohibited for print-
ing their own and an ever more crowded trough re-
sults inevitably in less for everyone. The signs of
oversaturation are apparent at every gambling venue,
all dependent upon the customers’ discretionary in-
come for survival.
Someone, at some point must finally stand up and
scream, “Enough.” �
PLAYER’S PAGE
by Paul Moran
What the racing industry does not needat the moment is more competition for analready tautly stretched gambling dollar.
QuietTooLong
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